Category Archives: WW2

Posts predominantly WW2 related.

The London fences made from stretchers

Posted on August 26, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

Famously many of the iron and steel railings in the U.K. were removed and melted down to help the war effort in WW2. Whether a large city park or a private residence, chances are if there was a traditional style … Continue reading →

Posted in history, London, Science and Engineering, WW2 | Tagged Air Raid Protection Officers, ARP Stretcher Fences, history, Life, Stretcher Fences, The Blitz, Ye Olde England Tours | 6 Comments

ORP Blyskawica, Cowes and an unexpected surprise for the Luftwaffe

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

I’ve had the good fortune to be in Portsmouth twice in the last 3 days. It’s one of my favourite UK cities and I’m always very happy when I get to give a tour here. There is more than can … Continue reading →

Quote | Posted on May 8, 2017 by Stephen Liddell | Tagged Captain Francki, Cowes, history, Isle of Wight, ORP Błyskawica, Portsmouth, The Blitz, The Solent, WW2 | 2 Comments

The Knights of St. John found in London

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

My last post was all about the Knights Templars and the re-discovery of a possible long-lost religious centre in caves beneath Shropshire. In passing, I mentioned the Knights of St. John or the Knights Hospitaliers. Unlike the unfortunate Templars, the Hospitaliers are still … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London, WW2 | Tagged Cannon Ball, Clerkenwell, Crusades, Hospitaliers, Knights, Knights of St John, Ottoman Empire, Rhodes, St Johns Ambulance | 8 Comments

A History of Hacking – And how hacking got America into WW1

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Stephen Liddell

Going by the furore in the media at the moment, one would be forgiven for thinking that the world is ending because of the likelihood that Russia has hacked into American computer systems. The truth is, this sort of … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Science and Engineering, WW1, WW2 | Tagged Cyphers, GCHQ, Hacking, Life, Nigel de Grey, NSA, The Enigma Machine, WW1, Zimmerman Telegram | 4 Comments

3rd September 1939 – Britain Declares War On Germany

Posted on September 3, 2016 by Stephen Liddell

Today I was giving a tour of Chartwell House to two nice folk from Colorado, USA. Chartwell House was the home of Prime Minister Winston Churchill and is full of his old belongings from his radio to his cigars. Whilst … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, Opinion, WW2 | Tagged Appeasement, Chartwell House, Churchill, Hitler, Neville Chamberlain, Peace, Politics, war, WW2 | 12 Comments

Animation of Allied bombing raids on Nazi occupied Europe

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Stephen Liddell

I was going to write something entirely different today and indeed had even started writing it when I happened across a segment of this newly released animated video by the Imperial War Museum in London which I thought many others … Continue reading →

Posted in history, London, WW2 | Tagged D-Day, Germany, history, Imperial War Museum, RAF, The Blitz, United Kingdom, USAAF, Video, war, World War 2, WW2 | 5 Comments

The tragic story of Sidney Ashcroft & the Guernsey Eight

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Stephen Liddell

As we approach Armistice Day, I thought I would write on another history related item, this time from WW2. Not many people know that part of the British Isles was conquered and occupied by Nazi Germany. The Channel Islands, in … Continue reading →