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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Today is the 111th Anniversary of the 1/5th Bn Norfolk Regiment going over the top in Gallipoli and allegedly disappearing from sight and sound. You could still believe the myths about that or you could read my book on the subject ... #WW1 #Norfolk #FWW #Gallipoli #sandringham #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Yesterday I set the scene for the German offensive at Verdun. We visited the Bois des Caures, Fleury, which is one of the 9 'detruit' villages in this area, before moving onto Fort Douaumont. This is on a tour arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social #WW1 #FWW #Verdun #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Day 1 of my battlefield tour with my two American guests where I'll be showing them a number of sites, including the heroic stand made by Emile Driant & his Chasseurs in the Bois des Caures. This is on a tour arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social #WW1 #FWW #Verdun #driant #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

I'm now at Dover waiting to board a ferry to France to pick up my guests for a battlefield tour to the French and American sites around Verdun. This is on a tour arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social #WW1 #FWW #Verdun #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

On a recent battlefield tour I was able to take a photo of the Queen Victoria Rifles memorial at Hill 60 to compare it to a photo from 1964. The photo shows you veterans of the 9th Bn Norfolk Regiment who went on a pilgrimage to France and Flanders in that year. #WW1 #Norfolk #FWW #Ypres #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

I'm currently on my 1st battlefield tour of the season where I'm showing guests around sites in France & Flanders looking at where 2 grandfathers served in the infantry & Royal Engineer railway troops between 1916 & 1918. This is on a tour arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social #WW1 #FWW #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

It was great to launch my book the other day at the Lynn Museum in King's Lynn & thanks to the Norfolk Museum Services for their support & to everyone who came along. I've also provided a link to where you can get a copy #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

I've been able to hold a physical copy of my new book today. It looks at the alleged disappearance of the 1/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment at Kuchuk Anafarta Ova on 12th August 1915. It's on sale now & I've left a link to where you can get a copy in the comments. #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

My latest book is released today. It looks at the alleged disappearance of the 1/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment during their advance on Kuchuk Anafarta Ova on 12th August 1915. I've provided a link to where you can buy a copy in the comments. #WW1 #Norfolk #FWW #Gallipoli #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Exciting news today. You can pre-order my book online via Amazon & I've provided a link below if you you'd like to do that. #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli #history #books #WeWillRememberThem The Norfolks at Gallipoli 12 August 1915: Truth and Myth amzn.eu/d/73TuaJR

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Lance Corporal 1585 Frank Norman Fox, 5th Norfolks, who took part in the failed advance on Kuchuk Anafarta Ova on 12 August 1915. He features heavily in the allegations made that the men who disappeared were allegedly '....lost to sight or sound.' #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

Most of the officers of the 5th Norfolks, alleged to have been, '...lost to sight or sound. Not one of them ever came back.' This alleged disappearance will be tackled in my next book which is out on 30 November 2025 #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

I have a Facebook page dedicated to a number of things, including posts on subjects that relate to my next book. This is my most recent post, it also provides a link to my blog on why I wrote the book #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli #history www.facebook.com/share/p/1GQ5...

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

Sergeant 2179 John Lee Goulder, aged 32. He features heavily in my next book when I look at a particular myth that's been going around since the time of the Gallipoli Campaign. #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli #wewillrememberthem

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

2nd Lt Marcus Oliphant who was KIA in the advance on Kuchuk Anafarta Ova on 12 August 15 serving with the 5th Norfolks. He will feature in my next book & more info on that can be found via the link #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli #history stevesmith1944.wordpress.com/2015/07/29/t...

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

My next book comes out on the 30th November 2025 & I have updated a blog explaining the rationale behind it which you can find via the link below #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli #history stevesmith1944.wordpress.com/2015/07/29/t...

stevesmith1944.wordpress.com

The Norfolks at Gallipoli 12th August 1915

Truth and Myth

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

I visited these WW1 pillboxes yesterday. Norfolk holds the largest number of these Great War structures & many of them have now received listed status. There will be more information on that closer to Armistice #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #history #pillbox

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

All being well, my next book comes out on 30 Nov 25. It looks at the alleged disappearance of the 5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment & looks at all the duff history that surrounds the story of their advance on Kuchuk Anafarta Ova on 12 Aug 15 during the Gallipoli Campaign #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Our final visit to pay our respects was for one of my guests whose wife had a relative buried in Cabaret Rouge Cemetery near Souchez. Ernest died in an action at Vimy Ridge on 30 May 16. He had only been in France for a few months @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social #WW1 #FWW #wewillrememberthem #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

I'm now home after getting back from my battlefield tour for @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social & yesterday my guests got to see the French cemetery at Notre Dame de Lorette as well as the memorial to all nations that fell in the Nord & Pas de Calais regions in the Great War #WW1 #FWW #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Guiding for @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social allows me to take our guests to places where their ancestors served. John & Henry Laffoley died served with the 8th Battalion Devonshire Regiment & are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme #WW1 #FWW #Somme #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Yesterday's highlights on battlefield tour arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social the day started at the Sunken Lane & the Hawthorn Mine #WW1 #FWW #Somme #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

This afternoon it blew a hooley in the Ypres Salient but it didn't dampen our spirits as we looked at a number of sites around the Ypres Salient on a tour arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social first stops were Hill 60 & the Caterpillar Mine #WW1 #FWW #Ypres #Wipers #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Storm Amy has just passed & it's now a lovely breezy day on the Salient. The day started with my usual truth & myth of the Christmas Truce stands & then it was onto Talbot House. This is on a tour arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social #WW1 #FWW #Ypres #Wipers #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

It was a very wet day travelling to the Ypres Salient on a battlefield tour arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social but we ignored Storm Amy & went to visit Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery before moving onto Ypres #WW1 #FWW #Ypres #Wipers #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Today & tomorrow will see me indexing my next book which looks at the alleged disappearance of the 5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment at Gallipoli on 12th August 1915. It will be out in November this year #WW1 #Norfolk #Gallipoli #history #books

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

It's eleven years today that this book went off to the publisher to be put into print. It came out that year in November and my fourth book will also be published in that month in 2025 #WW1 #Norfolk #history #book

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

The lovely war memorial in the grounds of St Olaf's church, known as the smallest church in England, at Seascale in the Lake District. It remembers the twenty men of the Fell & Rock Climbing Club who died in the Great War. #WW1 #FWW #warmemorial #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Today will see me finish the editing of the formatted proof of my next book & the Sandringham War Memorial has a major part to play in it relating to the alleged disappearance of the 5th Norfolks at Gallipoli on 12 August 1915, the book is out in November #WW1 #Norfolk #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

My next book tackles the truth & myth of the alleged disappearance of the 1/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment during the advance on Kuckuk Anafarta Ova on 12th August 1915 during the Gallipoli Campaign. The book will be published in November. #WW1 #Norfolk #FWW #Gallipoli #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Today marks the 110th Anniversary of the 1/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment going into action at Kuchuk Anafarta Ova & it's the subject of my next book which is out in November #WW1 #Norfolk #Gallipoli #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Remembering Sidney 'Basher' Bates who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross on this day 8th August 1944 serving with the 1st Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment in Normandy, his citation is in the link #WW2 #Norfolk #history #normandy www.forcesnews.com/d-day/sidney...

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

I'm now back from a personal pilgrimage arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social where I took a guest to see where his grandfather served with 256 Bde RFA in 1918 at the Battle of Tardenois. This is the Bde lines for 20 July 18 #WW1 #FWW #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Our next stop was to Thelus Military Cemetery to find the grave of Private H D Mitchell 19th Bn Canadian Infantry who originally came from Fife where my guests live. This is on a battlefield tour arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social #WW1 #FWW #history #Canada #Fife #Scotland

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

On our way to Reims we detoured to find the grave of Lt William Middleton Wallace who flew with No 2 Squadron Royal Flying Corps who is now buried with his pilot in Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery near Souchez this is on a battlefield tour arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social #WW1 #FWW #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

I've picked up my guests for a tour arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social & we'll be looking at the 51st (Highland) Division at a lesser known battle in July of 1918 tomorrow with a few other stops along the way #WW1 #FWW #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Yesterday I showed Moorside School the ground that the Salford Pals advanced over on 1st July 1916 and it's always quite sobering for students when you can connect them to their community in some way. #WW1 #FWW #Salford #Somme #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

We're off to the Somme today and part of the visit will look at the Salford Pals on the 1st July 1916. This is on a tour arranged by Adaptable Travel #WW1 #FWW #Somme #Salford #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

After a major delay at Eurotunnel today we only got to see Hill 60 and the Caterpillar Mine, but it's allowed me to start the process of showing the students how the Ypres Salient was formed. This is on a tour arranged by Adaptable Travel - Educational Trips #WW1 #FWW #Ypres #Wipers #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

I'm now at Stop 24 waiting for Moorside School who come from Salford. During the tour we will look at the Salford Pals on the Somme for the 1st July 1916. This is on a tour arranged by Adaptable Travel - Educational Trips #WW1 #FWW #Salford #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

My final day with Jane Austen College saw visits to Essex Farm, Langemark and Tyne Cot Cemeteries. At Tyne Cot I always go to this blockhouse and read this account. This is on a tour arranged by Adaptable Travel - Educational Trips #WW1 #FWW #Ypres #Wipers #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Yesterday, on the Somme, at the Sunken Lane, Jane Austen College recreated this famous photo of the Mortar Platoon of the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers 109 years after it was taken on 1st July 1916 #WW1 #FWW #Somme #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

For the first time in many years I will be guiding on the Somme on the anniversary of the first day. Adaptable Travel - Educational Trips #WW1 #FWW #Somme #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Our final visit today was to look at the truth & myth of the Christmas Truce so the students could understand how you interpret history & especially primary sources. This is on a battlefield tour arranged by Adaptable Travel #WW1 #FWW

The Rusty Bollard at a duff history site

A bunker which was moved to this location in recent years, so a duff history bunker

Trenches that are situated nowhere near the front

The site where the 1st Norfolks, the 6th Cheshire's & the German 16th RIR did actually play a basic game of football on Christmas Day of 1914

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

This tour has a Norfolk influence so we visited 4 Norfolk Regiment officers, all 8th Bn, all died from gas poisoning and they're now buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Pictured is Lt James Lewton-Brain. This is on a tour arranged by Adaptable Travel. #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Ypres #Wipers

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Today we've visited Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery were Donald Snaddon, a 15 year old, and Nelly Spindler are laid to rest, Nelly is the only woman buried there. This is on a battlefield tour arranged by Adaptable Travel - Educational Trips #WW1 #FWW #Ypres #Wipers #history

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Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

My next battlefield tour for Adaptable Travel - Educational Trips starts today. It's a school from Norfolk so the tour will look at men who served with the Norfolk Regiment on the Western Front #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk

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