iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Oliver Davey

Waitman Wade Beorn, PhD, FRHistS @waitmanwbeorn.com · 23/09/2026

The (beta) version of the Visualizing Janowska Project is live. Can I ask anyone who is interested to please take a look and if you do, please take a moment to fill out the feedback form below so I can potentially make changes? #DH #DigitalHumanities storage.net-fs.com/hosting/8432...

Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Really enjoyed my first American football match yesterday seeing Bristol Aztecs beat Coventry Phoenix. And all overlooked by the water tower for the US Army hospital at Frenchay.

American football game between Bristol Aztecs and Coventry Phoenix.

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

William Murray of the 165th Signal Photographic Company with the Short family in Old Sodbury, South Glos. He died in a field hospital on this day in 1944, 10 days after being wounded by a shell fragment photographing the US Army's assault on Saint-Lo.

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Stephen Fisher @seaspitfires.com · 25/06/2026

Regular viewers will be pleased to know I'm still ranting at duff history...

A screenshot of a Facebook post. It says that:
"The fighting on D-Day was so intense that up to 4% of the sand on Normandy beaches is now made up of shrapnel, broken down into sand-sized pieces over the decades."

My Farcebook post about the previous post. It says (abbreviated):
This troublesome example comes from an oft-repeated but rarely analysed 2011 paper, which documents the analysis of a tiny sample of sand collected from next to the Omaha beach memorial (presumably the Signal Monument) in 1988. It was found to contain 78% detrital quartz, 9% feldspar, 4% limestone clast and modern bioclast, 3% heavy minerals, and 2% chert, other rock fragments and beads of metal and glass. There was also 4% 'shrapnel'. The paper does not explain how this identification of microscopic metal grains was made, but the number of potential sources of metal traces on the beach is huge. Pre or post-war beach infrastructure will have corroded over time and left depositions all along the beaches of Normandy. Pollution and waste is another source. Given the sample was taken from next to a memorial (itself made of stone but with significant metal foundations all around it) this or other post-war memorials must also be considered. Of course it is also possibly the remains of wartime features – but the remains of German beach defences, Mulberry Harbour, shipwrecks or American vehicles is certainly more likely than ordnance.
Apparently a sample taken at Utah (exactly where isn't stated) yielded no shrapnel, and the paper puts this down to Utah being much less contested. Unsurprisingly no samples were taken from the British beaches. This is such a flawed sampling process it isn't even worthy of discussion, and it's noticeable in the paper that the history of Omaha wasn't seriously assessed to contextualise the metal traces. The narrative is 'Omaha was hell – this metal sample must be the result'.
So on the basis of questionable paper, a 4% sample of microscopic metal remains on Omaha Beach connects itself to D-Day, becomes part of the legend and evidence for its (exaggerated) ferocity, and is parroted all over social media as '4% of Omaha beach is shrapnel'.

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Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Via @alanallport.bsky.social, I learned last week that Germany continued to play international fixtures (against allies, neutrals and occupied nations) during the Second World War. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany...

en.wikipedia.org

Germany national football team results (1930–1942) - Wikipedia

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Ian Kikuchi @curatorian.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Doing some #filmcataloguing and absolutely adore this shot of a man from the Royal Artillery's 422nd Searchlight Battery cleaning the mirror on one of his lights. #WW2

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Tim Lambert @timlambert-pa.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

In the opening credits of WWII with Tom Hanks, you may notice the famous photo below. If you ever wondered who the soldier is that's being dragged out of the English Channel, he's from Pennsylvania. It's easily one of the top five stories of my career and earned a National Murrow for writing.

witf.org

How a Pennsylvania man ended up in an iconic D-Day invasion photo | WITF

The name of this balding, waterlogged soldier on Omaha Beach in Normandy has only been known to a select few. It turns out, he was from Pennsylvania.

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

VE Day at Bristol Temple Meads. As taken by Lionel Hanley, an orthopaedic photographer in the US Army's 117th General Hospital based at Frenchay, Bristol. (Hanley Family Archive) I've written more about him here yanksinbristol.co.uk/lionel-g-han...

yanksinbristol.co.uk

Lionel G. Hanley

Pictured above – Lionel G. Hanley. All photographs on this page are kindly provided by John Hanley from the Hanley family archives. Further photos can be seen on John’s Flickr…

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RG Poulussen @rgpoulussen.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Lancaster taking off. #WW2 #HISTORY

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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

VICTORY! Government to open up the Land Registry - bringing to an end a thousand years of secrecy shrouding who owns England. I’ve been campaigning for this for ten years: the new Land Use Framework, published later today, makes it government policy. 1/ www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.com

Government to lift paywall from large parts of the Land Registry

Exclusive: finding out who owns land will become simpler under plans to make the best use of green spaces and hit net zero targets

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NEVER MIND THE DAMBUSTERS @nmtdambusters.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Hello ! Episode 63 is out today. @alanallport.bsky.social discusses his new book Advance Britannia, and the changing role of Bomber Command from 1943. www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/epis...

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Can't remember who recommended this book (maybe @themerl.bsky.social) but it really is superb. An amazingly evocative account of life on a farm in the Second World War and our connection to the past #HistBookChat

The front cover of the book Ghosts of the Farm

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

This was excellent (as ever). Some of us Bristol Area IC were lucky enough to meet Arthur Spencer (who's sadly since died) last year. He was a navigator in the Pathfinders on the Peenemünde raid.

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Recently finished this cracking book by @luketurner.bsky.social #HistBookChat Really enjoyed his talk at WHWFestV so this is an excellent addition. It's yet another prism to look at the Second World War through and highly recommended.

Front cover of Men at War by Luke Turner

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Good to have @nmtdambusters.bsky.social back again. Another interesting pod this week on the Canada's part in Bomber Command and sounds like many more to come. And get well soon @jamesjhistory.bsky.social!

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Waitman Wade Beorn, PhD, FRHistS @waitmanwbeorn.com · 22/12/2025

🧵One of the more dangerous Terminally Online Types are people who think that all human knowledge (raw or processed) is on the internet and the only question is how to access it. Thus, history, for these folks, is neither the seeking of new information nor the asking of new questions. #genAI

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Gary Sheffield @profgsheffield.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

Grateful for reposts!

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Luke Turner @luketurner.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

In the paper today

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Mike Pitts @pittsmike.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Updated thread on The Lost King film: I’m digging over old ground but I have to challenge Steve Coogan's line. He claims it’s all true (as has Philippa Langley): Langley will be celebrated for her achievement, Richard Taylor & his personal gripes will be forgotten So what’s the real story? 1/15

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

OTD 1854 - Charge of the Light Brigade. Here's my fave Lady Butler painting: Balaclava (1876), which drew criticism for showing reality of war. Central figure is veteran of charge William Henry Pennington who posed. Look and feel of work influenced Tony Richardson's 1968 movie.

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Great day yesterday with the Bristol Area IC in our March for Finley from Burnham-on-Sea to Brean Down. If you can spare a few pounds for this wonderful charity helping families with children in long-term hospital care, we'd really appreciate it. www.justgiving.com/page/bristol...

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

28th Aug, 1942. A Junkers 86R high altitude bomber, flying at around 40,000 feet, dropped a single 250kg bomb over Bristol, which landed on a car in the Broad Wier district at 9:20am. A nearby bus was seriously damaged by blast, while burning petrol from the car’s fuel tank engulfed two more. 🧵1/12

Carnage in Broad Wier, Bristol, following the attack on 28th August.
📷 ww2today.com

(Scene of devastation on a city street, with a bus badly damaged by blast and two more on fire. Two men are bending over a body on the pavement)

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Nick Grubb @njg330.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

The Bristol Area IC (The Beaufighters) will be Marching for Finley on Sunday 31 August. It will be a great day out and should you wish to support us raising money for this fine cause please follow the link. click.contact.justgiving.com?qs=da0ac57f3...

click.contact.justgiving.com

Bristol Area IC's fundraiser for Finley’s Touch

Help Bristol Area IC raise money to support Finley’s Touch

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The Aviation Show @theaviation.show · 18/08/2025

Our latest museum tour is live now on the YouTube channel and wherever you get your podcasts. Last week we visited the fab Aerospace Bristol and were shown around by the Chair of Trustees, Sir Iain Gray. Check out the tour via the link below! youtu.be/N5R6e5NRy7s

youtu.be

Explore the Amazing Aircraft at Aerospace Bristol

YouTube video by The Aviation Show

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Matt Eaton @matteatonmedia.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

The Duxford Big Wing is today marching to raise money for the Finlays Touch charity. Wish us luck! @whwcambridgeic.bsky.social www.justgiving.com/page/cambrid...

Men of the Durham Light Infantry move up during the fighting south of Mont Pincon, 9 August 1944. Iwm b8886

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Nick Grubb @njg330.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

Elements of the Bristol Area IC (the Beaufighters) walking Stop Line Green from Bradford On Avon. A lovely walk . #wehaveways

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Recently back from holiday in Vienna and made sure I took the family to see the Flak Towers in Augarten on the edge of the city. The size of them is just incredible.

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Can't remember who posted this before but I loved this www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLqV... I've always found it hard to understand how the Charge of the Light Brigade fitted together but this did the job perfectly.

youtube.com

The Cavalry Charge That Became Legend (Crimean War Documentary)

YouTube video by Battle Guide

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Nick Lloyd @spaincivilwartours.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Table football (futbolín). The classic version was invented by Galician anarchist poet Alejandro Finisterre. While convalescing in Montserrat, Catalonia after wounded by a fascist bomb in Madrid in 1936. He felt sorry that the amputee kids couldn't play real football, so he came up with idea.

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Nick Lloyd @spaincivilwartours.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Richard Blair at the Estació de Francia last year reflecting on his father George Orwell's arrival here in the revolutionary city, and his escape six months later from the Stalinist police on 23 June 1937.

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Tim Godden @tjgodden.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Thanks to wonderful documentaries like this 1985 ‘Lions Led by Donkeys’ you can still see and hear the voices of some of the men who lived through the 1st July 1916. youtu.be/NEZdlLBiA-A?... #ww1 #Somme109

youtu.be

The Somme - Lions Led By Donkeys

YouTube video by Chris Mackay

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Nick Grubb @njg330.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

The chances of anything coming from Iron Acton are a million to one they said. A great evening with the Bristol IC (the Beaufighters) and a rather good model from @gubb71.bsky.social @yanksinbristol.bsky.social Felix, Simon G.

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Fantastic day yesterday at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre and a ride on Just Jane. So much fun and highly recommended.

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Stephen Fisher @seaspitfires.com · 04/05/2025

On this important #Maythe4thBeWithYou anniversary, let’s look at whether 21 Panzer Division’s counter attack at Sword on 6 June might have been more successful if they had deployed their AT-ATs on the left flank instead of the right. In this thread I shall consider…. 1/265

Large Imperial AT-ATs support German infantry during an advance

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Great to meet you last night @philmcraig.bsky.social, thanks for the talk. As we discussed, my website is www.YanksinBristol.co.uk See you at WHWFest5!

yanksinbristol.co.uk

US Military in WW2 Bristol

When Americans came to Bristol to help defend democracy

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Nick Grubb @njg330.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

A great evening in Chipping Sodbury with the Bristol Area IC and Phil Craig talking about his new book 1945:The Reckoning.

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James Jefferies @jamesjhistory.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

The post today has been absolutely bloody brilliant 😊 My (signed) copy of @lydiajane13.bsky.social's latest work has arrived. It's absolutely glorious and a much important addition to the historiography of RAF Bomber Command. Get yours here: mortonsbooks.co.uk/book/the-inv...

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Here's one for you @jamesjhistory.bsky.social Bristol Beaufort and Beaufighters named for the USAAF after the many Bristols of the USA! All at RAF Filton. (NARA)

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Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Really welcome news! And with 1% population owning half of England, this could be an important step towards distributing land more fairly

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Alex Churchill @alexchurchill.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Charles Rogers has been whitewashed off the DOD website because of abhorrent incels who fear their own insignificance. Please, share his face & his Medal of Honour citation far & wide. My substack tomorrow will be on minorities and women who have won it because I’m furious achurchill.substack.com

Charles Rogers has been whitewashed off the DOD website by abhorrent incels who fear their own insignificance. Please, share his face & his Medal of Honour citation far & wide. My substack tomorrow will be dedicated to minorities and women who have won it because I’m furious https://achurchill.substack.com

Image and citation from Wikipedia.

Citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
Lt. Col. Rogers, Field Artillery, distinguished himself in action while serving as commanding officer, 1st Battalion, during the defense of a forward fire support base. In the early morning hours, the fire support base was subjected to a concentrated bombardment of heavy mortar, rocket and rocket propelled grenade fire.
Simultaneously the position was struck by a human wave ground assault, led by sappers who breached the defensive barriers with bangalore torpedoes and penetrated the defensive perimeter. Lt. Col. Rogers with complete disregard for his safety moved through the hail of fragments from bursting enemy rounds to the embattled area. He aggressively rallied the dazed artillery crewmen to man their howitzers and he directed their
fire on the assaulting enemy. Although knocked to the ground and wounded (continued on next image)

by an exploding round, Lt. Col. Rogers sprang to his feet and led a small counterattack force against an enemy element that had penetrated the howitzer positions. Although painfully wounded a second time during the assault, Lt. Col. Rogers pressed the attack killing several of the enemy and driving the remainder from the positions. Refusing medical treatment, Lt. Col. Rogers reestablished and reinforced the defensive positions. As a second human wave attack was
launched against another sector of the perimeter, Lt. Col. Rogers directed artillery fire on the assaulting enemy and led a second counterattack against the charging forces. His valorous example rallied the beleaguered defenders to repulse and defeat the enemy onslaught. Lt. Col. Rogers moved from position to position through the heavy enemy fire, giving encouragement and direction to his men. At dawn the determined enemy launched a third assault against the (continued on next image)

fire base in an attempt to overrun the position. Lt. Col. Rogers moved to the threatened area and directed lethal fire on the enemy forces. Seeing a howitzer inoperative due to casualties, Lt. Col. Rogers joined the surviving members of the crew to return the howitzer to action. While directing the position defense, Lt. Col. Rogers was seriously wounded by fragments from a heavy mortar round which exploded on the parapet of the gun position.
Although too severely wounded to physically lead the defenders, Lt. Col.
Rogers continued to give encouragement and direction to his men in the defeating and repelling of the enemy attack. Lt. Col. Rogers' dauntless courage and heroism inspired the defenders of the fire support base to the heights of valor to defeat a determined and numerically superior enemy force. His relentless spirit of aggressiveness in action are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself. his unit. and the U.S. Army.

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Had a great visit to Portbury (near Bristol) HAA battery this week. The landowner pointed out a badger had dug up these items from where the huts once were: gin bottle with liquid still in it! Crockery with 'George VI' and '1944' on the bottom, a food tin, an ink pot and a perfume/aftershave bottle.

Collection of items dug up from the ground

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Just finished reading Normandy The Sailor's Story by @nickhewitt4.bsky.social #histbookchat Thought I had pretty good knowledge about the D-Day story but turns out there was a big chunk missing! Really great book.

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Oliver Davey @yanksinbristol.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Recently found this: turns out my Great Uncle Brian was the first British serviceman ashore in Korea in 1950. My great grandmother's comment "There has always been a Davey in the Navy" is sadly no longer true. I get seasick!

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