Stephen Fisher
@seaspitfires.com
Author, historian & archaeologist, Lindblad Expeditions guide, National Geographic expert. Has a soft spot for WW2 Coastal Forces, landing craft, LCT 7074 & D-Day. Servant to Flynn. Writes books for Penguin.
www.seaspitfires.com
www.seaspitfires.com
And another looking south over Vlissingen. On the left is the Noorderbegraafplaats cemetery. The road heading away on the left is Van Dishoeckstraat and leads to the shipbuilding yard at the docks.
📷 IWM CL 1502 & Google Maps.
📷 IWM CL 1502 & Google Maps.
October 10, 2025 at 9:22 AM
And another looking south over Vlissingen. On the left is the Noorderbegraafplaats cemetery. The road heading away on the left is Van Dishoeckstraat and leads to the shipbuilding yard at the docks.
📷 IWM CL 1502 & Google Maps.
📷 IWM CL 1502 & Google Maps.
Sort of around now in 1944, and today. Vlissingen on Walcheren flooded by the RAF raids that breached the dykes around the island. In the middle foreground is Our Lady's Church on Brouwenaarstraat.
📷 IWM CL 1506 & Google Maps.
📷 IWM CL 1506 & Google Maps.
October 10, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Sort of around now in 1944, and today. Vlissingen on Walcheren flooded by the RAF raids that breached the dykes around the island. In the middle foreground is Our Lady's Church on Brouwenaarstraat.
📷 IWM CL 1506 & Google Maps.
📷 IWM CL 1506 & Google Maps.
Finally back home after a long summer season that has taken me to four new countries, from the cold Arctic ice of Greenland’s ice cap to the sun baked hills of Gallipoli. Time for some rest and writing before I go back to Antarctica!
September 18, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Finally back home after a long summer season that has taken me to four new countries, from the cold Arctic ice of Greenland’s ice cap to the sun baked hills of Gallipoli. Time for some rest and writing before I go back to Antarctica!
Finally back in NW Europe after 11 weeks almost constantly on the road/seas. Just two more battlefield tours to do and then, in 12 days, I can have a lie-in.
Except, a handy reminder from the plane that I have a book on #Walcheren44 to write!
Except, a handy reminder from the plane that I have a book on #Walcheren44 to write!
September 9, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Finally back in NW Europe after 11 weeks almost constantly on the road/seas. Just two more battlefield tours to do and then, in 12 days, I can have a lie-in.
Except, a handy reminder from the plane that I have a book on #Walcheren44 to write!
Except, a handy reminder from the plane that I have a book on #Walcheren44 to write!
Today on the @istoriatravel.bsky.social Gallipoli tour was all about terrain. Deep gulleys, imposing cliffs & plenty of inescapable high ground made moving across the peninsula punishing. It could never have been as easy as the plan demanded. With @alexchurchill.bsky.social & @peterhart.bsky.social
September 4, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Today on the @istoriatravel.bsky.social Gallipoli tour was all about terrain. Deep gulleys, imposing cliffs & plenty of inescapable high ground made moving across the peninsula punishing. It could never have been as easy as the plan demanded. With @alexchurchill.bsky.social & @peterhart.bsky.social
Here’s a better photo of my time in the Arctic. I’m afraid I’m still on the road and won’t be back home for another 3 weeks, but I can check my sources then. I’ll try and look through my digital files before then, but it might be tricky on an iPad!
August 31, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Here’s a better photo of my time in the Arctic. I’m afraid I’m still on the road and won’t be back home for another 3 weeks, but I can check my sources then. I’ll try and look through my digital files before then, but it might be tricky on an iPad!
Only yesterday I was out on trial in a Viking court for mispronouncing Newfoundland. My defence was that I speak the King’s English. It didn’t wash.
August 31, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Only yesterday I was out on trial in a Viking court for mispronouncing Newfoundland. My defence was that I speak the King’s English. It didn’t wash.
Time I was off. Again.
June 23, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Time I was off. Again.
Yes! Finally we can do away with the history we don't like and make up the stuff we don't know! Stonehenge, Lord Lucan, the Mary Celeste, MH370, Loch Ness, the Pyramids, the Bermuda Triangle, Trump's hair, all these mysteries will topple to AI!
ALL HAIL GROK!
ALL HAIL GROK!
June 21, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Yes! Finally we can do away with the history we don't like and make up the stuff we don't know! Stonehenge, Lord Lucan, the Mary Celeste, MH370, Loch Ness, the Pyramids, the Bermuda Triangle, Trump's hair, all these mysteries will topple to AI!
ALL HAIL GROK!
ALL HAIL GROK!
I've just finished my fourth trip to Normandy this spring, but nothing beat the awesome long-weekend tour @alexchurchill.bsky.social & I did of Sword Beach. So we're going to do it again next April & throw in a tour of Gold as well! Still spots available, see @istoriatravel.bsky.social for details.
June 13, 2025 at 6:52 PM
I've just finished my fourth trip to Normandy this spring, but nothing beat the awesome long-weekend tour @alexchurchill.bsky.social & I did of Sword Beach. So we're going to do it again next April & throw in a tour of Gold as well! Still spots available, see @istoriatravel.bsky.social for details.
Going book hunting with @alexchurchill.bsky.social takes a different form nowadays, because we end up hunting our own books to sign them! You’ll find some more guerrilla signed books in Windsor.
May 28, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Going book hunting with @alexchurchill.bsky.social takes a different form nowadays, because we end up hunting our own books to sign them! You’ll find some more guerrilla signed books in Windsor.
Join @ww2tv.bsky.social and I next Monday, 26 May at 7pm British Summer Time, to discuss the Battle of Ouistreham as we approach the 81st anniversary of D-Day:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CloK...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CloK...
May 19, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Join @ww2tv.bsky.social and I next Monday, 26 May at 7pm British Summer Time, to discuss the Battle of Ouistreham as we approach the 81st anniversary of D-Day:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CloK...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CloK...
If you’re taking the Eurostar out of St Pancreas, you’ll find these in the window of @hatchards.bsky.social. Perfect holiday reading!
May 10, 2025 at 8:46 AM
If you’re taking the Eurostar out of St Pancreas, you’ll find these in the window of @hatchards.bsky.social. Perfect holiday reading!
Spotted at @hatchards.bsky.social St Pancreas at the Eurostar terminal @alexchurchill.bsky.social and @pikegrey1418.bsky.social
May 10, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Spotted at @hatchards.bsky.social St Pancreas at the Eurostar terminal @alexchurchill.bsky.social and @pikegrey1418.bsky.social
After thirteen and a half years of dedicated companionship, little Stellar has gone to sit on the giant keyboard in the sky. 💔
May 9, 2025 at 7:04 PM
After thirteen and a half years of dedicated companionship, little Stellar has gone to sit on the giant keyboard in the sky. 💔
This is called pushing and it should be illegal.
May 6, 2025 at 2:33 PM
This is called pushing and it should be illegal.
On this important #Maythe4thBeWithYou anniversary, let’s look at whether 21 Panzer Division’s counter attack at Sword on 6 June might have been more successful if they had deployed their AT-ATs on the left flank instead of the right.
In this thread I shall consider…. 1/265
In this thread I shall consider…. 1/265
May 4, 2025 at 8:02 AM
On this important #Maythe4thBeWithYou anniversary, let’s look at whether 21 Panzer Division’s counter attack at Sword on 6 June might have been more successful if they had deployed their AT-ATs on the left flank instead of the right.
In this thread I shall consider…. 1/265
In this thread I shall consider…. 1/265
And we’re off to Sword Beach! Portsmouth Harbour isn’t quite as busy as it was in 1944, but most of the modern fleet is here at least.
April 11, 2025 at 8:14 AM
And we’re off to Sword Beach! Portsmouth Harbour isn’t quite as busy as it was in 1944, but most of the modern fleet is here at least.
The first tour dedicated to #SwordBeach begins, in Portsmouth appropriately enough. Soon to become an annual tradition*
*hopefully
*hopefully
April 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
The first tour dedicated to #SwordBeach begins, in Portsmouth appropriately enough. Soon to become an annual tradition*
*hopefully
*hopefully
#OTD 81 years ago, #LCT7074 was commissioned into the Royal Navy. Exactly one year later, #OTD 80 years ago, Sub Lt John Baggott and the crew were told that after 10 months supplying the Allied armies in Europe, 7074's role was at an end. The next day they sailed to Portsmouth.
April 7, 2025 at 8:39 AM
The moment you’ve all been waiting for! Sword Beach: The Paperback is out in shops now! Look out for guerrilla signed copies around Hampshire and London in the coming weeks.
April 5, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The moment you’ve all been waiting for! Sword Beach: The Paperback is out in shops now! Look out for guerrilla signed copies around Hampshire and London in the coming weeks.
Looking forward to teaching my new followers about Sword Beach. Welcome one, welcome all!
Oh, wait..
Oh, wait..
March 21, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Looking forward to teaching my new followers about Sword Beach. Welcome one, welcome all!
Oh, wait..
Oh, wait..