Chris Smith
@spyhistorian.bsky.social
Historian. Spies, signals intelligence, Second World War. Social and Cultural history. History of humour. Insults = 🚫
It's a brilliant book, as you say, very dated in regards to the FWW. Still, very worth reading five decades on.
November 11, 2025 at 10:52 AM
It's a brilliant book, as you say, very dated in regards to the FWW. Still, very worth reading five decades on.
And it so is. The best part of my day is walking to work listening to Origin Story. I think you should do a making of episode for the non-paying listener. Historical research is *really* hard. It genuinely amazes me that you both do this.
November 10, 2025 at 10:49 PM
And it so is. The best part of my day is walking to work listening to Origin Story. I think you should do a making of episode for the non-paying listener. Historical research is *really* hard. It genuinely amazes me that you both do this.
To be fair, that doesn't sound terrible. Though, if you aren't already familiar, check out Bully, Blondshell, Momma, and Daisy the Great.
November 10, 2025 at 10:37 PM
To be fair, that doesn't sound terrible. Though, if you aren't already familiar, check out Bully, Blondshell, Momma, and Daisy the Great.
I know people love their sub-GCSE garbage, but I can't fathom why. It really is risible guff. I genuinely hate it and the painful thing is that students and, worse, parents love it.
November 10, 2025 at 10:16 PM
I know people love their sub-GCSE garbage, but I can't fathom why. It really is risible guff. I genuinely hate it and the painful thing is that students and, worse, parents love it.
That said, Origin Story is just the best it makes the competition, like the dreary Sandbrook drivel look so pedestrian. I set it for my students.
November 10, 2025 at 10:10 PM
That said, Origin Story is just the best it makes the competition, like the dreary Sandbrook drivel look so pedestrian. I set it for my students.
I really like this podcast and have a lot of time for all of them. But when they get stuff wrong it doesn't half make for painful listening. I'm a little disappointed that you've moved away from the contemporary politics podcasting. It was always refreshing to hear takes that aren't batshit.
November 10, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I really like this podcast and have a lot of time for all of them. But when they get stuff wrong it doesn't half make for painful listening. I'm a little disappointed that you've moved away from the contemporary politics podcasting. It was always refreshing to hear takes that aren't batshit.
Maybe it isn't too late? When all of us junior academics inevitably get made redundant maybe I'll do another PhD. Fancy supervising? Not serious but kind of serious.
November 10, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Maybe it isn't too late? When all of us junior academics inevitably get made redundant maybe I'll do another PhD. Fancy supervising? Not serious but kind of serious.
Not with 1? I'm finding book 3 impossible to finish after 6 years. I've idiotically agreed to write book 4. Neither of these are the book I now want to write. I really want to write about the history of rock music and metal. Things I still like.
November 10, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Not with 1? I'm finding book 3 impossible to finish after 6 years. I've idiotically agreed to write book 4. Neither of these are the book I now want to write. I really want to write about the history of rock music and metal. Things I still like.
I prefer Seymour Cocks, if I recall correctly Dingle Foot was a proper Labour man.
November 10, 2025 at 9:53 PM
I prefer Seymour Cocks, if I recall correctly Dingle Foot was a proper Labour man.
That all said, daft as he is, I'd love him to become Tory leader. I don't think he is a political mastermind by any stretch but a very hardworking proper MP with actual values. Unlike the other sodden prices that populate current politics. I wouldn't vote for them but I wouldn't be appalled.
November 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
That all said, daft as he is, I'd love him to become Tory leader. I don't think he is a political mastermind by any stretch but a very hardworking proper MP with actual values. Unlike the other sodden prices that populate current politics. I wouldn't vote for them but I wouldn't be appalled.
That's a fair call. But I dislike making light of names from other cultures. Seymour Cocks is objectively and entirely hilarious.
I also have a soft spot for James Cleverly who seems to have the intellect of a brick.
I also have a soft spot for James Cleverly who seems to have the intellect of a brick.
November 10, 2025 at 9:38 PM
That's a fair call. But I dislike making light of names from other cultures. Seymour Cocks is objectively and entirely hilarious.
I also have a soft spot for James Cleverly who seems to have the intellect of a brick.
I also have a soft spot for James Cleverly who seems to have the intellect of a brick.
That is excellent.
November 10, 2025 at 8:09 PM
That is excellent.
A bit foolish given that by capitulating, they tacitly accept responsibility.
November 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A bit foolish given that by capitulating, they tacitly accept responsibility.
Well, Reform Plc is a small business...
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Well, Reform Plc is a small business...
Looking through the lists of MPs elected in the 19th and early 20th century is a gift that keeps on giving for those interested in baby names to avoid... or possibly punish the infant for future crimes.
November 10, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Looking through the lists of MPs elected in the 19th and early 20th century is a gift that keeps on giving for those interested in baby names to avoid... or possibly punish the infant for future crimes.
Personal favourites:
* Smedley Crooke, MP for Birmingham Deritend
* Seymour Cocks, MP for Broxtowe
* Waldron Smithers, MP for Chislehurst
* Dingle Foot, MP for Dundee and Ipswich
* Bartle Bull, MP for Enfield
* Isidore Salmon, MP for Harrow
* Smedley Crooke, MP for Birmingham Deritend
* Seymour Cocks, MP for Broxtowe
* Waldron Smithers, MP for Chislehurst
* Dingle Foot, MP for Dundee and Ipswich
* Bartle Bull, MP for Enfield
* Isidore Salmon, MP for Harrow
November 10, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Personal favourites:
* Smedley Crooke, MP for Birmingham Deritend
* Seymour Cocks, MP for Broxtowe
* Waldron Smithers, MP for Chislehurst
* Dingle Foot, MP for Dundee and Ipswich
* Bartle Bull, MP for Enfield
* Isidore Salmon, MP for Harrow
* Smedley Crooke, MP for Birmingham Deritend
* Seymour Cocks, MP for Broxtowe
* Waldron Smithers, MP for Chislehurst
* Dingle Foot, MP for Dundee and Ipswich
* Bartle Bull, MP for Enfield
* Isidore Salmon, MP for Harrow
Sure sure.
"We had, by far, the highest, and now it's down in less than half because he's done - all these great things that we did - and I think he did it just because I approved it, which is crazy."
DJT
"We had, by far, the highest, and now it's down in less than half because he's done - all these great things that we did - and I think he did it just because I approved it, which is crazy."
DJT
November 10, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Sure sure.
"We had, by far, the highest, and now it's down in less than half because he's done - all these great things that we did - and I think he did it just because I approved it, which is crazy."
DJT
"We had, by far, the highest, and now it's down in less than half because he's done - all these great things that we did - and I think he did it just because I approved it, which is crazy."
DJT
Nope, I watched an old man be slow and underperform. I watched another old man ramble incoherently. The former was presented as having dementia and the latter given a free pass. As usual.
November 10, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Nope, I watched an old man be slow and underperform. I watched another old man ramble incoherently. The former was presented as having dementia and the latter given a free pass. As usual.
Moore also misunderstands what history is. It is not some sacred creed that to review our understanding of a topic is to commit a vile heresy. *All* historians rewrite history. That's literally the point. If we knew everything already, there would be no point researching and writing history at all.
November 10, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Moore also misunderstands what history is. It is not some sacred creed that to review our understanding of a topic is to commit a vile heresy. *All* historians rewrite history. That's literally the point. If we knew everything already, there would be no point researching and writing history at all.
Also loving the right wingers culture war strategy of toppling a right wing DG under a Labour government. Who do they imagine will replace him?
November 10, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Also loving the right wingers culture war strategy of toppling a right wing DG under a Labour government. Who do they imagine will replace him?