Tony Pollard
@tonypollard.bsky.social
Prof of Conflict History & Archaeology, Uni of Glasgow. Bit of TV and the write stuff.
Oh, good god no. We never let the dog onto the bed.
November 16, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Oh, good god no. We never let the dog onto the bed.
Last outing for Islands at War nears close with lecture on Okinawa tomorrow. Be reminding myself of time I went underground in Japanese tunnels dug into Hacksaw Ridge. Only then did I learn about Habu, the venomous snakes who called the place home. Every day is a school day.
November 16, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Last outing for Islands at War nears close with lecture on Okinawa tomorrow. Be reminding myself of time I went underground in Japanese tunnels dug into Hacksaw Ridge. Only then did I learn about Habu, the venomous snakes who called the place home. Every day is a school day.
A beautifully made but honest sleight of hand (& half) by Peter Johnsson and Mikael’s reaction at being taken in by it, as we all were!
November 9, 2025 at 2:24 PM
A beautifully made but honest sleight of hand (& half) by Peter Johnsson and Mikael’s reaction at being taken in by it, as we all were!
Unexpected bonus at end of my stay in Visby. Chance to examine the amazing Roman-style Spatha recovered from a warrior grave in Gotland in 2021 with a masterclass in theory of metal working with swordsmithing guru Peter Johnsson. It’s a thing of beauty with elephant ivory guard.
November 9, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Unexpected bonus at end of my stay in Visby. Chance to examine the amazing Roman-style Spatha recovered from a warrior grave in Gotland in 2021 with a masterclass in theory of metal working with swordsmithing guru Peter Johnsson. It’s a thing of beauty with elephant ivory guard.
Great day of public talks at the museum in Visby. Been a fabulous few days working with iconic sites and objects, and hanging out with lovely people.
November 8, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Great day of public talks at the museum in Visby. Been a fabulous few days working with iconic sites and objects, and hanging out with lovely people.
Thanks to Maria Lindström for a great tour of Masterby 1361 battlefield in Gotland yesterday. Grateful to see another rare example of the sort of archaeology a medieval battle can leave behind. Do need to paint those figures on the diorama though!
November 7, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Thanks to Maria Lindström for a great tour of Masterby 1361 battlefield in Gotland yesterday. Grateful to see another rare example of the sort of archaeology a medieval battle can leave behind. Do need to paint those figures on the diorama though!
Visited the 1361 battlefield at Masterby in Gotland today. The local church was giving off big M R James vibes.
November 6, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Visited the 1361 battlefield at Masterby in Gotland today. The local church was giving off big M R James vibes.
Here’s ours in Glasgow. Changes with the seasons
November 1, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Here’s ours in Glasgow. Changes with the seasons
OTD 1854 - Charge of the Light Brigade. Here's my fave Lady Butler painting: Balaclava (1876), which drew criticism for showing reality of war. Central figure is veteran of charge William Henry Pennington who posed. Look and feel of work influenced Tony Richardson's 1968 movie.
October 25, 2025 at 4:34 PM
OTD 1854 - Charge of the Light Brigade. Here's my fave Lady Butler painting: Balaclava (1876), which drew criticism for showing reality of war. Central figure is veteran of charge William Henry Pennington who posed. Look and feel of work influenced Tony Richardson's 1968 movie.
Another busy day at Culloden. Worked some boggy terrain, which in 1746 caused Jacobite left difficulty in advance & retreat, but provided valuable insight into battle. Presenting initial thoughts on our discoveries in a talk at Visitor Centre 6pm tomorrow. shorturl.at/NIcFg
October 16, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Another busy day at Culloden. Worked some boggy terrain, which in 1746 caused Jacobite left difficulty in advance & retreat, but provided valuable insight into battle. Presenting initial thoughts on our discoveries in a talk at Visitor Centre 6pm tomorrow. shorturl.at/NIcFg
Great to be back on the field at Culloden, and a beautiful day into the bargain. On the surface all is now still, but the battle still lurks beneath our feet.
October 15, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Great to be back on the field at Culloden, and a beautiful day into the bargain. On the surface all is now still, but the battle still lurks beneath our feet.
Tomorrow l give my last lecture on the Axis occupation of Crete and John Pendlebury. But there’s no way l can stop talking about it or him.
October 12, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Tomorrow l give my last lecture on the Axis occupation of Crete and John Pendlebury. But there’s no way l can stop talking about it or him.
Everyone’s a critic…
October 4, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Everyone’s a critic…
Eve of my last ever new academic year. Everything I do from now until end of May will be for last time. Tomorrow it's the intro lecture for my Islands at War in the 20th century course. I've always liked this one and sure some of content will get post-retirement outings.
September 21, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Eve of my last ever new academic year. Everything I do from now until end of May will be for last time. Tomorrow it's the intro lecture for my Islands at War in the 20th century course. I've always liked this one and sure some of content will get post-retirement outings.
Taking part in this fabulous event at Uppsala University’s Gotland Campus in Visby, Sweden on Fri 7 November. Places will be limited. @kabweprq.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social @uofgwarstudies.bsky.social @uu.se
September 17, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Taking part in this fabulous event at Uppsala University’s Gotland Campus in Visby, Sweden on Fri 7 November. Places will be limited. @kabweprq.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social @uofgwarstudies.bsky.social @uu.se
Beginning the long journey home, but the work continues.
September 7, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Beginning the long journey home, but the work continues.
Not sure why pics didn’t load.
September 5, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Not sure why pics didn’t load.
Hien Nhon gate, imperial city, Hue.
September 4, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Hien Nhon gate, imperial city, Hue.
One of my favourite gardens. The Emperor’s Reading Room in the Imperial City, Hue.
September 4, 2025 at 11:08 AM
One of my favourite gardens. The Emperor’s Reading Room in the Imperial City, Hue.
My Jane Fonda moment.
14.5mm anti-aircraft gun used to defend Road No.9 in Southern Laos campaign 1971.
Ho Chi Minh Trail Museum, Hanoi.
Next stop Hue.
14.5mm anti-aircraft gun used to defend Road No.9 in Southern Laos campaign 1971.
Ho Chi Minh Trail Museum, Hanoi.
Next stop Hue.
September 3, 2025 at 10:16 AM
My Jane Fonda moment.
14.5mm anti-aircraft gun used to defend Road No.9 in Southern Laos campaign 1971.
Ho Chi Minh Trail Museum, Hanoi.
Next stop Hue.
14.5mm anti-aircraft gun used to defend Road No.9 in Southern Laos campaign 1971.
Ho Chi Minh Trail Museum, Hanoi.
Next stop Hue.
Happy 80th Birthday Vietnam!
September 2, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Happy 80th Birthday Vietnam!
The Haulers memorial. Pays tribute to those who dragged the Vietnam People’s Army artillery, including 105mm howitzers captured from the Americans by Chinese in Korean War, through the mountains. A move which sealed fate of entrenched French Union forces at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.
August 31, 2025 at 5:42 AM
The Haulers memorial. Pays tribute to those who dragged the Vietnam People’s Army artillery, including 105mm howitzers captured from the Americans by Chinese in Korean War, through the mountains. A move which sealed fate of entrenched French Union forces at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.
Dien Bien Phu. Sunset over Laos from Dominique 2. This position was manned by Moroccan, Algerian and T’ai troops when it fell to 209th regiment of the Vietnam People’s Army on night of 30/31 March 1954.
August 29, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Dien Bien Phu. Sunset over Laos from Dominique 2. This position was manned by Moroccan, Algerian and T’ai troops when it fell to 209th regiment of the Vietnam People’s Army on night of 30/31 March 1954.
First stop today - famous B52 wreckage in lake. Shot down by SAM2 missile Dec 27 1972 during Op Linebacker II. Air defences downed 15 B52 bombers plus other planes. 20,000 tons bombs dropped over 12 days killing over 1600 civilians. Now monument to resilience of people of Hanoi.
August 28, 2025 at 11:14 AM
First stop today - famous B52 wreckage in lake. Shot down by SAM2 missile Dec 27 1972 during Op Linebacker II. Air defences downed 15 B52 bombers plus other planes. 20,000 tons bombs dropped over 12 days killing over 1600 civilians. Now monument to resilience of people of Hanoi.
Wednesday evening in downtown Hanoi. Flags out to mark national day on 2 Sept when Vietnam marks independence from French & Japanese in 1945. Nothing like rounding off arrival from 17 hour flight with a Korean barbecue with old buddy Mark Waycaster. History stuff starts for real in am.
August 27, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Wednesday evening in downtown Hanoi. Flags out to mark national day on 2 Sept when Vietnam marks independence from French & Japanese in 1945. Nothing like rounding off arrival from 17 hour flight with a Korean barbecue with old buddy Mark Waycaster. History stuff starts for real in am.