Mike Bechthold 🇨🇦🇺🇦
@mike-bechthold.bsky.social
PhD Historian | Royal Historical Society Fellow
RCAF | RAF | RNAS | RFC | Canadian Army
First World War | Second World War
Cartographer | Graphic Designer
https://mikebechthold.com/
RCAF | RAF | RNAS | RFC | Canadian Army
First World War | Second World War
Cartographer | Graphic Designer
https://mikebechthold.com/
What a petty snowflake
October 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
What a petty snowflake
WORLD SERIES BOUND!!!
October 21, 2025 at 3:03 AM
WORLD SERIES BOUND!!!
RIP Ken Dryden 💔
One of my favourite players of all time.
One of my favourite players of all time.
September 6, 2025 at 5:09 AM
RIP Ken Dryden 💔
One of my favourite players of all time.
One of my favourite players of all time.
This Saturday I'm speaking at the Military Heritage Day at the Chatham Kent Municipal Airport about Canada and the Liberation of the Netherlands. Also lots of warbirds, military vehicles, and other displays. Hope to see you there!
June 19, 2025 at 2:44 PM
This Saturday I'm speaking at the Military Heritage Day at the Chatham Kent Municipal Airport about Canada and the Liberation of the Netherlands. Also lots of warbirds, military vehicles, and other displays. Hope to see you there!
June 11, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I like to think that the comforting hand with the wedding band belongs to Baker's company commander, Major Archie MacNaughton, a First World War veteran, husband, and father who volunteered at the age of 43 to fight in another war.
3/4
3/4
June 6, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I like to think that the comforting hand with the wedding band belongs to Baker's company commander, Major Archie MacNaughton, a First World War veteran, husband, and father who volunteered at the age of 43 to fight in another war.
3/4
3/4
Thanks to the research of Marc Milner we know know that the soldier who looks to the rear is Private George Baker from Liverpool, NS. This touching moment has been commemorated in a coin produced by the Royal Canadian Mint to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
2/4
2/4
June 6, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Thanks to the research of Marc Milner we know know that the soldier who looks to the rear is Private George Baker from Liverpool, NS. This touching moment has been commemorated in a coin produced by the Royal Canadian Mint to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
2/4
2/4
The most remarkable film shot on one of the most remarkable days in history.
It captures the North Shore Regiment on JUNO Beach near St. Aubin-sur-Mer on D-Day. For me, the most touching moment comes at the end of the clip when a soldier pats his comrade on the shoulder to say, "it will be ok."
🧵1/4
It captures the North Shore Regiment on JUNO Beach near St. Aubin-sur-Mer on D-Day. For me, the most touching moment comes at the end of the clip when a soldier pats his comrade on the shoulder to say, "it will be ok."
🧵1/4
June 6, 2025 at 2:11 PM
The most remarkable film shot on one of the most remarkable days in history.
It captures the North Shore Regiment on JUNO Beach near St. Aubin-sur-Mer on D-Day. For me, the most touching moment comes at the end of the clip when a soldier pats his comrade on the shoulder to say, "it will be ok."
🧵1/4
It captures the North Shore Regiment on JUNO Beach near St. Aubin-sur-Mer on D-Day. For me, the most touching moment comes at the end of the clip when a soldier pats his comrade on the shoulder to say, "it will be ok."
🧵1/4
Leadership, D-Day, & General Eisenhower.
We know that D-Day was an overwhelming success but 81 years ago today, victory was not a foregone conclusion. Failure was a real possibility. Eisenhower wrote this note to be released if the landings failed. The last line really hits home. #responsibility
🧵
We know that D-Day was an overwhelming success but 81 years ago today, victory was not a foregone conclusion. Failure was a real possibility. Eisenhower wrote this note to be released if the landings failed. The last line really hits home. #responsibility
🧵
June 5, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Leadership, D-Day, & General Eisenhower.
We know that D-Day was an overwhelming success but 81 years ago today, victory was not a foregone conclusion. Failure was a real possibility. Eisenhower wrote this note to be released if the landings failed. The last line really hits home. #responsibility
🧵
We know that D-Day was an overwhelming success but 81 years ago today, victory was not a foregone conclusion. Failure was a real possibility. Eisenhower wrote this note to be released if the landings failed. The last line really hits home. #responsibility
🧵
Sad to hear about the passing of Marc Garneau. He was the first Canadian to go into space and flew on three space shuttle missions. RIP.
June 4, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Sad to hear about the passing of Marc Garneau. He was the first Canadian to go into space and flew on three space shuttle missions. RIP.
Tasha wanted to bask in the sunbeam but the curtains were closed!
May 9, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Tasha wanted to bask in the sunbeam but the curtains were closed!
KAPUT!
Gunners of the 12th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery with the Victory issue of the Maple Leaf newspaper, Aurich, Germany, 20 May 1945.
Gunners of the 12th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery with the Victory issue of the Maple Leaf newspaper, Aurich, Germany, 20 May 1945.
May 8, 2025 at 2:14 PM
KAPUT!
Gunners of the 12th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery with the Victory issue of the Maple Leaf newspaper, Aurich, Germany, 20 May 1945.
Gunners of the 12th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery with the Victory issue of the Maple Leaf newspaper, Aurich, Germany, 20 May 1945.
Irony!
Or, maybe not. Perhaps it is fitting to commission a doll to commemorate a battle in which the "elite" HJ soldiers were badly trounced.
Or, maybe not. Perhaps it is fitting to commission a doll to commemorate a battle in which the "elite" HJ soldiers were badly trounced.
May 1, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Irony!
Or, maybe not. Perhaps it is fitting to commission a doll to commemorate a battle in which the "elite" HJ soldiers were badly trounced.
Or, maybe not. Perhaps it is fitting to commission a doll to commemorate a battle in which the "elite" HJ soldiers were badly trounced.
Ha! Love it. Did you see this news? The company deserves to fail.
April 16, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Ha! Love it. Did you see this news? The company deserves to fail.
Canada was not born at Vimy, but the great victory is an essential part of our national DNA
Lessons from that day:
🍁An unlikely victory
🍁Success against overwhelming odds
🍁A nation, coast to coast, pulling together
🍁Close cooperation with our allies
🍁A beautiful memorial that celebrates victory
END/
Lessons from that day:
🍁An unlikely victory
🍁Success against overwhelming odds
🍁A nation, coast to coast, pulling together
🍁Close cooperation with our allies
🍁A beautiful memorial that celebrates victory
END/
April 9, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Canada was not born at Vimy, but the great victory is an essential part of our national DNA
Lessons from that day:
🍁An unlikely victory
🍁Success against overwhelming odds
🍁A nation, coast to coast, pulling together
🍁Close cooperation with our allies
🍁A beautiful memorial that celebrates victory
END/
Lessons from that day:
🍁An unlikely victory
🍁Success against overwhelming odds
🍁A nation, coast to coast, pulling together
🍁Close cooperation with our allies
🍁A beautiful memorial that celebrates victory
END/
[Her book, The Taking of Vimy Ridge, will be out this Fall! @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social Looking forward to seeing this book out in the wild!]
wlupress.wlu.ca/Books/T/The-...
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wlupress.wlu.ca/Books/T/The-...
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April 9, 2025 at 2:30 PM
[Her book, The Taking of Vimy Ridge, will be out this Fall! @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social Looking forward to seeing this book out in the wild!]
wlupress.wlu.ca/Books/T/The-...
18/
wlupress.wlu.ca/Books/T/The-...
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Tim Cook, @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social, and myself teamed up with @boneyabroad.com and @historyhack.bsky.social to talk about Vimy in 2022. You can listen to it here:
🎧: historyhack.podbean.com/e/history-ha...
📽️: youtu.be/J0bGt0LXxLI
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🎧: historyhack.podbean.com/e/history-ha...
📽️: youtu.be/J0bGt0LXxLI
16/
April 9, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Tim Cook, @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social, and myself teamed up with @boneyabroad.com and @historyhack.bsky.social to talk about Vimy in 2022. You can listen to it here:
🎧: historyhack.podbean.com/e/history-ha...
📽️: youtu.be/J0bGt0LXxLI
16/
🎧: historyhack.podbean.com/e/history-ha...
📽️: youtu.be/J0bGt0LXxLI
16/
Without question, Tim Cook's Vimy: The Battle and the Legend is the place to start. It's a tour de force. The first part on the battle is brilliant but the second half on the idea/legend of Vimy is better. His findings challenge everything you think you know about the colony to nation myth.
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April 9, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Without question, Tim Cook's Vimy: The Battle and the Legend is the place to start. It's a tour de force. The first part on the battle is brilliant but the second half on the idea/legend of Vimy is better. His findings challenge everything you think you know about the colony to nation myth.
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