On the Scottish War Graves Project site yesterday, user "adb41" posted that he now had a Roll of Honour for the Isle of Lewis online.
It's well worth checking out - click to visit his site.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
One of the big things on the internet these days is "social networking". This takes many shapes, this blog being one of them. Sites such as Facebook and MySpace have been around for a while, and they have been joined fairly recently by one called Twitter.
In case you've never heard of it, Twitter is a site where you can post updates of around 170 characters - it makes you keep things short and to the point. Some may think that rather frivolous, but many people have got on board and are now "tweeting" regularly.
Some of them may be of interest to those of you with an interest in Scotland and military history.
Yours truly can be found here, although I wouldn't expect much in the way of updates from me, since I never seem to have the time.
Genealogist and Friend of the SMRG Chris Paton can be found here, posting regularly on events and happenings in the Scottish Genealogical world. His blog, incidentally is also worth a look and can be found here.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission have been social networking for a while (they can be found on Facebook) and have got in on the Twitter act here. They post fairly regularly with some interesting items of news and updates.
Others "Twitterers" include:
The Western Front Association
The National Archives
The Imperial War Museum
The Australian War Memorial
That's just a few of the "bigger" names - there are plenty of familiar names out there if you have a browse.
In case you've never heard of it, Twitter is a site where you can post updates of around 170 characters - it makes you keep things short and to the point. Some may think that rather frivolous, but many people have got on board and are now "tweeting" regularly.
Some of them may be of interest to those of you with an interest in Scotland and military history.
Yours truly can be found here, although I wouldn't expect much in the way of updates from me, since I never seem to have the time.
Genealogist and Friend of the SMRG Chris Paton can be found here, posting regularly on events and happenings in the Scottish Genealogical world. His blog, incidentally is also worth a look and can be found here.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission have been social networking for a while (they can be found on Facebook) and have got in on the Twitter act here. They post fairly regularly with some interesting items of news and updates.
Others "Twitterers" include:
The Western Front Association
The National Archives
The Imperial War Museum
The Australian War Memorial
That's just a few of the "bigger" names - there are plenty of familiar names out there if you have a browse.
Friday, 14 August 2009
The Scots Who Fought Franco
An excellent programme shown last night on STV - a documentary on Scotlands contribution during the Spanish Civil War. It featured numerous interviews with International Brigaders whih have never been seen before.
Part two is on next week - I recommend tuning in if you can.
Part one is available to view here: http://player.stv.tv/programmes/the-scots-who-fought-franco/2009-08-13-2100/
Part two is on next week - I recommend tuning in if you can.
Part one is available to view here: http://player.stv.tv/programmes/the-scots-who-fought-franco/2009-08-13-2100/
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
The People's Army: Home Guard in Scotland 1940-1944
Mention the Home Guard to anyone and the answer you receive will invariably involve Dad's Army. A few years ago it might have been the answer I gave. But behind the comedy show there lies a true story that was almost as fascinating and at time amusing as the exploits of Pike, Fraser, Jones and co.
I've been particularly fascinated by the Home Guard for quite a while, and have a number of books on the subject. What has been lacking has been a book describing how the Home Guard was organised and operated in Scotland.
Brian Osborne's book The People's Army: Home Guard in Scotland 1940-1944 more than adequately fills this gap. From the earliest beginnings of the days following Anthony Eden's call for volunteers, to the closing days and "stand down" in 1944, this book covers almost every aspect of the Home Guard story.
Each chapter covers either a separate period in the short life of the Home Guard, or a particular facet of the organisation, such as weaponry and equipment, or the little-known effort the Home Guard made in the field of anti-aircraft batteries. These chapters cover all the information I knew a little about, while at the same time bringing to light new information and stories. One in particular stands out - that of a High Court judge in Edinburgh finding himself on patrol with the man who had been facing him in the dock the previous week! Stories like this stop this book from being just a dry history of the Home Guard; they add meat to the bare bones of the story and make this book the better for it.
Scotland it seems is particularly lucky, and this story could perhaps not have been told about any other part of Britain: we are lucky in that an officer in Scottish Command instructed each area to compile a "regimental history" of its service. These were then collated and are now held by the National Library of Scotland. (A set of documents I might make a point of requesting on my next visit!)
If you have an interest in Scotland's military history, or just in the Home Guard, I would recommend this book.
Click here to buy direct from the publisher.
I've been particularly fascinated by the Home Guard for quite a while, and have a number of books on the subject. What has been lacking has been a book describing how the Home Guard was organised and operated in Scotland.
Brian Osborne's book The People's Army: Home Guard in Scotland 1940-1944 more than adequately fills this gap. From the earliest beginnings of the days following Anthony Eden's call for volunteers, to the closing days and "stand down" in 1944, this book covers almost every aspect of the Home Guard story.
Each chapter covers either a separate period in the short life of the Home Guard, or a particular facet of the organisation, such as weaponry and equipment, or the little-known effort the Home Guard made in the field of anti-aircraft batteries. These chapters cover all the information I knew a little about, while at the same time bringing to light new information and stories. One in particular stands out - that of a High Court judge in Edinburgh finding himself on patrol with the man who had been facing him in the dock the previous week! Stories like this stop this book from being just a dry history of the Home Guard; they add meat to the bare bones of the story and make this book the better for it.
Scotland it seems is particularly lucky, and this story could perhaps not have been told about any other part of Britain: we are lucky in that an officer in Scottish Command instructed each area to compile a "regimental history" of its service. These were then collated and are now held by the National Library of Scotland. (A set of documents I might make a point of requesting on my next visit!)
If you have an interest in Scotland's military history, or just in the Home Guard, I would recommend this book.
Click here to buy direct from the publisher.
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