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Peter Johnston

@peterajohnston.bsky.social
2.8K followers 728 following 430 posts

Director, Narrative and Content at Imperial War Museums. Military historian, museum professional, and frequent explorer of museums, memorials and battlefields. All views here are mine alone

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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
As per usual @iainmacgregor1.bsky.social has drawn a crowd for the launch of his new book, Battle. So much so we had to bring up extra seats!
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
A grand day out indeed at the IWM Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow. Nobody does it like this
The Red Arrows perform with coloured smoke The Red Arrows perform a passing manoeuvre Two Hurricane aircraft fly at low level over a parked SpitfireA big wing of Spitfires
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Now open at IWM London, our brand new exhibition "Childhood in War." My colleagues have done an amazing job, and you may well start noticing some of this great marketing out and about. It's an important exhibition, it's powerful - and it's free. Do visit if and when you get the chance
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
"Oh say can you see..." Happy #4thJuly from the Duxford Summer Airshow
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Air show week is always fun at IWM Duxford. Snapped quickly earlier while out and about. Really looking forward to seeing the P-38 flying on Saturday. Tickets are still available for the weekend; www.iwm.org.uk/airshows/dux...
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Yeah.... No, Sweden
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
In July IWM London opens Childhood in War. This free exhibition shares children's view of war from more than 100 years. 450 million children live in conflict zones worldwide; their stories have never been more important. Read more here: www.iwm.org.uk/events/child...
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
What a thread. Top Gun inspired my love of aviation and I'll never miss a chance to check out an F-14. This one is at Air and Space's Udvar-Hazy Center #avgeek
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
I really enjoyed Samurai at the British Museum. There are terrific objects that are beautifully presented. But the exhibition also has a great narrative that explores and explodes the mythology that existed around the Samurai, even in their own time let alone in subsequent centuries
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Enjoyed visiting the Spy Museum today and checking out the Camouflage exhibit (including IWM loans)
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Intrigued? Me too. Why not come to Pentagon 1 for the Tail End Charlie session of #SMH2026 and find out more
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Really enjoying this panel on AI at #SMH2026. Lots of tools to make use of, but I'm also looking forward to sharing what IWM has managed to do so far
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
I'm just back from a fantastic @lrefoundation.bsky.social conference in Arnhem where we met to discuss the future of SWW commemoration. I visited the bridge (cue "Bring up the PIAT!") but also the @cwgc.bsky.social cemetery where John Grayburn rests, a remembered Chiltern Rugby Ranger
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
When my eldest daughter said she wanted to go collect shells at the beach, this wasn't quite what I had in mind
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
IWM has acquired a collection relating to Dame Vera Lynn, inc. uniform, more than 600 fan letters she received, and her diary of her 1944 tour of India and Burma. Congratulations to all my colleagues who've worked so hard to both acquire and celebrate and share this www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
What's going on at the Natural History Museum and their Pokémon pop up shop is wild!
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Have come across two stonking photos from the Burma campaign this morn. Left: IWM SE 142, men of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers use paddy fields for cover as they approach Japanese positions. On the right: IWM SE 778, a Bren gunner guards a jungle path after artillery has cleared an area near Pinwe #SWW
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
Just squeaks in
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
@dankaszeta.bsky.social's rather epic thread didn't get to either of the world's greatest condiments....
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
I was really excited to join a special tour of Clapham South Deep Level Shelter this afternoon with IWM's patrons. A fascinating history beyond the Second World War, with an afterlife including being a hostel and labour exchange for those on the Windrush, and a hotel for the Festival of Britain
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
I've a feeling we're not in Kansas (City) anymore...
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
I'm in Kansas City, Missouri this week at the National World War I Museum and Memorial for the annual meeting of our First World War network. Lots of great tours and discussions to be had over the next couple days with colleagues working across all aspects of FWW history
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
John Dundas flew IWM's R6915 Spitfire, and his and Hugh Dundas' medals and associated papers are in the IWM collection. We also have this photo (HU 141266) of the brothers taken at the house in Cawthorne in October 1940 while they were both on leave #SWW
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Today in 1945 General Seishiro Itagaki surrendered to Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander in Southeast Asia, at the Municipal Building in Singapore. The Instrument of Surrender was photographed, and the pen used and a flag flown over the Padang are now in IWM's collection #SWW
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
You know you've got a good seat for an airshow when you see this sign
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
When you gotta espionage all day but you missed breakfast
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
A very exciting moment for me today when I spotted this in the wild, perching on the shelves of Waterstones on Gower Street
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Enjoyed a little team outing with colleagues today to the V&A East Storehouse. Love the simple interaction on collecting
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
A then and now from Hamburg; IWM image BU 5284 showing a Sherman Firefly from 7th Armoured Div in position during the occupation of the city on 4 May, and the same view taken this week #SWW
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Ich kenne den Typen!
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
Congratulations @iainmacgregor1.bsky.social on the launch of your new book at IWM tonight. An excellent event enjoyed by a big crowd. Really looking forward to digging into the book over the weekend
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
Really lucky to have been busy across this anniversary period, and for us to have had the opportunity to share stories and connect people now with the events of the SWW. Sets us up nicely for VJ Day
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Today's office for VE Day celebration related work
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
"A bad bird," apparently. Does look a bit shifty. This is IWM TR 1561. Part of a series of colour transparencies taken in 1944 by official photographers on keeping poultry in Britain. Must have been a slow week. #CluckingBell #SWW www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
It's out in the wild! And in good company too
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Oh hello, you
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
OTD in 1945 Operation Varsity took place, part of the Allied attack across the Rhine in the endgame of the #SWW. It was the greatest airborne operation of the war; some 40,000 troops were dropped by 1,500 planes and gliders. In this image (IWM BU 2072) waiting troops watch the armada fly overhead
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
Thanks to @militaryhistorymag.bsky.social for highlighting the upcoming release of my book! #SWW #VEDay80
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Really pleased to have been able to go on BBC Breakfast this morning to talk VE and VJ Day, and IWM's plans for the 80th anniversary commemorations this year #SWW
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
A limited series based on Stackpole's Rogue Squadron. The best bits of Band of Brothers, Masters of the Air, Battle of Britain all rolled into one, all in space
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Roses are red Violets are blue Valentines are great But I love Matilda's too
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Using that theory, and being deliberately provocative, does that mean this wasn't a tank either?
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Back in the office
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Out of office
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
Well this is a very exciting thing to drop onto the doormat today #ColdWarHist
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Come 24 April this will be available in bookshops. It's a visual diary of the march to victory across northwest Europe, drawn from the archives of IWM #SWW
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
There are certainly worse views to reemerge to after all day workshops
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Live images of me watching for snow in SE1
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
The 1st group of Polish servicemen who had voluntarily decided to return to Poland pose happily on board SS Banfora at Tilbury docks, 31 Dec 1945. 105k elected to return, but most would face prosecution at the hands of the communists once home. 150k chose to stay in the UK (Image IWM H42458) #WW2
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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
Second World War aircraft socks aren't that special. 1939 SWW aircraft socks, however.... #niche
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