iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Poppy Mercier

Caitlin G. DeAngelis @caitlindeangelis.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

I am proud of finding this new postcard of Flers (c.1919-1923) because I spotted something special about it. If you look closely, the hut in the foreground has a tiny Imperial War Graves Commission sign over the door. The card was posted in 1923. @poppymercier.bsky.social

postcard from 1920s showing Flers (Somme), with temporary housing and Nissen huts. In the foreground, one hut has a tiny sign that says IWGC over the door, and several bicycles out front.

2314

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Sunset tonight from Haringhe (Bandaghem) cemetery; a smaller site, close to the French boarder, commemorating just over 800 casualties

150

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

After so many years, its wonderful to finally put a face to a name. Frank Hayward was born in Bristol in August 1898 to Henry & Minnie. He attested into the 12th Battalion Essex Regiment in August 1916, around the time of his 18th birthday.

1188

Reposted by Poppy Mercier

Caitlin G. DeAngelis @caitlindeangelis.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

There are not very many IWGC staff spouses buried in @cwgc.bsky.social cemeteries in France. Even fewer with the standard, curved-top headstone. Lilian Cooper, wife of foreman A.B. Cooper, died in 1920 near the IWGC head office in St. Omer. She is buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery.

a gray headstone with a curved top and a carved cross, inscribed, "Lilian Cooper, 2nd June 1920"

2224

Reposted by Poppy Mercier

Caitlin G. DeAngelis @caitlindeangelis.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Grave of Herbert Dickens in Longuenesse. He worked for the @cwgc.bsky.social in many capacities in France: gardener, mechanic, blacksmith, coppersmith, etc. Dickens lived in Beaurains, near the current CWGC Experience. He was interned in 1940, along with his teenage son and daughter.

gravestone of Herbert Dickens, a civilian gravestone (rectangular with rounded corners), in the fog with the Cross of Sacrifice in the background

mugshot of a middle-aged man in a striped jacket, lined face and dark hair, holding a chalk board with number 512

Herbert Dickens' internee information card, in German, with his photo, thumbprint, and address in Beaurains

271

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

It's been a while since I last posted on here, but here's an update to the jeep since last year - now fully rigged with stretcher frame and set to airborne mode. Doesn't she look good? #ww2 #ww2jeep

070

Reposted by Poppy Mercier

Caitlin G. DeAngelis @caitlindeangelis.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

One of the reasons I was in France was to visit the graves of civilian bombing victims like Jeanne (10) and Micheline (2) Vasseur, who were killed by Allied bombs in 1944. It is beyond horrific that the US is now murdering hundreds of children in Iran in a war of braggadocio, not liberation.

Civilian bombing victims’ graves in Bethune, France — broad, yellowish-gray stone markets with small metal name plaques and marble memorial plaques

0477

Reposted by Poppy Mercier

Caitlin G. DeAngelis @caitlindeangelis.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

There is a plot of ~25 IWGC staff graves at Longuenesse, but also several other staff members scattered through the cemetery (like Lt. Paul Dematons (d.1924)). I’ll be adding these to the list of staff burials curated by @poppymercier.bsky.social: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

Grave of Paul Dematons, separated from a line of other CWGC graves by a small gap, photographed on a foggy morning

1102

Reposted by Poppy Mercier

Alex Bowers @bowerswrites.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

My latest Legion Magazine article is out now, featuring an interview with British-born French resident and historian Poppy Mercier (@poppymercier.bsky.social), who has embarked on a journey to honour locally buried Canadian airmen from WW II. legionmagazine.com/british-born... 📸 Poppy Mercier.

1355

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Uncle Jack John “Jack” Marketis was my grandma Joan’s older brother. I was always quite close to her up to her death and I remember her telling me stories about her siblings including Jack. He joined the Royal Navy prior to the Second World War breaking out.

2202

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

L'église Notre-Dame de Carentan Then & Now: 15/16 June 1944 to 20 May 2025 Members of the 326th Airborne Medical Company (101st Airborne Division) with one of their Jeeps parked in front of the church at Carentan talking to the locals. Original photo courtesy of “WW2 US Medical Research Centre”

Original photo taken on 15th or 16th June 1944, showing 2 medics of the 326th airborne medical company speaking to locals of the town of Carentan. It appears they have a civilian casualty loaded on a stretcher on their jeep.

The same location, but a modern photo taken on 20th May 2025

060

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Burial service for 2 unknown commonwealth soldiers today in CWGC Ovillers Military Cemetery. Sadly their identities could not be discovered; they both receive a burial with full military honours. May they rest in peace, now alongside their comrades once more.

080

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

It was great to finally be able to visit Loos British Cemetery Extension at the start of the week. The new cemetery has been built to accommodate another 1,200 burials; with the increase of remains being found over the last 10 years such a site is now greatly needed.

0204

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

All ready for a new season and out with my first group next week! If you’re looking for a local guide who can bring a fresh perspective to your tours, don’t hesitate to contact me; from a general Battle of the Somme tour or following in the footsteps of a relative, I’m always happy to assist

0204

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

A beautiful day for exploring the battlefields - visit No.1 to Brie British Cemetery, just outside of Péronne. Such a beautiful small cemetery out in the middle of nowhere with some fascinating burials.

1121

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Sunset over the Thiepval memorial this evening, looking towards the woodland at Authuille and Aveluy #ww1 #somme

1404

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

A beautiful service held today for L/Cpl George Rankeillor. He has previously been listed as missing on the Arras Memorial. Service was attended by the Household Cavalry and the Regimantal Association.

0141

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

New unit markings on the jeep, more accurate to her unit (326 Airborne Medical Co)

0183

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

I took a brief visit to the tool shed at Serre No2 to see where IWGC Ben Leech hid allied airmen during WW2. “To Major G.B. Simler in remembrance of his staying as guest? at Serre Road No. 2 Beaumont Hamel Somme France 1944" Photo from the Simler family, shared by @caitlindeangelis.bsky.social

1212

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Buried in Meharicourt cemetery is the crew of Lancaster KB714. On 13 June 1944 the crew from 419 Sqd were returning from bombing Cambrai when they were shot down very close by to Courcelette British Cemetery, killing all on board. May they rest in peace. “Moosa aswayita"

150

Reposted by Poppy Mercier

Caitlin G. DeAngelis @caitlindeangelis.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

I wrote a little book about the War Graves gardeners in France and what happened to them after the “lack of proper arrangement for [their] evacuation and the complete disappearance of all [their] leaders.” www.goodreads.com/book/show/12...

goodreads.com

The Caretakers: War Graves Gardeners and the Secret Bat…

When World War I ended, hundreds of British veterans st…

0114

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Merry Christmas to all friends and followers. I wish you all a lovely time and a very happy new year 🎄🎉

2130

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

My favourite piece of history, our Ford GPW « Evie » turns 81 today! To celebrate we took her out for a drive around the town and to pick up our Christmas tree 🎄 #history #ww2 #jeep

0182

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

#ChristmasMarkets in #Berlin last week. We went to a few but I only took photos at Alexanderplatz & Das Center in Potsdammer Platz.

190

Reposted by Poppy Mercier

Caitlin G. DeAngelis @caitlindeangelis.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

(If you're a wikipedia editor, you can add them yourself, or you can send them to me or @poppymercier.bsky.social, who is responsible for the good work maintaining that page!)

111

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Just some highlights of my 5 days in Berlin…always an excellent time exploring the city, rediscovering its history and enjoying some of the local culture.

0111

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Only a few days now until I’m back in my favourite city for the first time since 2019. Berlin is such a beautiful city, with such a rich history and an amazing variety of museums and historic sites

2100

Reposted by Poppy Mercier

Simon Verdegem @simonverdegem.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

When we discovered this German backpack in a 1914 trench near Wijdendrift (Langemark), we could never have imagined the extraordinary find it held. Only during cleaning in the depot did the eyes and claws of a cuddly toy come to light. #FWW #Archaeology #History

04910

Reposted by Poppy Mercier

Caitlin G. DeAngelis @caitlindeangelis.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Bert Haskins was a War Graves gardener in Dunkirk in the 1920s-30s. In 1940, he was arrested by the Germans and sent to an internment camp. In transit, he befriended the author P.G. Wodehouse, sharing food Bert brought from home. They became friends; Wodehouse dedicated "Money in the Bank" to him

mugshot of a man in his 50s with dark hair, wearing a knit scarf, holding a slate with number 690 in chalk

from The National Archives (UK) WO 416

36711

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Away from my love of military history comes my love of historic military medicine. My full time job is creating WW2 era replicas for reenactors, film & TV and museums. I’ve always had a love for graphic design and this allows me to combine my two passions.

1111

Reposted by Poppy Mercier

Tim Godden @tjgodden.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

IT FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY, OLD CHAP. On a wet and blustery autumn day in the old Ypres Salient, a former officer of the First Surrey Rifles makes a pilgrimage to the grave of an old chum. - Original painting and prints are available here: timgodden.co.uk/shop/p/feels... #ww1 #illustration

1256

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Snow on the Somme - by this point in 1916 the battle of the Somme was over. But the fighting continued for months with the attacks on the Ancre & Boom Ravine. The weather was awful, snowy and icy, much like it was in these photos I took in Jan 2024, 2021 & 2019.

The shelter building of Courcelette British Cemetery, layered with a thick blanket of snow and hoarfrost

The Thiepval memorial in a snowdrift, a thick blanket of snow covers the ground as a man in thick winter coat walks towards the memorial with snow still falling.

White headstones surrounded by snow at Adanac Military Cemetery.

Regina Trench Cemetery covered in snow, you can see the distinct cross of sacrifice and one of the shelter buildings.

0475

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

As everybody is sharing old school photos of the battlefields recently - here’s two from my collection: 1) Marcoing British Cemetery, a column passes by sometime in 1941. 2) Bray Military Cemetery, the local gendarmerie gather to mark the liberation, 1st Sept 1944.

A German column with horses & carts passes by the IWGC/CWGC Cemetery in Marcoing, Northern France. You can see the white headstones & cross of sacrifice in the background.

Local gendarmes (police) and people of the village of Bray sur Somme gather around the white headstones of the IWGC/CWGC Bray Military Cemetery in 1944 to mark the end of occupation.

1283

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Recent photos of the now completed restoration of the Tank Memorial in Pozieres/Courcelette. The memorial sits opposite the famous Pozieres Windmill - the work done is superb. And the .30 cal round from WW2 is still present in the whippet! #ww1 #history

A small bronze of the British manufactured Whippet tank. A hole in the side of the structure is present from bullet damage from WW2.

3283

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Everyone seems to be on here now! It’s great seeing so many of my Twitter mutuals. For those of you new to following me, I’m a young (amateur) historian living on the Somme 🇫🇷 I travel all over the old battlefields, exploring & photographing.

1432

Reposted by Poppy Mercier

Caitlin G. DeAngelis @caitlindeangelis.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Sounds excellent! I kick myself for never staying at the Hotel d'Angleterre in the old War Graves office in Arras before it closed. Poppy Mercier's done a fabulous job with the list of IWGC staff burials (still needs some photos, especially from St Omer and Ypres): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

en.wikipedia.org

List of Imperial War Graves staff burials - Wikipedia

141

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 28/10/2023

A brief visit to Miraumont Communal Cemetery which contains some very interesting graves - including 2 Bristol Blenheim crew from 1940, an IWGC gardener & casualties from Thiepval from May 1916, buried by the Germans.

A row of CWGC headstones from 1916 in Miraumont, on the Somme

The grave of an IWGC, now CWGC, gardener and his wife.

The graves of 2 crew from a Bristol Blenheim aircraft who were killed in 1940

030

Poppy Mercier @poppymercier.bsky.social · 20/10/2023

A first post, so I hope you all enjoy this sunset at CWGC Regina Trench Cemetery, Somme, taken back in the Summer

The WW1 cemetery at Regina Trench in Northern France, taken at Sunset. The photo shows the typical headstones and cross of sacrifice of these cemeteries.

080