Tom Tulloch-Marshall
@sommephantom.bsky.social
Genesis, history, & architecture of the IWGC. TNA WW1 documentation. Struggle for MoD & CWGC integrity dealing with WW1 ID cases. Don't subscribe to liars.
Battle of Cambrai was 20/11/1917 till 3/12/1917, - as defined by the Battle Nomenclature Committee. Would be interesting to see what the unit war diary says for Oct 1918.
November 10, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Battle of Cambrai was 20/11/1917 till 3/12/1917, - as defined by the Battle Nomenclature Committee. Would be interesting to see what the unit war diary says for Oct 1918.
realised was he'd been sent home from 1st Bn Warwickshire regiment 25/4/1915 suffering from "neurasthenia", - what would become known as "shell shock"
November 7, 2025 at 8:37 PM
realised was he'd been sent home from 1st Bn Warwickshire regiment 25/4/1915 suffering from "neurasthenia", - what would become known as "shell shock"
Was in TNA earlier this week finishing off some work for a future vol of zerohourzday.com & knowing I'd probably have some spare time ordered a WW1 officer's file I might be interested in. You will know him as "Bruce" but he was actually Charles Bruce Bairnsfather. First thing I hadn't >cont>
November 7, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Was in TNA earlier this week finishing off some work for a future vol of zerohourzday.com & knowing I'd probably have some spare time ordered a WW1 officer's file I might be interested in. You will know him as "Bruce" but he was actually Charles Bruce Bairnsfather. First thing I hadn't >cont>
"The Huts" Cemetery has long fascinated me because it isn't "The Huts Cemetery", - its "Huts Cemetery". Look at the entrance pillars & the IWGC construction drawings, - "Huts Cemetery". How it ever became "The" has evaded me.
November 5, 2025 at 10:05 PM
"The Huts" Cemetery has long fascinated me because it isn't "The Huts Cemetery", - its "Huts Cemetery". Look at the entrance pillars & the IWGC construction drawings, - "Huts Cemetery". How it ever became "The" has evaded me.
I'm looking at some of the more obscure material at TNA Kew which was used when the Official History volume for the 1916 Battle of The Somme was being prepared. The extract below ranges wider than that, but makes a VERY interesting point about predetermined tasks for reserve troops de facto >cont>
October 30, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I'm looking at some of the more obscure material at TNA Kew which was used when the Official History volume for the 1916 Battle of The Somme was being prepared. The extract below ranges wider than that, but makes a VERY interesting point about predetermined tasks for reserve troops de facto >cont>
The Cedric Charles Dickens memorial near "Lousy Wood" earlier today, - or should it now be called the "what the dickens" memorial😲
What would the lads have made of those monsters ?
(Cedric's body wasn't there of course, post-war excavations proved that).
What would the lads have made of those monsters ?
(Cedric's body wasn't there of course, post-war excavations proved that).
October 24, 2025 at 6:51 PM
The Cedric Charles Dickens memorial near "Lousy Wood" earlier today, - or should it now be called the "what the dickens" memorial😲
What would the lads have made of those monsters ?
(Cedric's body wasn't there of course, post-war excavations proved that).
What would the lads have made of those monsters ?
(Cedric's body wasn't there of course, post-war excavations proved that).
My present temporary assistant (imaginatively called "Mog") is not actually contributing much to current tasks. In fact having had his 3rd meal of the day he's resigned his position & gone for a stroll😲
October 22, 2025 at 6:59 PM
My present temporary assistant (imaginatively called "Mog") is not actually contributing much to current tasks. In fact having had his 3rd meal of the day he's resigned his position & gone for a stroll😲
Rededication service for CSM Reginald C Rogers MM, Royal Marine Light Infantry, Serre Road Cemetery No2 today.
October 22, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Rededication service for CSM Reginald C Rogers MM, Royal Marine Light Infantry, Serre Road Cemetery No2 today.
Australian 2nd Division Memorial, the Pozieres windmill position, today.
In less than 7 weeks fighting at Pozières and Mouquet Farm, three AIF divisions (1st, 2nd, & 4th) suffered 23,000 casualties. Of these, 6800 were killed or died of wounds.
In less than 7 weeks fighting at Pozières and Mouquet Farm, three AIF divisions (1st, 2nd, & 4th) suffered 23,000 casualties. Of these, 6800 were killed or died of wounds.
October 18, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Australian 2nd Division Memorial, the Pozieres windmill position, today.
In less than 7 weeks fighting at Pozières and Mouquet Farm, three AIF divisions (1st, 2nd, & 4th) suffered 23,000 casualties. Of these, 6800 were killed or died of wounds.
In less than 7 weeks fighting at Pozières and Mouquet Farm, three AIF divisions (1st, 2nd, & 4th) suffered 23,000 casualties. Of these, 6800 were killed or died of wounds.
The Battle Nomenclature Committee separated the "Actions of the Hohenzollern Redoubt 13 - 19 October" (1915) from the "official" Battle of Loos. Nothing resulted from that terrible week except horrendous losses. Its a tragedy that the cwgc refuse to recognise the graves of men who were KiA 13/10/15😒
October 13, 2025 at 7:56 PM
The Battle Nomenclature Committee separated the "Actions of the Hohenzollern Redoubt 13 - 19 October" (1915) from the "official" Battle of Loos. Nothing resulted from that terrible week except horrendous losses. Its a tragedy that the cwgc refuse to recognise the graves of men who were KiA 13/10/15😒
Two men of 1/5th North Staffs KiA 13/10/1915 & buried approximately as marked below were exhumed post-war & reburied in Cabaret Rouge BC. VERY SOLID cases proving the ID of both men were submitted to cwgc almost 10 years apart, & rejected FOR ENTIRELY SPURIOUS "reasons". So much for "remembrance".
October 13, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Two men of 1/5th North Staffs KiA 13/10/1915 & buried approximately as marked below were exhumed post-war & reburied in Cabaret Rouge BC. VERY SOLID cases proving the ID of both men were submitted to cwgc almost 10 years apart, & rejected FOR ENTIRELY SPURIOUS "reasons". So much for "remembrance".
"In the US, flapjacks continued to mean pancakes."
And in the USA you insist on calling crisps "chips" & chips "fries". - We sent you out there with a perfectly good language (English) & look what you've done to it😲
And in the USA you insist on calling crisps "chips" & chips "fries". - We sent you out there with a perfectly good language (English) & look what you've done to it😲
October 11, 2025 at 2:31 PM
"In the US, flapjacks continued to mean pancakes."
And in the USA you insist on calling crisps "chips" & chips "fries". - We sent you out there with a perfectly good language (English) & look what you've done to it😲
And in the USA you insist on calling crisps "chips" & chips "fries". - We sent you out there with a perfectly good language (English) & look what you've done to it😲
The Vis-en-Artois Memorial is probably the "forgotten" memorial of the WW1 Western Front, - probably quite simply because of its location & the dates of commemorations.
October 7, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The Vis-en-Artois Memorial is probably the "forgotten" memorial of the WW1 Western Front, - probably quite simply because of its location & the dates of commemorations.
Gordon Cemetery, Mametz, a few days ago. These nice chaps (who said hello & exited the cemetery as I approached) confirmed that they were in the process of "nettoyage". I "think" they were to clean the cross with sponge & water, but they showed me the pot of special bronze cleaner for the >cont>
October 3, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Gordon Cemetery, Mametz, a few days ago. These nice chaps (who said hello & exited the cemetery as I approached) confirmed that they were in the process of "nettoyage". I "think" they were to clean the cross with sponge & water, but they showed me the pot of special bronze cleaner for the >cont>
Some tidying-up going on at the Hawthorne craters a couple of days ago. Nice view down to White City, sunken lane, etc.
(Take nothing but memories, & leave nothing but footprints👍).
... British packaging😒
(Take nothing but memories, & leave nothing but footprints👍).
... British packaging😒
October 1, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Some tidying-up going on at the Hawthorne craters a couple of days ago. Nice view down to White City, sunken lane, etc.
(Take nothing but memories, & leave nothing but footprints👍).
... British packaging😒
(Take nothing but memories, & leave nothing but footprints👍).
... British packaging😒
Taken down for refurbishment👍
October 1, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Taken down for refurbishment👍
51st Div Memorial, Beaumont-Hamel, today.
Plaque has gone !
Plaque has gone !
September 30, 2025 at 4:11 PM
51st Div Memorial, Beaumont-Hamel, today.
Plaque has gone !
Plaque has gone !
Visited Guards Grave at Villers-Cotterets today(*). Those who know it will be aware that its a very early 1914 cemetery SW of Soissons & a very long way from any other IWGC cemetery. Its VERY difficult to find as its 4ft from a main road & has a bl**dy great Cross of Sacrifice which obviously >cont>
September 28, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Visited Guards Grave at Villers-Cotterets today(*). Those who know it will be aware that its a very early 1914 cemetery SW of Soissons & a very long way from any other IWGC cemetery. Its VERY difficult to find as its 4ft from a main road & has a bl**dy great Cross of Sacrifice which obviously >cont>
Well it would be impolite not to support the Somme economy(ies)👍😇
September 28, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Well it would be impolite not to support the Somme economy(ies)👍😇
Chris - here's the explanation for the exhumations from Epernay to Terllincthun, - cwgc meeting No 476, September 1964 >
September 23, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Chris - here's the explanation for the exhumations from Epernay to Terllincthun, - cwgc meeting No 476, September 1964 >
EMail from TNA Kew today.
(On the bright side, they haven't sent me links to the 154,542 [really] references to "Easter" in "Discovery👍).
(On the bright side, they haven't sent me links to the 154,542 [really] references to "Easter" in "Discovery👍).
September 20, 2025 at 7:53 PM
EMail from TNA Kew today.
(On the bright side, they haven't sent me links to the 154,542 [really] references to "Easter" in "Discovery👍).
(On the bright side, they haven't sent me links to the 154,542 [really] references to "Easter" in "Discovery👍).
Does anybody know of a "Liverpool Pals" (17, 18, 19, & 20th Bns KLR) headstone on the Western Front for an UNKNOWN soldier which has the pals badge on it ?
September 19, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Does anybody know of a "Liverpool Pals" (17, 18, 19, & 20th Bns KLR) headstone on the Western Front for an UNKNOWN soldier which has the pals badge on it ?
Killed by his own machine guns - how - was he ten foot tall🤔
September 17, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Killed by his own machine guns - how - was he ten foot tall🤔
My hatred of all things www / digital is based upon THE FACT that when the instructions sat "PRESS ON BUTTON X" then the one thing which won't exist is button fecking "X"😱
September 17, 2025 at 7:31 PM
My hatred of all things www / digital is based upon THE FACT that when the instructions sat "PRESS ON BUTTON X" then the one thing which won't exist is button fecking "X"😱