Ubique Vir
@ubiquevir.bsky.social
Life of a Royal Engineer. A digital archive created from the military collection and memoirs of Col. Douglas Victory Hutchinson MBE RE 29/05/1919 - 26/03/2002
Remembering my Grandpa & the ‘fine fellows’ he lost along the way serving King & Country in the Far East.
After 38 months in India & Burma his VJ Day passed with little fanfare as he helped dismantle camps & rebuild German infrastructure.
Life went on for the living.
#VJDay80
After 38 months in India & Burma his VJ Day passed with little fanfare as he helped dismantle camps & rebuild German infrastructure.
Life went on for the living.
#VJDay80
August 15, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Remembering my Grandpa & the ‘fine fellows’ he lost along the way serving King & Country in the Far East.
After 38 months in India & Burma his VJ Day passed with little fanfare as he helped dismantle camps & rebuild German infrastructure.
Life went on for the living.
#VJDay80
After 38 months in India & Burma his VJ Day passed with little fanfare as he helped dismantle camps & rebuild German infrastructure.
Life went on for the living.
#VJDay80
Thought I’d mark the occasion and let some of the collection see the light of day. Even dug the old desert goatskin out of the garage. 🐐
PS don’t tell anyone but the LRDP Sappers wore it better than those little-known SAS chaps! 😉😎
PS don’t tell anyone but the LRDP Sappers wore it better than those little-known SAS chaps! 😉😎
August 14, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Thought I’d mark the occasion and let some of the collection see the light of day. Even dug the old desert goatskin out of the garage. 🐐
PS don’t tell anyone but the LRDP Sappers wore it better than those little-known SAS chaps! 😉😎
PS don’t tell anyone but the LRDP Sappers wore it better than those little-known SAS chaps! 😉😎
Having just given this Thursdays Webinar a ‘hard-edit’ and read through, I was horrified to see it is still running 30 minutes over.
Time to take the chain saw to it and resign all that research to the cutting room floor!
It won’t be the same without every CRE etc but 5 years into 50 mins is tough.
Time to take the chain saw to it and resign all that research to the cutting room floor!
It won’t be the same without every CRE etc but 5 years into 50 mins is tough.
August 10, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Having just given this Thursdays Webinar a ‘hard-edit’ and read through, I was horrified to see it is still running 30 minutes over.
Time to take the chain saw to it and resign all that research to the cutting room floor!
It won’t be the same without every CRE etc but 5 years into 50 mins is tough.
Time to take the chain saw to it and resign all that research to the cutting room floor!
It won’t be the same without every CRE etc but 5 years into 50 mins is tough.
Honoured to shine a light on my Grandpa’s time in 12 Fld Coy RE during WWII.
From Palestine, the Western Deserts, to the Arakan & beyond.
Defence, logistics, desert patrols, Chindits & maps.
@rehs-1716.bsky.social
@crusaderproject.bsky.social
@thinkdefence.bsky.social
@merrynwalters.uk
Link in ALT
From Palestine, the Western Deserts, to the Arakan & beyond.
Defence, logistics, desert patrols, Chindits & maps.
@rehs-1716.bsky.social
@crusaderproject.bsky.social
@thinkdefence.bsky.social
@merrynwalters.uk
Link in ALT
July 29, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Honoured to shine a light on my Grandpa’s time in 12 Fld Coy RE during WWII.
From Palestine, the Western Deserts, to the Arakan & beyond.
Defence, logistics, desert patrols, Chindits & maps.
@rehs-1716.bsky.social
@crusaderproject.bsky.social
@thinkdefence.bsky.social
@merrynwalters.uk
Link in ALT
From Palestine, the Western Deserts, to the Arakan & beyond.
Defence, logistics, desert patrols, Chindits & maps.
@rehs-1716.bsky.social
@crusaderproject.bsky.social
@thinkdefence.bsky.social
@merrynwalters.uk
Link in ALT
So many creations of engineering ingenuity that came together to form the greatest logistical supply chain in history.
Meanwhile 8000 miles away, it was good old ‘stick & string’ doctrine that filled the void from lack of resources.
Not sure a bamboo dreadnought would fare well on the Channel mind?
Meanwhile 8000 miles away, it was good old ‘stick & string’ doctrine that filled the void from lack of resources.
Not sure a bamboo dreadnought would fare well on the Channel mind?
July 20, 2025 at 9:44 AM
So many creations of engineering ingenuity that came together to form the greatest logistical supply chain in history.
Meanwhile 8000 miles away, it was good old ‘stick & string’ doctrine that filled the void from lack of resources.
Not sure a bamboo dreadnought would fare well on the Channel mind?
Meanwhile 8000 miles away, it was good old ‘stick & string’ doctrine that filled the void from lack of resources.
Not sure a bamboo dreadnought would fare well on the Channel mind?
Been absent of late but your threads are always a joy to return to, lots to think about.
Here’s a Battleaxe treat I cobbled together for a recent talk. (Also August 14th REHS webinar)
Can you imagine this lot trundling up the Escarpment?
What a sight/sound to behold.
@robertglennie.bsky.social
Here’s a Battleaxe treat I cobbled together for a recent talk. (Also August 14th REHS webinar)
Can you imagine this lot trundling up the Escarpment?
What a sight/sound to behold.
@robertglennie.bsky.social
June 24, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Been absent of late but your threads are always a joy to return to, lots to think about.
Here’s a Battleaxe treat I cobbled together for a recent talk. (Also August 14th REHS webinar)
Can you imagine this lot trundling up the Escarpment?
What a sight/sound to behold.
@robertglennie.bsky.social
Here’s a Battleaxe treat I cobbled together for a recent talk. (Also August 14th REHS webinar)
Can you imagine this lot trundling up the Escarpment?
What a sight/sound to behold.
@robertglennie.bsky.social
Very much looking forward to this episode of @ww2tv.bsky.social.
I was excited to share a handwritten note from 34 Coln commander to 23rd Inf Bde C/O Montague Stopford, detail the attack whilst my Grandpa was off recceing suitable grounds to build a jungle landing strip!
@historybowsh.bsky.social
I was excited to share a handwritten note from 34 Coln commander to 23rd Inf Bde C/O Montague Stopford, detail the attack whilst my Grandpa was off recceing suitable grounds to build a jungle landing strip!
@historybowsh.bsky.social
May 30, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Very much looking forward to this episode of @ww2tv.bsky.social.
I was excited to share a handwritten note from 34 Coln commander to 23rd Inf Bde C/O Montague Stopford, detail the attack whilst my Grandpa was off recceing suitable grounds to build a jungle landing strip!
@historybowsh.bsky.social
I was excited to share a handwritten note from 34 Coln commander to 23rd Inf Bde C/O Montague Stopford, detail the attack whilst my Grandpa was off recceing suitable grounds to build a jungle landing strip!
@historybowsh.bsky.social
Both my Grandfathers felt ‘forgotten’ in the British forces.
One, a Sapper of the Forgotten Army in Burma. Another patrolling the North Sea in RAF ASR.
So many across the globe contributed to the war effort from Palestinian to Naga Pioneer Coys.
To the forgotten on #VEDay80
One, a Sapper of the Forgotten Army in Burma. Another patrolling the North Sea in RAF ASR.
So many across the globe contributed to the war effort from Palestinian to Naga Pioneer Coys.
To the forgotten on #VEDay80
May 8, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Both my Grandfathers felt ‘forgotten’ in the British forces.
One, a Sapper of the Forgotten Army in Burma. Another patrolling the North Sea in RAF ASR.
So many across the globe contributed to the war effort from Palestinian to Naga Pioneer Coys.
To the forgotten on #VEDay80
One, a Sapper of the Forgotten Army in Burma. Another patrolling the North Sea in RAF ASR.
So many across the globe contributed to the war effort from Palestinian to Naga Pioneer Coys.
To the forgotten on #VEDay80
*See also September 2
May 2, 2025 at 3:35 PM
*See also September 2
The internet is not a total lost cause.
Only today I met the Grandson of the Naga Chief who commanded the levy that helped my Grandpa’s Chindit Commando Platoon build the roads & airstrips deep in the Assam jungles in impossible conditions in 1944, #Burma.
I can’t help but feel emotional.
ALT ✏️
Only today I met the Grandson of the Naga Chief who commanded the levy that helped my Grandpa’s Chindit Commando Platoon build the roads & airstrips deep in the Assam jungles in impossible conditions in 1944, #Burma.
I can’t help but feel emotional.
ALT ✏️
April 29, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The internet is not a total lost cause.
Only today I met the Grandson of the Naga Chief who commanded the levy that helped my Grandpa’s Chindit Commando Platoon build the roads & airstrips deep in the Assam jungles in impossible conditions in 1944, #Burma.
I can’t help but feel emotional.
ALT ✏️
Only today I met the Grandson of the Naga Chief who commanded the levy that helped my Grandpa’s Chindit Commando Platoon build the roads & airstrips deep in the Assam jungles in impossible conditions in 1944, #Burma.
I can’t help but feel emotional.
ALT ✏️
What else to do on a rainy Good Friday, than finally document the small collection for map & Survey aficionado Col. M Nolan.
Under Brig. Thomas, this 1942 reprint was collated during the 1912-15/16-18/23-26 seasons with fabulous detail of the Naga Hills tribal areas.
@merrynwalters.uk
Under Brig. Thomas, this 1942 reprint was collated during the 1912-15/16-18/23-26 seasons with fabulous detail of the Naga Hills tribal areas.
@merrynwalters.uk
April 18, 2025 at 10:09 AM
What else to do on a rainy Good Friday, than finally document the small collection for map & Survey aficionado Col. M Nolan.
Under Brig. Thomas, this 1942 reprint was collated during the 1912-15/16-18/23-26 seasons with fabulous detail of the Naga Hills tribal areas.
@merrynwalters.uk
Under Brig. Thomas, this 1942 reprint was collated during the 1912-15/16-18/23-26 seasons with fabulous detail of the Naga Hills tribal areas.
@merrynwalters.uk
Returning once more to @ubiquevir.bsky.social’s 1935 copy of Eothen by A.W. Kinglake.
Remarkable to see it filled with his scribbles & annotations for his exams at school, then only a few years later he’d be destined to retrace part of the route 100 after Kinglake with the Royal Engineers in 1940.
Remarkable to see it filled with his scribbles & annotations for his exams at school, then only a few years later he’d be destined to retrace part of the route 100 after Kinglake with the Royal Engineers in 1940.
April 17, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Returning once more to @ubiquevir.bsky.social’s 1935 copy of Eothen by A.W. Kinglake.
Remarkable to see it filled with his scribbles & annotations for his exams at school, then only a few years later he’d be destined to retrace part of the route 100 after Kinglake with the Royal Engineers in 1940.
Remarkable to see it filled with his scribbles & annotations for his exams at school, then only a few years later he’d be destined to retrace part of the route 100 after Kinglake with the Royal Engineers in 1940.
It was very kind of #NewtonAbbot #REA to allow me to talk today on the 12th Field Company #RoyalEngineers 1936 Palestine - 1945 Rawalpindi.
Lots of nerves and lessons learnt from the preview showing so I can fine tune it for the #REHistSociety webinar in August.
Lots of nerves and lessons learnt from the preview showing so I can fine tune it for the #REHistSociety webinar in August.
February 23, 2025 at 3:20 PM
It was very kind of #NewtonAbbot #REA to allow me to talk today on the 12th Field Company #RoyalEngineers 1936 Palestine - 1945 Rawalpindi.
Lots of nerves and lessons learnt from the preview showing so I can fine tune it for the #REHistSociety webinar in August.
Lots of nerves and lessons learnt from the preview showing so I can fine tune it for the #REHistSociety webinar in August.
My dear 90y/o neighbour is sadly moving & having a clear out.
She was happy for me to share these pics of her father, a signalman in the Navy at 15, enlisting in RAF 103 Sqn at 18, crashing his DH9a E550 in Ronchin at 19 & injured in Coolavohig Ambush at 21!
@trevcaviation.bsky.social
She was happy for me to share these pics of her father, a signalman in the Navy at 15, enlisting in RAF 103 Sqn at 18, crashing his DH9a E550 in Ronchin at 19 & injured in Coolavohig Ambush at 21!
@trevcaviation.bsky.social
February 17, 2025 at 8:41 PM
My dear 90y/o neighbour is sadly moving & having a clear out.
She was happy for me to share these pics of her father, a signalman in the Navy at 15, enlisting in RAF 103 Sqn at 18, crashing his DH9a E550 in Ronchin at 19 & injured in Coolavohig Ambush at 21!
@trevcaviation.bsky.social
She was happy for me to share these pics of her father, a signalman in the Navy at 15, enlisting in RAF 103 Sqn at 18, crashing his DH9a E550 in Ronchin at 19 & injured in Coolavohig Ambush at 21!
@trevcaviation.bsky.social
I’m not sure if it’s the same table? Seems flatter but the room looks the same mind and I’m fairly certain the chap leaning into frame on left is Major JE Weller O/C 12 Fld Coy RE!
February 4, 2025 at 12:36 PM
I’m not sure if it’s the same table? Seems flatter but the room looks the same mind and I’m fairly certain the chap leaning into frame on left is Major JE Weller O/C 12 Fld Coy RE!
Admiring the skill & knowledge involved in planning offensives from besieged TOBFORT.
O/C 12 Fld Coy RE built a model on 10/10/41 for a planned attack on Carmùsa, from the limited means of a constantly bombarded garrison.
#TopographyTuesday
@merrynwalters.uk
@crusaderproject.bsky.social
O/C 12 Fld Coy RE built a model on 10/10/41 for a planned attack on Carmùsa, from the limited means of a constantly bombarded garrison.
#TopographyTuesday
@merrynwalters.uk
@crusaderproject.bsky.social
February 4, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Admiring the skill & knowledge involved in planning offensives from besieged TOBFORT.
O/C 12 Fld Coy RE built a model on 10/10/41 for a planned attack on Carmùsa, from the limited means of a constantly bombarded garrison.
#TopographyTuesday
@merrynwalters.uk
@crusaderproject.bsky.social
O/C 12 Fld Coy RE built a model on 10/10/41 for a planned attack on Carmùsa, from the limited means of a constantly bombarded garrison.
#TopographyTuesday
@merrynwalters.uk
@crusaderproject.bsky.social
As 12 Fld Coy RE moved up to Bardia from Sollum several of their trucks failed to make the journey as they’d use the same MT on poor condition roads for 2 years already.
They repaired water points aerodromes, roads, built POW cages & cleared the harbour in support of XIII Corps.
They repaired water points aerodromes, roads, built POW cages & cleared the harbour in support of XIII Corps.
January 9, 2025 at 8:15 AM
As 12 Fld Coy RE moved up to Bardia from Sollum several of their trucks failed to make the journey as they’d use the same MT on poor condition roads for 2 years already.
They repaired water points aerodromes, roads, built POW cages & cleared the harbour in support of XIII Corps.
They repaired water points aerodromes, roads, built POW cages & cleared the harbour in support of XIII Corps.
By coincidence Matilda just waltzed into the talk I’m building for later this year. 🐀
My eldest glanced over my shoulder & declared animations cheapen a presentation.
Ah pish man, if I can’t get out my crayons, what’s the point of it all? 🖍️
@crusaderproject.bsky.social
@robertglennie.bsky.social
My eldest glanced over my shoulder & declared animations cheapen a presentation.
Ah pish man, if I can’t get out my crayons, what’s the point of it all? 🖍️
@crusaderproject.bsky.social
@robertglennie.bsky.social
January 8, 2025 at 3:12 PM
By coincidence Matilda just waltzed into the talk I’m building for later this year. 🐀
My eldest glanced over my shoulder & declared animations cheapen a presentation.
Ah pish man, if I can’t get out my crayons, what’s the point of it all? 🖍️
@crusaderproject.bsky.social
@robertglennie.bsky.social
My eldest glanced over my shoulder & declared animations cheapen a presentation.
Ah pish man, if I can’t get out my crayons, what’s the point of it all? 🖍️
@crusaderproject.bsky.social
@robertglennie.bsky.social
And all the best boats want to be a shark!
📷 My Grandad (Flt Sgt E.C. Prior) WOp/AG RAF ASR.
Iceland 1945.
📷 My Grandad (Flt Sgt E.C. Prior) WOp/AG RAF ASR.
Iceland 1945.
December 30, 2024 at 11:45 PM
And all the best boats want to be a shark!
📷 My Grandad (Flt Sgt E.C. Prior) WOp/AG RAF ASR.
Iceland 1945.
📷 My Grandad (Flt Sgt E.C. Prior) WOp/AG RAF ASR.
Iceland 1945.
With AI Pandora’s box well and truly open, where do you draw the line in the sand?
Sharing historical data online used to seem a sensible option for longevity. But to what end?
I know I’ve shared enough with good intent but now doubt my decisions.
I’m left unsure what to post where. Anyone else?
Sharing historical data online used to seem a sensible option for longevity. But to what end?
I know I’ve shared enough with good intent but now doubt my decisions.
I’m left unsure what to post where. Anyone else?
December 30, 2024 at 9:13 AM
With AI Pandora’s box well and truly open, where do you draw the line in the sand?
Sharing historical data online used to seem a sensible option for longevity. But to what end?
I know I’ve shared enough with good intent but now doubt my decisions.
I’m left unsure what to post where. Anyone else?
Sharing historical data online used to seem a sensible option for longevity. But to what end?
I know I’ve shared enough with good intent but now doubt my decisions.
I’m left unsure what to post where. Anyone else?
Lion of the Desert - 1981
Not so much research but a long overdue return to this depiction of Omar Muktar & the Libyan holocaust.
A box-office flop bankrolled by Gaddafi whose Director intended to make Saladin about the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty.
We need more films on lesser known history.
Not so much research but a long overdue return to this depiction of Omar Muktar & the Libyan holocaust.
A box-office flop bankrolled by Gaddafi whose Director intended to make Saladin about the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty.
We need more films on lesser known history.
December 29, 2024 at 11:25 PM
Lion of the Desert - 1981
Not so much research but a long overdue return to this depiction of Omar Muktar & the Libyan holocaust.
A box-office flop bankrolled by Gaddafi whose Director intended to make Saladin about the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty.
We need more films on lesser known history.
Not so much research but a long overdue return to this depiction of Omar Muktar & the Libyan holocaust.
A box-office flop bankrolled by Gaddafi whose Director intended to make Saladin about the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty.
We need more films on lesser known history.
Digitised copies of the original Tobruk Truth issued soon after the arrival of 12th Field Company RE to a besieged Tobruk.
Only just spotted the signature of Capt J Weller top left, whose wife is still with us living near Dartmoor.
His nephew now a serving Captain in the Royal Engineers.
📷 ALT
Only just spotted the signature of Capt J Weller top left, whose wife is still with us living near Dartmoor.
His nephew now a serving Captain in the Royal Engineers.
📷 ALT
December 7, 2024 at 8:14 AM
Digitised copies of the original Tobruk Truth issued soon after the arrival of 12th Field Company RE to a besieged Tobruk.
Only just spotted the signature of Capt J Weller top left, whose wife is still with us living near Dartmoor.
His nephew now a serving Captain in the Royal Engineers.
📷 ALT
Only just spotted the signature of Capt J Weller top left, whose wife is still with us living near Dartmoor.
His nephew now a serving Captain in the Royal Engineers.
📷 ALT
Whilst working on the 2025 presentation, every step that @ubiquevir.bsky.social & the 12th Fld Coy RE took 82 years ago seems to feature in the daily news.
In Feb 1942, heavy snow stopped all defence works in Djedeide, Syria.
@thinkdefence.bsky.social
📷 @AWMemorial 021861
Image taken in Jan 1942
In Feb 1942, heavy snow stopped all defence works in Djedeide, Syria.
@thinkdefence.bsky.social
📷 @AWMemorial 021861
Image taken in Jan 1942
December 6, 2024 at 8:48 PM
Whilst working on the 2025 presentation, every step that @ubiquevir.bsky.social & the 12th Fld Coy RE took 82 years ago seems to feature in the daily news.
In Feb 1942, heavy snow stopped all defence works in Djedeide, Syria.
@thinkdefence.bsky.social
📷 @AWMemorial 021861
Image taken in Jan 1942
In Feb 1942, heavy snow stopped all defence works in Djedeide, Syria.
@thinkdefence.bsky.social
📷 @AWMemorial 021861
Image taken in Jan 1942
Currently dipping into the gradual mechanisation of Field Companies for a project. Indoctrinated as a requirement during the 1930’s to keep up with the armour they supported, but easier said than done in Palestine & Western Deserts.
📷 AWM A05792 (1917 admittedly)
📷 AWM A05792 (1917 admittedly)
November 20, 2024 at 7:23 AM
Currently dipping into the gradual mechanisation of Field Companies for a project. Indoctrinated as a requirement during the 1930’s to keep up with the armour they supported, but easier said than done in Palestine & Western Deserts.
📷 AWM A05792 (1917 admittedly)
📷 AWM A05792 (1917 admittedly)