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Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️

@milhistdiddy.bsky.social

1.2K followers 460 following 640 posts

Battlefield Guide with @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social and Adaptable Travel (https://www.adaptabletravel.co.uk/tour/ypres-and-somme-ww1-battlefields-tours). Military History and Newcastle United F.C. are my passions. #FWW #WW1 #SWW #WW2 #NUFC

www.adaptabletravel.co.uk

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Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · Jun 16

My Great Uncle Bill’s #FWW story. It’s quite a read.

#WW1 #Gateshead

norfolkgeordie.wordpress.com/2022/04/28/b...

Bill’s War

Erich Maria Remarque’s world-famous novel, ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’, begins with a short preface in which he states that his book will try to tell the story of ‘a ge…

norfolkgeordie.wordpress.com

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Reposted by Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️

Joni Askola @joniaskola.bsky.social · 1h

1/5 Elon Musk’s Grokipedia is out.

It’s exactly what you would expect: unimpressive, biased, and built to serve Musk’s agenda.

He hates Wikipedia because he can’t control it. He hates facts.

Grokipedia is his attempt to replace truth with spin

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Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · 1d

Just a pile of sand, today, but during the #FWW, this was the site of a cleverly built British strongpoint that was given the name ‘The Indian Rubber House’ due to the fact that German shells frequently appeared to bounce off of it.

#WW1 #GWG #SGWT

Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · 1d

Whilst returning from the front line, the temporary bridge (Putney) they were using to cross the Yser was hit by German shells. Melvill rallied the survivors and, under gas & artillery fire, led them safely across via a 2nd bridge (Vauxhall), further east.

2/2

Proper leadership.

#FWW #WW1 #SGWT

Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · 1d

Final morning of this tour for @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social. It was concluded with a trip to Nieupoort to show three generations of this family where their ancestor, Major Malcolm Melvill MC, earned his medal in July 1917.

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#FWW #WW1 #SGWT

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Reposted by Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️

Sophie's Great War Tours @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social · 1d

1/2: We've had another tour out this week, this time three generations from an esteemed military family, from Colonel to student. Today they’re following in the footsteps of their relative whose courage earned him the Military Cross close to Nieuwpoort.

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Reposted by Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️

Sophie's Great War Tours @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social · 9d

1/2:

#OTD in 1914, the First Battle of Ypres opens.

'Favourite' is a difficult term to use sometimes when it comes to battlefields. What I mean by that in this case is, that I love taking guests to these early Great War engagements.

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Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · 3d

Another tour on behalf of @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social, and more family pilgrimages (they’re so special to be a part of).

Major Rich, U Bty RHA, killed 1 Dec 1917, whilst conducting a recce for a suitable OP.

Buried Villers-Faucon #CWGC

#FWW #WW1 #SGWT

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Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · 6d

Now, can we please get this season going?

Superb 2nd half performance, especially.

Howay the lads 🖤🤍

#NUFC

Newcastle United @newcastleunited.com · 6d

BACK-TO-BACK WINS IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE! 🤩

FULL-TIME | Newcastle United 3 Benfica 0

Reposted by Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️

The Beatles Photos @thebeatlespix.bsky.social · 19d

Happy Birthday John Lennon

the #Beatles

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Reposted by Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️

Steve Smith @stevesmith1944.bsky.social · 24d

Storm Amy has just passed & it's now a lovely breezy day on the Salient. The day started with my usual truth & myth of the Christmas Truce stands & then it was onto Talbot House. This is on a tour arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social #WW1 #FWW #Ypres #Wipers #history

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Reposted by Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️

Sophie's Great War Tours @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social · 21d

1/3: This epitomises what we do here at Sophie's Great War Tours. A tour is so much more than a journey through history. This photo captures one of those powerful moments, when hours of research, heartfelt storytelling & the uncovering of a family’s wartime story come together.

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Reposted by Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️

Dan P @danieljphelan.bsky.social · 22d

Sick Berth Steward George Trolley was mentioned in despatches by Commodore Tyrwhitt, following a very early naval engagement that took place off Heligoland on 28th August 1914. The Daily Express gave an exciting headline to the battle.

📍Coventry (St Paul’s) Cemetery 🇬🇧

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Reposted by Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️

Lee Ryder @leeryder.bsky.social · 23d

From Brussels to St James’ - and what MUST happen next ⬇️🗞️#nufc

youtu.be/QAL-JTRH1nU?...

From Brussels to St James’ - Newcastle United’s amazing Euro journey and what comes next

YouTube video by Lee Ryder

youtu.be

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Reposted by Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️

GD's Tales @tanktales.bsky.social · 24d

On 4 Oct 1917 nr Reutel a sect of tanks from A Bn commanded by Capt Robertson attacked the German line. Assisted by Gnr Cyril Allen he marked routes & when the attack was launched led the tanks on foot. Capt Robertson was killed in the action. He was awarded the VC. Gnr Allen was awarded the DCM.

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Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · 24d

This is very sad news. Iam (Willie) was a magnificent servant to Newcastle United, as goalkeeper, coach and manager.

The No.1 when I first started supporting the Mags, and a true Toon legend.

#RIP Willie 🖤🤍

#NUFC ⚫️⚪️

THOMPSON @magpies1892.bsky.social · 24d

#RIP
Iam 'Willie' Mcfaul
#NUFC

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Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · 24d

Unbelievably, this was near Havrincourt Wood - a place we had visited not long before the one we saw at Bouzincourt Ridge, 7 years ago!

Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · 24d

Ronald, a Maori, was #kia on the 9th September 1918, attacking with his battalion across the Trescault Spur.

He is buried in Metz en Couture #CWGC.

His gt grandson spoke and played some traditional Maori music at his graveside.

The wind howled, the rain poured, and a rainbow appeared.

#SGWT

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Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · 24d

Final full day of guiding my clients on behalf of @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social.

This morning, we completed the #FWW story of Cpl Charles Thoday, 58th AIF, which took us to the east of Bellicourt.

This afternoon, it was all about Pte Ronald Cameron, 3rd Bn. 3rd NZRB.

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#SGWT #WW1

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Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · 25d

Special day retracing the FWW footsteps of the grandfather of these Aussie clients, on behalf of @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social.

He served with 58th AIF in & around Villers-Bretonneux in 1918 & was promoted as a direct replacement for Cpl Ernest Gladstone, KIA 2/9/1918, aged just 20.

#SGWT #FWW #WW1

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Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · 26d

A day on the Somme, today, following in the footsteps of Pte (later Cpl) Charles Thoday, 58th AIF, with his grandchildren.

The area around Flers / Guedecourt was the main focus, as he served there in late 1916 / early
1917.

In Amiens, tonight.

@sophie1wwtours.bsky.social

#SGWT #FWW #WW1

Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · 27d

Guiding a Maori client in the footsteps of his Gt Grandfather, who was wounded on 7/6/17 at Messines.

Took him to the NZ memorial there, and - in an otherwise cloudless sky - this fern shaped cloud appeared above where we were.

Hairs standing on back of neck moment.

#SGWT #NZ #FWW #WW1

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Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · 27d

Elsewhere in Belgium, tonight, that’s a great result for the Toon.

#NUFC #ECL ⚫️⚪️

Reposted by Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️

Frank @francischip.bsky.social · 27d

BREAKING🚨⚫️⚪️: Harvey Barnes' goal against Union Saint-Gilloise means he and his father, John, are the first father and son to score for the same team in Champions League history.

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Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · 27d

First full day in and around #Ypres, guiding two Australians and a New Zealander in the footsteps of their respective ancestors, on behalf of @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social

#SGWT #FWW #WW1

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Paul Durham 🇺🇦 ⚫️⚪️ @milhistdiddy.bsky.social · Sep 21

Last night, I decided I’d quite like some whisky, so I booked a Whoosh delivery from Tesco, but because I didn’t want them to think bad of me, I also ordered some chicken breasts and toothpaste, neither of which I needed.

#guiltshop

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