iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Thomas Rogers

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Imperialism & Resistance: Australia's first wars @ the @AWMemorial. Hear from authors, historians & curators reflecting on the Frontier Wars, the mid-century New Zealand Wars, & colonial commitments to Sudan, China, and the South African (Boer) War. conlog-awm-2026.eventsairsite.com

021

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

This is on today - if you're in Canberra, come on down! #histbookchat

151

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Looking forward to presenting at "Imperialism & Resistance: Australia's First Wars" in September at the Australian War Memorial. Register here: www.awm.gov.au/conference

Poster for Australian War Memorial history conference "Imperialism & Resistance: Australia's First Wars", 17-18 September 2026 in Canberra. Registrations now open at https://www.awm.gov.au/conference

021

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Our mag "WM" issue 3 is a gallery souvenir, telling the histories behind the new galleries in the recently-opened Anzac Hall. You can find out about "WM" at wm.awm.gov.au

Front cover of the Australian War Memorial's magazine, "WM", issue 3, Autumn 2026. Issue is entitled "The New Anzac Hall".

022

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Issue 2 of our new mag ("WM") arrived on Friday! Some fantastic work inside. If you want to know more, you could always visit wm.awm.gov.au

Front cover of WM issue 2 - the magazine of the Australian War Memorial. Theme is "Stories from the Front".

073

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

A beautiful, if windy, Remembrance Day in Canberra.

The Australian War Memorial, Canberra, on the morning of Remembrance Day 2025 (colour photo).

150

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

#otd in 1914: the first time a ship of the Royal Australian Navy went into battle. HMAS Sydney's success meant the Indian Ocean was clear for British shipping for much of the First World War. www.navy.gov.au/about-navy/h...

HMAS Sydney (I) dressed in honour of the visit of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in 1920 (b+W photo): https://seapower.navy.gov.au/history/units/hmas-sydney-i

062

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Which books shaped you? Always a tough question for historians, because there are so many! wm.awm.gov.au/read/militar...

wm.awm.gov.au

The books that shaped our historians | WM

WM | Inspiring stories - Expert insights

110

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

#OTD in 1944, HMAS Australia (II) was struck by a Japanese suicide aircraft, killing 30 of the ship's crew including the CO, Captain Emile Dechaineux. Story: seapower.navy.gov.au/ran-battle-l...

B+W photo of Captain Emile Dechaineux RAN, c. March 1944.
Image: AWM 106692
See also https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10676779

020

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

I’ve seen two published histories recently refer to the Australian “Infantry” Force. It should be *Imperial*. The error omits soldiers (e.g. artillery), and also downplays just how important the British Empire was in Australia. Cf. the “expeditionary” forces: BEF, CEF, NZEF.

H. Septimus Power, Bringing Up the Guns (1921), AWM ART03334: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C167366.
Oil painting in the collection of the Australian War Memorial.

020

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

If you're in Canberra this weekend, I can confirm that Lifeline Bookfair is, once again, awesome! Go there!! www.lifelinecanberra.org.au/books/bookfa...

lifelinecanberra.org.au

Lifeline Canberra - Lifeline Canberra Bookfair

240

Reposted by Thomas Rogers

Australian Historical Studies @ahsjournal.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

CLOSING NEXT WEEK - submit your entry by Tuesday 30 September to be in the running for the Ken Inglis Postgraduate Prize. Did you present a paper at the AHA conference in July? Email it to us: ahs-history@unimelb.edu.au See the pinned post for more details.

042

Reposted by Thomas Rogers

Archaeo - Histories @archaeohistories.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

This paperweight, made of Haematite carved in shape of a grasshopper. But it was hand-carved between 1800-1700 BC in ancient Babylonia (modern-day Iraq). It served as a functional weight and also showcases the artistic skill of Babylonian artisans. British Museum #archaeohistories

2567

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

More HMAS Australia (II) posting by me... #OTD 85 years ago, Operation Menace began off the west coast of Africa. www.awm.gov.au/articles/blo...

awm.gov.au

“Operation Menace”- the story of HMAS Australia in African waters. | Australian War Memorial

011

Reposted by Thomas Rogers

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

London museum tells forgotten story of African and Indian troops in second world war National Army Museum’s Beyond Burma exhibition examines stories of soldiers from Britain’s colonies www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

theguardian.com

London museum tells forgotten story of African and Indian troops in second world war

National Army Museum’s Beyond Burma exhibition examines stories of soldiers from Britain’s colonies

072

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

#OTD in 1918, the British (incl. Australian) assault on the Hindenburg Line. Pic is from the fighting at Epéhy. Pic: www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

B+W photo: German soldier lighting a British soldier's cigarette, 1918. IWM Q 11538.

000

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

So who else can say that they work with an expert in Second World War-era RAAF aeroplane nose art? I can! wm.awm.gov.au/read/nose-art

wm.awm.gov.au

More than just paint | WM

WM | Inspiring stories - Expert insights

120

Reposted by Thomas Rogers

Briony Neilson @brionyneilson.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

I'm honoured to be speaking to @petermcphee.bsky.social on Mon 6 Oct at 1pm AEDT about my book Dangers of Youth: Age, Criminality, and Juvenile Justice Reform in Third Republic France at an online event hosted by the George Rudé Society. Please register here: uni-sydney.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Picture shows a book cover for Dangers of Youth

24113

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

#OTD in 1945, the Battle of Morotai began. HMAS Australia (pictured) and other Australian & US ships bombarded the island for some two hours prior to the landings. HMAS Australia's history is remarkable: seapower.navy.gov.au/history/unit...

B+W photo of HMAS Australia (II) and HMAS Hobart (I), probably circa 1942. AWM 300272

021

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Kinda spooked by how much archaeological material is within digging distance under our feet, that I'll never see, and even if I did, I wouldn't be able to interpret...

010

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Reading a wartime love story researched & written by my colleague Alix (...and apparently also cutting up onions...) wm.awm.gov.au/read/colin-s...

wm.awm.gov.au

Wartime love story: Colin and Irene Simper | WM

WM | Inspiring stories - Expert insights

111

Reposted by Thomas Rogers

Australian Historical Studies @ahsjournal.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

Ken Inglis Postgrad Prize CLOSING SOON - 30 Sept. Did you present a paper at the AHA conference? Tidy it up and email it to us at ahs-history@unimelb.edu.au Read the flier for all the T&Cs. You might get published in the journal...good luck!

033

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

Fascinating reading about the Imperial Camel Corps, by one of our former Summer Scholars, Hannah Swaine: wm.awm.gov.au/read/rough-r...

B+W photo of members of Hong Kong and Singapore Mountain Battery, in desert, February 1918.

AWM B01448 (detail)
Yes that is a cannon strapped to the back of a camel. No you can't take it home with you.

020

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Wondering about late-19th-C British army doctrine of cold steel - a seemingly unshakeable belief that, if only the British infantry could get into close combat, the battle would be won. I.e. the Corporal Jones doctrine: "They don't like it up 'em, sir!" There's a cultural study in there somewhere.

120

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

I really enjoyed reading Craig L. Symonds' *Nimitz at War* - as you can see from my review of it: researchcentre.army.gov.au/library/aust...

Cover of Nimitz at War, by Craig L. Symonds (from https://global.oup.com/academic/product/nimitz-at-war-9780190062361)

031

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Come and study with us! It'll be fun! Applications are open for the Australian War Memorial Summer Scholars program, to be held in Canberra next Jan-Feb. Apply here: www.awm.gov.au/get-involved...

B+W photo of Charles Bean at work, c. 1920s. AWM A05389.

068

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

#OTD, 1898: the battle of Omdurman. The death blow to the Mahdist state. The British campaign in Sudan followed the same logic as retaliatory frontier parties, on a much grander scale. The brutal chastening of locals who had killed a high-ranking British man. Story: www.nam.ac.uk/explore/egyp...

'Waiting for the attack, Omdurman', Sudan, 1898
[National Army Museum, UK, image number: 36080]

Sepia-toned photograph of British infantry in Sudan.

011

Reposted by Thomas Rogers

Society for Army Historical Research @societyarmy.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

We are sorry to hear of the recent death of SAHR Fellow Professor John Laband, whose work on the wars of southern Africa during the 19th century will be familiar to anyone with an interest in this era. Our condolences to his family and friends.

022

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

I'm re-reading Jonathan Richards' *Secret War* more than a decade after first encountering it, having developed a much better understanding of British Empire history, and military history. What an amazing and groundbreaking piece of scholarship it really is.

Cover - Jonathan Richards, The Secret War, UQ Press, 2008.

021

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

This week, 125 years ago, Friedrich Nietzsche died. Last year I was fortunate enough to visit the Nietzsche Archive in Weimar, Germany - an amazing museum to a sparkling thinker. It's also the house in which he ailed and died.

Interior, reading room, Nietzsche Archive, Weimar, Germany.

051

Reposted by Thomas Rogers

Kim Heriot-Darragh @kimheriotdarragh.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Just finished Dive! by @mikecarlton01.bsky.social - about Australian submariners and their contributions. It’s worth a read. And timely given the renewed interest in the RAN. For a long time our image of ‘defence’ was a soldier carrying a rifle. Perhaps that’s changing.

021

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

Historical pictures don't speak for themselves. A few years ago, I unpacked a lithograph relating to Tasmania's "Black War" of the 1820s and 1830s. The Australian War Memorial now has it up on the website of the new mag, "WM": wm.awm.gov.au/read/painted...

wm.awm.gov.au

A Painted Proclamation | WM

WM | Inspiring stories - Expert insights

031

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

For #bookweek this year, Andrew Gordon's *Rules of the Game*. Around a narrative of the Battle of Jutland in 1916, Gordon weaves a cultural history of the Royal Navy’s officer cadre from about 1860 onwards. On top of all that, it's eminently readable, and even funny at times! Truly a masterpiece.

Book cover: Andrew Gordon, The Rules of the Game: Jutland and British Naval Command (first published 1996). Cover image shows b+w photo of First World War-era warships.

010

Reposted by Thomas Rogers

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

The Australian War Memorial's special #VPDay symposium "Interpreting Australia's Second World War: previewing Anzac Hall" is now online: www.youtube.com/live/P6vGj8_.... For more #WWII see, including author talks, see: www.awm.gov.au/the-end-of-t... #WeHaveWays #WWII #VJDay80

0117

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

This Indian Independence Day, I'm thinking about Rushdie's Midnight Children, which I read for the first time earlier this year. A fantastic read. Think Tristram Shandy but with the protagonist born in Bombay in 1947.

Cover of Midnight's Children, book by Salman Rushdie.

010

Reposted by Thomas Rogers

Jonathan Edward Durham @thisone0verhere.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Paperback books are like velveteen rabbits — ours to be loved and squeezed and read and stuffed into shoulder bags and left in the sun and read and read again until there's nothing left but memories from something real

1194213452