Peter Johnston
@peterajohnston.bsky.social
Director, Narrative and Content at Imperial War Museums. Military historian, museum professional, and frequent explorer of museums, memorials and battlefields. All views here are mine alone
I was really excited to join a special tour of Clapham South Deep Level Shelter this afternoon with IWM's patrons. A fascinating history beyond the Second World War, with an afterlife including being a hostel and labour exchange for those on the Windrush, and a hotel for the Festival of Britain
October 29, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I was really excited to join a special tour of Clapham South Deep Level Shelter this afternoon with IWM's patrons. A fascinating history beyond the Second World War, with an afterlife including being a hostel and labour exchange for those on the Windrush, and a hotel for the Festival of Britain
I've a feeling we're not in Kansas (City) anymore...
September 25, 2025 at 10:01 PM
I've a feeling we're not in Kansas (City) anymore...
I'm in Kansas City, Missouri this week at the National World War I Museum and Memorial for the annual meeting of our First World War network. Lots of great tours and discussions to be had over the next couple days with colleagues working across all aspects of FWW history
September 23, 2025 at 3:50 PM
I'm in Kansas City, Missouri this week at the National World War I Museum and Memorial for the annual meeting of our First World War network. Lots of great tours and discussions to be had over the next couple days with colleagues working across all aspects of FWW history
John Dundas flew IWM's R6915 Spitfire, and his and Hugh Dundas' medals and associated papers are in the IWM collection. We also have this photo (HU 141266) of the brothers taken at the house in Cawthorne in October 1940 while they were both on leave #SWW
September 16, 2025 at 9:14 PM
John Dundas flew IWM's R6915 Spitfire, and his and Hugh Dundas' medals and associated papers are in the IWM collection. We also have this photo (HU 141266) of the brothers taken at the house in Cawthorne in October 1940 while they were both on leave #SWW
Today in 1945 General Seishiro Itagaki surrendered to Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander in Southeast Asia, at the Municipal Building in Singapore. The Instrument of Surrender was photographed, and the pen used and a flag flown over the Padang are now in IWM's collection #SWW
September 12, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Today in 1945 General Seishiro Itagaki surrendered to Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander in Southeast Asia, at the Municipal Building in Singapore. The Instrument of Surrender was photographed, and the pen used and a flag flown over the Padang are now in IWM's collection #SWW
You know you've got a good seat for an airshow when you see this sign
September 6, 2025 at 6:46 PM
You know you've got a good seat for an airshow when you see this sign
When you gotta espionage all day but you missed breakfast
August 1, 2025 at 1:54 PM
When you gotta espionage all day but you missed breakfast
A very exciting moment for me today when I spotted this in the wild, perching on the shelves of Waterstones on Gower Street
July 18, 2025 at 4:46 PM
A very exciting moment for me today when I spotted this in the wild, perching on the shelves of Waterstones on Gower Street
Enjoyed a little team outing with colleagues today to the V&A East Storehouse. Love the simple interaction on collecting
July 2, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Enjoyed a little team outing with colleagues today to the V&A East Storehouse. Love the simple interaction on collecting
A then and now from Hamburg; IWM image BU 5284 showing a Sherman Firefly from 7th Armoured Div in position during the occupation of the city on 4 May, and the same view taken this week #SWW
June 19, 2025 at 7:32 AM
A then and now from Hamburg; IWM image BU 5284 showing a Sherman Firefly from 7th Armoured Div in position during the occupation of the city on 4 May, and the same view taken this week #SWW
Ich kenne den Typen!
June 18, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Ich kenne den Typen!
Congratulations @iainmacgregor1.bsky.social on the launch of your new book at IWM tonight. An excellent event enjoyed by a big crowd. Really looking forward to digging into the book over the weekend
June 5, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Congratulations @iainmacgregor1.bsky.social on the launch of your new book at IWM tonight. An excellent event enjoyed by a big crowd. Really looking forward to digging into the book over the weekend
Really lucky to have been busy across this anniversary period, and for us to have had the opportunity to share stories and connect people now with the events of the SWW. Sets us up nicely for VJ Day
May 9, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Really lucky to have been busy across this anniversary period, and for us to have had the opportunity to share stories and connect people now with the events of the SWW. Sets us up nicely for VJ Day
Today's office for VE Day celebration related work
May 5, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Today's office for VE Day celebration related work
"A bad bird," apparently. Does look a bit shifty.
This is IWM TR 1561. Part of a series of colour transparencies taken in 1944 by official photographers on keeping poultry in Britain. Must have been a slow week. #CluckingBell #SWW
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
This is IWM TR 1561. Part of a series of colour transparencies taken in 1944 by official photographers on keeping poultry in Britain. Must have been a slow week. #CluckingBell #SWW
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
May 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM
"A bad bird," apparently. Does look a bit shifty.
This is IWM TR 1561. Part of a series of colour transparencies taken in 1944 by official photographers on keeping poultry in Britain. Must have been a slow week. #CluckingBell #SWW
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
This is IWM TR 1561. Part of a series of colour transparencies taken in 1944 by official photographers on keeping poultry in Britain. Must have been a slow week. #CluckingBell #SWW
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
It's out in the wild! And in good company too
May 1, 2025 at 10:27 AM
It's out in the wild! And in good company too
OTD in 1945 Operation Varsity took place, part of the Allied attack across the Rhine in the endgame of the #SWW. It was the greatest airborne operation of the war; some 40,000 troops were dropped by 1,500 planes and gliders. In this image (IWM BU 2072) waiting troops watch the armada fly overhead
March 24, 2025 at 2:45 PM
OTD in 1945 Operation Varsity took place, part of the Allied attack across the Rhine in the endgame of the #SWW. It was the greatest airborne operation of the war; some 40,000 troops were dropped by 1,500 planes and gliders. In this image (IWM BU 2072) waiting troops watch the armada fly overhead
Thanks to @militaryhistorymag.bsky.social for highlighting the upcoming release of my book! #SWW #VEDay80
March 14, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Thanks to @militaryhistorymag.bsky.social for highlighting the upcoming release of my book! #SWW #VEDay80
Really pleased to have been able to go on BBC Breakfast this morning to talk VE and VJ Day, and IWM's plans for the 80th anniversary commemorations this year #SWW
March 5, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Really pleased to have been able to go on BBC Breakfast this morning to talk VE and VJ Day, and IWM's plans for the 80th anniversary commemorations this year #SWW
A limited series based on Stackpole's Rogue Squadron. The best bits of Band of Brothers, Masters of the Air, Battle of Britain all rolled into one, all in space
February 27, 2025 at 9:48 PM
A limited series based on Stackpole's Rogue Squadron. The best bits of Band of Brothers, Masters of the Air, Battle of Britain all rolled into one, all in space
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Valentines are great
But I love Matilda's too
Violets are blue
Valentines are great
But I love Matilda's too
February 14, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Valentines are great
But I love Matilda's too
Violets are blue
Valentines are great
But I love Matilda's too
Using that theory, and being deliberately provocative, does that mean this wasn't a tank either?
February 10, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Using that theory, and being deliberately provocative, does that mean this wasn't a tank either?
Back in the office
February 10, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Back in the office
