Oliver Davey
@yanksinbristol.bsky.social
Researching Americans in Bristol in the Second World War. www.YanksinBristol.co.uk, Bristol Area I.C. member
Great day yesterday with the Bristol Area IC in our March for Finley from Burnham-on-Sea to Brean Down. If you can spare a few pounds for this wonderful charity helping families with children in long-term hospital care, we'd really appreciate it. www.justgiving.com/page/bristol...
September 1, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Great day yesterday with the Bristol Area IC in our March for Finley from Burnham-on-Sea to Brean Down. If you can spare a few pounds for this wonderful charity helping families with children in long-term hospital care, we'd really appreciate it. www.justgiving.com/page/bristol...
Recently back from holiday in Vienna and made sure I took the family to see the Flak Towers in Augarten on the edge of the city. The size of them is just incredible.
August 1, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Recently back from holiday in Vienna and made sure I took the family to see the Flak Towers in Augarten on the edge of the city. The size of them is just incredible.
Fantastic day yesterday at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre and a ride on Just Jane. So much fun and highly recommended.
May 22, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Fantastic day yesterday at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre and a ride on Just Jane. So much fun and highly recommended.
Here's one for you @jamesjhistory.bsky.social Bristol Beaufort and Beaufighters named for the USAAF after the many Bristols of the USA! All at RAF Filton. (NARA)
March 19, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Here's one for you @jamesjhistory.bsky.social Bristol Beaufort and Beaufighters named for the USAAF after the many Bristols of the USA! All at RAF Filton. (NARA)
Had a great visit to Portbury (near Bristol) HAA battery this week. The landowner pointed out a badger had dug up these items from where the huts once were: gin bottle with liquid still in it! Crockery with 'George VI' and '1944' on the bottom, a food tin, an ink pot and a perfume/aftershave bottle.
March 9, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Had a great visit to Portbury (near Bristol) HAA battery this week. The landowner pointed out a badger had dug up these items from where the huts once were: gin bottle with liquid still in it! Crockery with 'George VI' and '1944' on the bottom, a food tin, an ink pot and a perfume/aftershave bottle.
Just finished reading Normandy The Sailor's Story by @nickhewitt4.bsky.social #histbookchat Thought I had pretty good knowledge about the D-Day story but turns out there was a big chunk missing! Really great book.
February 28, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Just finished reading Normandy The Sailor's Story by @nickhewitt4.bsky.social #histbookchat Thought I had pretty good knowledge about the D-Day story but turns out there was a big chunk missing! Really great book.
Recently found this: turns out my Great Uncle Brian was the first British serviceman ashore in Korea in 1950. My great grandmother's comment "There has always been a Davey in the Navy" is sadly no longer true. I get seasick!
February 18, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Recently found this: turns out my Great Uncle Brian was the first British serviceman ashore in Korea in 1950. My great grandmother's comment "There has always been a Davey in the Navy" is sadly no longer true. I get seasick!
I've put together a guided tour of some of the main sites used by the US Army in Bristol in the Second World War using the wonderful guidl app. Download details here yanksinbristol.co.uk/self-guided-...
January 23, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I've put together a guided tour of some of the main sites used by the US Army in Bristol in the Second World War using the wonderful guidl app. Download details here yanksinbristol.co.uk/self-guided-...
G.I.s always had the best uniforms! American soldiers handing out presents to little Bristolians in December 1943. Merry Christmas everyone!
December 24, 2024 at 10:52 AM
G.I.s always had the best uniforms! American soldiers handing out presents to little Bristolians in December 1943. Merry Christmas everyone!
It's well-known black and white GIs were largely segregated in the US Army during the Second World War. One place this didn't happen was for patients at the 74th General Hospital based at Tyntesfield near Bristol, a deliberate policy of their CO, Colonel Tepperson.
February 16, 2024 at 2:57 PM
It's well-known black and white GIs were largely segregated in the US Army during the Second World War. One place this didn't happen was for patients at the 74th General Hospital based at Tyntesfield near Bristol, a deliberate policy of their CO, Colonel Tepperson.
As it's Valentine's Day, here's the most romantic Anglo-American story I've found for Bristol! yanksinbristol.co.uk/merle-hagerm...
February 14, 2024 at 8:41 AM
As it's Valentine's Day, here's the most romantic Anglo-American story I've found for Bristol! yanksinbristol.co.uk/merle-hagerm...
Anglo-American relations fact of the day: A quarter of the letters written by GIs from Normandy were sent to British homes - to girlfriends, former billet hosts and new friends. Reading this excellent book at the moment. #HistBookChat
February 12, 2024 at 9:36 AM
Anglo-American relations fact of the day: A quarter of the letters written by GIs from Normandy were sent to British homes - to girlfriends, former billet hosts and new friends. Reading this excellent book at the moment. #HistBookChat
Sounds like some Bristolians weren't too keen on the US Army in the city. Apparently this perma-graffitied rock on the Avon Gorge once had 'Yanks go home' daubed on it and was visible into the 1950s. Unfortunately, I can't find photographic evidence.
February 8, 2024 at 2:21 PM
Sounds like some Bristolians weren't too keen on the US Army in the city. Apparently this perma-graffitied rock on the Avon Gorge once had 'Yanks go home' daubed on it and was visible into the 1950s. Unfortunately, I can't find photographic evidence.
Just finishing reading this brilliant book by a toilet attendant who befriended the 'working girls' on the Downs from the 30s to 60s. It's being rereleased soon and is a completely different history of Bristol. Only a little about the US Army in WW2 and not complimentary! #HistBookChat
January 30, 2024 at 10:20 AM
Just finishing reading this brilliant book by a toilet attendant who befriended the 'working girls' on the Downs from the 30s to 60s. It's being rereleased soon and is a completely different history of Bristol. Only a little about the US Army in WW2 and not complimentary! #HistBookChat
HMS Cossack as drawn by my late godfather in 1943 when aged 13. Found it in my grandmother's 'autograph' book yesterday. Given it was torpedoed and sank in 1941, I guess he must have drawn it from this very photo (found on Wikipedia).
January 21, 2024 at 1:11 PM
HMS Cossack as drawn by my late godfather in 1943 when aged 13. Found it in my grandmother's 'autograph' book yesterday. Given it was torpedoed and sank in 1941, I guess he must have drawn it from this very photo (found on Wikipedia).
I've just started reading this and it's very entertaining - still in the Phoney War #HistBookChat . And with my wife out last night I got to watch Battle of Britain to set the tone. Did get a request of 'Daddy, can you turn the TV down please?' though!
January 12, 2024 at 9:39 AM
I've just started reading this and it's very entertaining - still in the Phoney War #HistBookChat . And with my wife out last night I got to watch Battle of Britain to set the tone. Did get a request of 'Daddy, can you turn the TV down please?' though!
Just completed this wonderful book about the US Army hospital near Bristol. Met the author before Christmas and he was lucky enough to interview many people who'd been there in the war. Almost no sign of the buildings today though. #HistBookChat
January 8, 2024 at 9:57 AM
Just completed this wonderful book about the US Army hospital near Bristol. Met the author before Christmas and he was lucky enough to interview many people who'd been there in the war. Almost no sign of the buildings today though. #HistBookChat
A scenic part of the Bristol & Clifton Golf Course. The red oval is where an old quarry was located and used as a tip for waste from Tyntesfield US Army Hospital. Covered and signed-off by the council as safe post-war! Many a used cast from a Normandy veteran lies beneath!
January 5, 2024 at 2:18 PM
A scenic part of the Bristol & Clifton Golf Course. The red oval is where an old quarry was located and used as a tip for waste from Tyntesfield US Army Hospital. Covered and signed-off by the council as safe post-war! Many a used cast from a Normandy veteran lies beneath!
P-51 Mustangs being towed by US Forces for reassembly. This is in Liverpool but the same thing happened in Bristol. They arrived at Avonmouth Docks, were towed along the Portway, under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and up Gloucester Road to the USAAF site at Patchway.
January 3, 2024 at 9:57 AM
P-51 Mustangs being towed by US Forces for reassembly. This is in Liverpool but the same thing happened in Bristol. They arrived at Avonmouth Docks, were towed along the Portway, under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and up Gloucester Road to the USAAF site at Patchway.
Stills from 'Citizens of Bristol at War' as the US Army host displaced Bristolian children from BABS (British-American Bellows Society).
December 19, 2023 at 10:15 AM
Stills from 'Citizens of Bristol at War' as the US Army host displaced Bristolian children from BABS (British-American Bellows Society).
Bristol/South-West people - please buy the Bristol Post or Western Daily Press today. My article about our investigation into US names carved into Bristol bricks in the Second World War is included.
December 5, 2023 at 10:11 AM
Bristol/South-West people - please buy the Bristol Post or Western Daily Press today. My article about our investigation into US names carved into Bristol bricks in the Second World War is included.
Delivered my first 'Yanks in Bristol' talk yesterday to a small but interested audience. What a great experience and hopefully the first of many.
November 27, 2023 at 12:56 PM
Delivered my first 'Yanks in Bristol' talk yesterday to a small but interested audience. What a great experience and hopefully the first of many.
As I learned at Kingswood Heritage Museum yesterday, this factory in Warmley, East Bristol was constructed by the US Army in the Second World War. It was used to construct jeeps and other vehicles that came in parts through Avonmouth Docks.
November 6, 2023 at 1:01 PM
As I learned at Kingswood Heritage Museum yesterday, this factory in Warmley, East Bristol was constructed by the US Army in the Second World War. It was used to construct jeeps and other vehicles that came in parts through Avonmouth Docks.
Just finished reading this novel about the family of John Wilkes Booth and his path to becoming an assassin. Quite slow but very readable. #HistBookChat
November 3, 2023 at 9:35 AM
Just finished reading this novel about the family of John Wilkes Booth and his path to becoming an assassin. Quite slow but very readable. #HistBookChat