‘I want to apologise. Mistakes have been made. I went too far and too fast.’

Ah ha... We have a culprit!

After all the posts about D-Day, lets see how many mention Operation Barbarossa began #otd in 1941. The Axis attack on the Soviet Union. 4 million troops advanced across an 1,800 mile front.

#otd 80 years ago, Operation Iceberg ended. After 11 weeks of bloody fighting on Okinawa, the battle was over. 50,000+ US and 100,000+ Japanese casualties. Which means it is 20 years since this book was published. [Another hello of a battle that rarely gets a mention]

Yesterday in 1944 the Soviet Red Army launched Operation Bagration. You know, the massive attack that supported D-Day. I never saw that get a mention either?

After fighting for four years to end slavery (1861-65), the US Army went back to its primary objective; massacring the native Americans. Only it didn't always work out... #otd 1876 the battle of Little Big Horn.

25 per cent off British Newspaper Archive at the moment, if any one is interested. Promo code SUMMER25 Saw it on facebook. britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/account/subscr…

From a trip to the Somme years ago.

Remembering Sergeant George Philbey who went over the top on 1 July 1916 with the Sheffield Pals on the Somme. He never came home but his bible and prayer led to my interest in the Great War, lots of travels around the world and quite a few books.

The photographer's view of the attack on the Some, 1 July 1916. #OTD

Gettysburg #otd 1863. I went in 2008 and want to go again.

Poppies from the Somme a few years ago. #0TD 1916

Pinned Down The Long Walk A forest of barbed wire Crater #otd 1916

Good.morning!

#otd 1863 - Pickett's Charge. Looking from the Confederate lines towards the Union lines.

#otd 1863 the siege of Vicksburg ended. Trenches, siege guns, armed river boats; what more could you want? The Union took control of the Mississippi River and divided the Confederacy in two.

So, I am pleased to announce that this is now out with Pen & Sword Books. The story of Britain's munitions industry during the First World War. An added dimension to the problems facing Britain during the conflict. Excuse me if I do some marketing over the days that follow. Cheers!

My journey started in 2019, when I discovered that over 100,000 men and women worked in my home town of Sheffield’s steelworks and factories during the First World War, making all types of armaments. I have given talks about this all over the city. pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Ministry-o…

After talking about Sheffield's industry in WW1, I expanded my research to the nation's armaments industry. I have given talks on the subject, calling it 'Dark Satanic Mills'; DM me if you are interested (I am Yorkshire based). Pen & Sword Books amazon.co.uk/Ministry-Munit…

My great granddad lost two brothers in 1915. Many visit the Menin Gate in Ypres where soldier Bill is remembered. But few visit Southgate colliery memorial where coal miner Jim is remembered. Without coal you can't make steel and you can't make armaments. Both did their bit.