Edith Cavell – Patriotism Is Not Enough

Many of us are familiar with the phrase “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel”, a quote that remains as true today as it was when it was first coined and is still evident by many politicians in particular around the world.  Not so many people though are familiar with the equally if not… Continue reading Edith Cavell – Patriotism Is Not Enough

Using Pinterest for Authors and Bloggers

Recently I became more aware of the social media platform Pinterest.  I must admit that I don’t have much time for Social Media both figuratively and literally.  Self promotion isn’t my thing and I’m generally too busy to complete what I want to do in my life let alone look at many others.   I… Continue reading Using Pinterest for Authors and Bloggers

I have my first book signing!

So the big news on the happiness front this week is that I have been offered my very first book-signing.  I didn’t have to beg or grovel or anything like I expected I might have to do or lets face it, be prepared to do. It’s not in London’s Oxford Street or New York’s Time… Continue reading I have my first book signing!

75th Anniversary of The Battle of Britain – This was our finest hour

Today marks the start of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the skies of London will be treated once again to the familiar sights and sounds of Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancaster bombers.  As strange as it sounds, I think the sound of a Spitfire Merlin engine is possibly the best man-made noise… Continue reading 75th Anniversary of The Battle of Britain – This was our finest hour

VE Day Remembered in Photos – This Is Your Victory!

The 8th May 1945 was V.E. Day or Victory in Europe Day.  As the U.K. is in the midst of remembering and celebrating perhaps the most momentous day in our history,  I thought it would be interesting to post some old photos of that incredible day as well as showing how war had left London and… Continue reading VE Day Remembered in Photos – This Is Your Victory!

Gallipoli and ANZAC Day – One of the biggest disasters in history

The Gallipoli campaign in the Dardanelles region of modern day Turkey was a landmark battle of World War One.  It is counted as perhaps the greatest Ottoman Turkish victory in the war and set about creating a Turkish nationalism that went on to create a modern country out of the ashes of defeat at the… Continue reading Gallipoli and ANZAC Day – One of the biggest disasters in history

100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

Most of us are familiar with the holocaust in WW2 enacted by Nazi Germany against Jewish people, Gypsies, communists and the mentally ill but this week sees the 100th anniversary of another holocaust or Genocide, the Armenian Genocide in Turkey. Historically The Ottoman Empire had far outshone most European states for centuries in terms of… Continue reading 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

The Christmas Truce and football match of 1914.

Whilst we are getting ready to enjoy or in some cases already enjoying our Christmas in 2014, it is worth remembering what was happening 100 years ago not so far from where I am writing today.  In what is perhaps one of the most inhuman situations in history a series of events played out that… Continue reading The Christmas Truce and football match of 1914.

PS. Thanks for being my hero

As long-time and regular readers will be aware, I have been for some time been interested in a particular family relation of mine, Serjeant Reuel Dunn who served in the Royal Flying Corps, the precursor to the RAF.  He was an experience flyer himself and had a number of kills to his name before bad… Continue reading PS. Thanks for being my hero

Sights of the WW1 battlefields

This my penultimate post for now on WW1 and my recent tour to the battlefields of France and Belgium.  There are simply so many places to see and despite being out all day, every day for a week, we only scratched the surface. One of the first places that we visited was Vimy Ridge.  This… Continue reading Sights of the WW1 battlefields