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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

110 years ago tonight, 24.9.16, the Zeppelin L33 came down intact at Little Wigborough in Essex, after being hit by anti-aircraft fire. Earlier in the year, former Hawstead Parish Council Chairman, and GWH supporter, John West, brought us this superb souvenir of that night!

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Robert St John Smith @chance1234.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The 'Am I Offensive?' cartoon is almost as famous as the Wipers Times itself. It appeared in the May 1916 edition, signed by Sapper Ernest J. Couzens. Over 110 years later, my latest article finally puts a face to the name. #wiperstimes #ww1 #fww robertstjohnsmith.com/post/2026-09...

robertstjohnsmith.com

Wipers Times Exposé - A Picture of Ernest James Couzens Emerges

A sketch of Ernest James Couzens appears.

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

On the 10th and Final Day of our #HeritageOpenDays2026 exhibition: #BeyondTheUniform Ten Lives in Ten Days, we tell the story of Sid Whymark. His arm was shattered at the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915. We display his diary and the glass bottle of bone fragments he kept.

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

On Day 9 of our #HeritageOpenDays2026 exhibition: #BeyondTheUniform Ten Lives in Ten Days, we tell the story of Lieutenant Francis Jermyn Smith. Wounded in the arm in 1918, a bigger splinter misses him by millimetres. We display his Jacket, the sleeve scored by the splinter.

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

On Day 8 of our Heritage Open Days 2026 exhibition: Beyond the Uniform - we tell the story of Corporal Eddie Hazlewood, DCM, MM. Eddie was a shepherd from Littke Saxham who became a Stretcher Bearer with 8/Suffolk for most of the war, and was decorated for bravery twice and Mentioned in Despatches.

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

On Day 7 of our #HeritageOpenDays2026 exhibition: #BeyondTheUniform Ten Lives in Ten Days, we tell the story of L/Sergeant Donald Dawes. Captured at Le Cateau, his story of captivity and internment is fascinating. We have a tiny fraction of Don’s incredible archive on display!

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Hut Dog Charlie Chaplin on duty here at Brook Farm Camp welcoming visitors for #HeritageOpenDays Still some tickets left for the next 3 days - you can book here: www.greatwarhuts.org/event-detail...

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

On Day 6 of our #HeritageOpenDays exhibition: #BeyondTheUniform Ten Lives in Ten Days, we tell the story of Piper Daniel Laidlaw, VC. He led the hesitant men of 7/KOSB into action by playing their Regimental March. We are displaying the Bible he was carrying on that day.

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Excited to see Great War Huts pop up on Channel 4’s Four in a Bed this week! 👀 Today’s episode featured our neighbours, Four Bells Glamping at Pinford End, and we were delighted to host the contestants here at Brook Farm Camp. Fingers crossed for payment day for Alex and Lucy!

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

On Day 5 of our #HeritageOpenDaysv exhibition: #BeyondTheUniform Ten Lives in Ten Days, we tell the story of Will Stevens of 11/Suffolk. He was killed at Rouex in April 1917 and his body wasn’t recovered until the 1990s. The kit he was wearing that day is our display today.

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

On Day 4 of our #HeritageOpenDays exhibition: #BeyondTheUniform Ten Lives in Ten Days, we tell the story of Harold Ellis, MM. A pre-war RAMC Territorial, he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery on the first day of the Somme. We are displaying his 1915 Hypo Gas Hood.

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

It’s Day 3 of our Heritage Open Days 2026 exhibition. Today we are telling the story of Elsie Knocker, MM; one of a pair of remarkable ladies who ran their own hospital in the Belgian village of Pervyse, looking after wounded Belgian soldiers.

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

It’s Day 2 of our #HeritageOpenDays exhibition: #BeyondTheUniform Ten Lives in Ten Days. Today we tell the story of Gunner James Channon, whose face was badly damaged by a shell splinter in 1917, but later successfuly rebuilt by surgeon Harold Gillies at Sidcup Hospital.

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

It’s Day 1 of our #HeritageOpenDays exhibition: #BeyondTheUniform Ten Lives in Ten Days, starting with Colchester Ladies Hairdresser, Hubert Snow, who served with the Tank Corps. He went on to become Tank Corps OCA member No.1 and wore his old Tankie jacket for gardening!

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

We’re open every day of #HeritageOpenDays - 11th-20th September! Come and discover Beyond the Uniform: 10 Lives in Peace and War, an exhibition telling the fascinating true stories of ten people whose lives were shaped by service, in times of both peace and war. 🎟️👇 tinyurl.com/mry7tfmh

tinyurl.com

Beyond the Uniform: 10 Lives in Peace and War | Greatwarhuts

Discover remarkable stories at Great War Huts in Beyond the Uniform – Ten Lives in Peace and War

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Simon Jones @simonjones.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

I seem to recall that the trophy gun in Beamish Museum was also thrown into a river after the First World War. I'm glad @greatwarhuts.bsky.social have rescued this one.

bbc.co.uk

Bury St Edmunds museum saves WW1 howitzer gun from scrapyard

The war relic, pushed into a river by a disgruntled veteran a century ago, is due to be restored.

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Mission Accomplished! Yesterday Kev and Taff headed up to Scotland to rescue a First World War Trophy Gun - a German 10.5cm Howitzer. Thanks to a tip-off by Mike Taylor of Tayside Western Front Association, who has been tracking surviving guns down, we were able to save it. 1/

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The Old Contemptibles Association Ipswich & District Branch Standard was dedicated at St Augustine’s Church, Ipswich, on Sunday 12th August 1928 - 98 years ago today. #OldContemptibles #HappyBirthday #Chums

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

On this day, 12th August 1919, a sale of 300 huts from Gretna, Eastriggs & Longtown began. This was held across three days at 11am and was primarily to dispose of smaller buildings. It was not until 22nd July 1924, that Eastriggs and Gretna township and H.M. Factory Gretna itself, was auctioned.

A blue booklet in a glass display case. This booklet reads, "Important Sale of 300 huts, including hostels, sleeping huts, wet and dry canteens, laundries, architects' offices, chauffeurs' shelters, guard huts, recreation and mess rooms, women police barracks, stores, caretakers' huts, bathing huts, school house, wash-houses, cabins, garages, latrines, earth closets, watchmen's boxes, treaties. " "To be sold by action by Messrs, Robert Dalton & Son, On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday August 12th, 13th and 14th 1919.
1st Day's Sale - Gretna Township.
2nd Day's Sale - Eastriggs, Butterdales and Brow Houses.
3rd Day's Sale - Longtown, Mossband and Mill Hill.
Note - On the 3rd Day Transport will be available for purchases between Longtown and Mossband.
Sale at 11am to the minute each day."

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Another Old Contemptibles grave marker plaque rescued thanks to Andrew Thornton. Many thanks to St Peter & St James Hospice, Sussex, who kindly sent it for the cost of the postage. It arrived yesterday - appropriately on August 5th Chum Cottee died March 1954. Buried in Lambeth.

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

It’s Minden Day today, so #HutDog Charlie is #MindenDog Charlie, with his red and yellow Suffolk Roses to commemorate the battle in 1759. He has just returned from Doggy Duty at the Suffolk Regiment annual reunion at Gibraltar Barracks! ‘Stabilis’

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Simon Jones @simonjones.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Reminded that yesterday 18 years ago, a Hovis ad was being filmed round the corner from where I lived in Liverpool. It's Falkner Street, where the first A House Through Time was made. The folks from @greatwarhuts.bsky.social were behind this.

a Georgian terrace street, scarlet bandsmen and khaki soldiers march.

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

It’s a warm Thursday afternoon here at Brook Farm Camp so Chief Hut Builder Kev is about to repaint a 9.2” BL Howitzer shell (it’s completely empty), originally fired at Serre on the Somme, to go with our recently restored 1904 Royal Navy 9.2” breech.

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Simon Jones @simonjones.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Possibly the finest decorated Great War ration biscuit I have ever seen. This Women's Auxiliary Army Corps example is in the Huntley & Palmers gallery @readingmuseum.bsky.social. @greatwarhuts.bsky.social

Square biscuit decorated in colour with the badge of the WAAC.

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

The Green, Red and Brown flag of The Tank Corps flies over Brook Farm Camp today to commemorate the death of Kev’s Grandfather, 92958 Pte Alfred James Tabor, who was mortally wounded 108 years ago today, driving a male MkV Tank, No.9049… 1/

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

A poignant reminder of the first day of The Somme - Lieutenant Gilbert Hattersley’s blood-stained map showing the planned advance. He was wounded in the leg early on, the 11/Suffolk had the heaviest 34th Division casualties and didn’t reach Contalmaison. Remembering them all today. #Somme110

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

The Battle of The Somme Centenary, 10 years ago, was a busy time for GWH. Lyndsay was part of the Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport team organising the Westminster Abbey service and overnight vigil, which took place 10 years ago tonight, and designing these popular keepsakes! /1

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Who knew an old fallen log could be such a popular hangout? Here at Brook Farm Camp, it’s become a favourite perch, pathway, and meeting place for plenty of our wildlife friends! 🦊🦡🐿️🦆🐦

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

We have an Officer’s Service Dress jacket in the Great War Huts Collection which belonged to Captain Francis William Yates, who was wounded by a shell fragment on 18th April 1915 at Hill 60, while serving with 2nd Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. 1/

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Our Scotland trip concluded with the acquisition of a Khaki Canadian Glengarry. These generic caps were worn by Canadian Scottish units training in Canada before stocks of the proper regimental Glengarries were available, a similar situation to the issue of the Emergency… 1/

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Remembering Leading Stoker John Owen who was killed 110 years ago today when the Battlecruiser HMS Queen Mary blew up after being hit by SMS Derfflinger at the Battle of Jutland. 1,266 crewmen were killed. There were only eighteen survivors. John had been looking forward… 1/

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Our first GWH Study Day - ‘Now You’ve Got The Khaki On’ has been a great success. Participants from across the country travelled to Brook Farm Camp to learn about the uniforms, equipment, weapons and drills of the British Infantryman of the Great War… 1/

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Allan Douglas @doug504.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Our house was built 1938/39 our above ground shelter, 6 inch slab roof, is now my tool shed. Had to enlarge door and knock out a wall for the window! Hard work, 4 brick thick walls with sand filled cavities between, presume for blast protection?

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

A diversion into the Second World War for us this morning. We had the opportunity to save two wooden bunks that had been built into a brick Air Raid Shelter in 1938, just down the road from us in Bury St Edmunds. If householders earned more than £300 per year they had to… 1/

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Our 2026 Spring GWH Volunteer Weekend has been a huge success. In fact we all agree that it has been the most successful volunteer weekend to date. Over 2 days many of the Huts have been given another coat of wood preserver, doors and windows have been painted, more of our… 1/

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Huge thanks to GWH supporter Karen Dennis for sending us a collection of BBC sound effects records for the GWH Archive, including this one of a MkV Tank on manoeuvres. They belonged to Bill Fulton, who used them in his talks. He died 8 years ago today, making their arrival especially meaningful.

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Men of Worth Project @menofworth.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Oh yes, we're very fortunate to have these items in our local archive. The album holds 99 photographs (all scanned by us) Sadly there are very few captions, but there are some great images of the men in training:

An informal group photograph of officers, mostly of the Keighley Volunteer Training Corps during the Great War. Three of them are with the Gordon Highlanders.

A soldier being shaved in a doorway. He is seated with a towel around his neck and another man is soaping his chin with a shaving brush.

Several Keighley Volunteer Training Corps officers standing in a field, who appear to be looking at a map.

Keighley Volunteer Training Corps volunteers with long raincoats and holding rifles. They are probably on a rifle training course during the Great War period.

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Men of Worth Project @menofworth.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

We’re very fortunate to have a nominal roll for the Keighley VTC which gives name, address, age, occupation, height, weight etc and reasons for not enlisting (usually over age). The booklet is held in Keighley Library’s archive. There is also an Adjutant’s photo album of training, group photos etc.

Front cover of a booklet listing Keighley's Volunteer Training Corps 1914 to 1916. It is made from orange card with black text.

Two pages from a nominal roll for Keighley's Volunteer Training Battalion, giving name, address, marital status, children, age, height, weight, chest size, reason for not enlisting, previous military training and date enrolled.

A column of men (mostly in uniform) marching past an old uniformed officer. This took place in a field near Keighley and the men are the Keighley Volunteer Training Battalion. The old officer is the Earl of Harewood and it was for an inspection which occurred on the 3rd of July, 1915.

A black and white photograph from the Great War period. Eight men in uniform in a seated group photo, with a large round shield. There is no caption but presumably they had just won the shield in a competition.

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

109 years ago today, on 31st March 1917, Sergeant R.P. Stafford, the 30th man to sign up for the Halifax Volunteer Training Corps, was presented with his Volunteer Regiment Proficiency Badge and certificate. We also have his armband and Marksman’s qualification badge in the… 1/

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

At our first #HuttedHistories talk of the year on Wednesday we were delighted to receive this kind donation from James Hyde. It is the bronze grave marker of Old Contemptible 34900 Driver George Neaves of K Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. Andrew Thornton kindly sent us his… 1/

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Our 2026 #HuttedHistories season gets off to a flying start next Wednesday (25th) when @drkatevigurs.bsky.social joins us to tell extraordinary true stories of the female agents of the SOE from her gripping new book, Mission Europe! For more details & tickets: shorturl.at/CTMwO

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Chris Kolonko-Weet @ckolonko.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Trying something new on the YouTube Channel. I had the pleasure of being joined by the wonderful Taff Gillingham of @greatwarhuts.bsky.social Taff joined me to discuss the up and coming myth 'The Home Guard were full of First World War Veterans'. youtu.be/_IFHgBXbKww?... #WW1 #WW2 #History

youtu.be

Regular Conversations: Taff Gillingham on 'The Home Guard was full of First World War Veterans'

YouTube video by Remember the Regulars

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

Another gem for you all from the GWH Collection: This is the scrapbook of Captain Kyrle Ffrench, Special Reserve, attached to the South Wales Borderers. Kyrle kept all sorts of paperwork and ephemera including press cuttings, postcards, pages from army notebooks… 1/

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

A quirky piece from the Great War Huts Collection - the original sign from Marks and Spencer in Felixstowe announcing that the store would be closed for Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral 61 years ago today, on Saturday 30th January 1965. 1/2

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Winter has well and truly arrived at Brook Farm Camp! ❄️ The huts are tucked up under a blanket of snow and Hut Dog Charlie Chaplin is padding around the trenches like it’s the most magical place on earth🐾

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

It's Christmas Day and the finale of #HutVent2025. Thank you for all your support in 2025 and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2026! youtu.be/D8wOBsGX5W4 #HutVent

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

It’s Christmas Eve, and we are nearly at the end of #HutVent2025, but today Lyndsay has some tiny uniforms for you... youtu.be/mdhKNlZ7TUI #HutVent

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

It is the 23rd Day of #HutVent2025 and today Taff is looking at some First World War Army welfare provision and the subject of 'French Leave'... youtu.be/S070052pOtY

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

A nautical theme for Day 22 of #HutVent2025 as Taff tells the tale of the sinking of the Lusitania... youtu.be/Aaf_qlFuKc0

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Great War Huts @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

For the 21st Day of #HutVent2025, Taff tells us about Colonel Isaac Newton Lewis's invention, and how it revolutionised British Infantry tactics... youtu.be/6FkNM9Wig70

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