Robert Lock
@robertlock.bsky.social
Amateur Naval History enthusiast . Often found digging into odd corners of WW2 Naval History - very slowly writing book on Hertfordshire's Navy
Ronald "Carl" Giles OBE (29 September 1916 – 27 August 1995), often referred to simply as Giles, was a cartoonist who worked for the British newspaper the Daily Express.
February 2, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Ronald "Carl" Giles OBE (29 September 1916 – 27 August 1995), often referred to simply as Giles, was a cartoonist who worked for the British newspaper the Daily Express.
Ronald William Fordham Searle CBE RDI was an English artist and satirical cartoonist, comics artist, sculptor, medal designer and illustrator. He is perhaps best remembered as the creator of St Trinian's School and for his collaboration with Geoffrey Willans on the Molesworth series.
February 2, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Ronald William Fordham Searle CBE RDI was an English artist and satirical cartoonist, comics artist, sculptor, medal designer and illustrator. He is perhaps best remembered as the creator of St Trinian's School and for his collaboration with Geoffrey Willans on the Molesworth series.
HMS Peony
Herbert Geoffrey Willans was an English writer and journalist. He is most famous for creating the funny schoolboy character.
During the Second World War, Willans obtained a temporary wartime commission in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve,
Herbert Geoffrey Willans was an English writer and journalist. He is most famous for creating the funny schoolboy character.
During the Second World War, Willans obtained a temporary wartime commission in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve,
February 2, 2026 at 12:59 PM
HMS Peony
Herbert Geoffrey Willans was an English writer and journalist. He is most famous for creating the funny schoolboy character.
During the Second World War, Willans obtained a temporary wartime commission in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve,
Herbert Geoffrey Willans was an English writer and journalist. He is most famous for creating the funny schoolboy character.
During the Second World War, Willans obtained a temporary wartime commission in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve,
@dreadships.bsky.social
Have you ever explored the world of WW1 River gunboats ?
navtechlife.com/Guns_on_Barg...
Have you ever explored the world of WW1 River gunboats ?
navtechlife.com/Guns_on_Barg...
January 29, 2026 at 12:46 PM
@dreadships.bsky.social
Have you ever explored the world of WW1 River gunboats ?
navtechlife.com/Guns_on_Barg...
Have you ever explored the world of WW1 River gunboats ?
navtechlife.com/Guns_on_Barg...
Reposted by Robert Lock
23 Jan 1944 // While operating in support of Allied landing operations at Anzio, destroyer HMS Janus was sunk by a German aircraft using either a radio-controlled glider bomb or a torpedo (accounts differ). 158 of her crew lost their lives. (Imperial War Museum FL 3695) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
January 23, 2026 at 9:09 AM
23 Jan 1944 // While operating in support of Allied landing operations at Anzio, destroyer HMS Janus was sunk by a German aircraft using either a radio-controlled glider bomb or a torpedo (accounts differ). 158 of her crew lost their lives. (Imperial War Museum FL 3695) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
Cancelled V&W destroyers
Wye
Vashon
Vengeful
Vigo
Vigorous – renamed Wistful
Virulent
Volage
Volcano.
Wager
Wake
Waldegrave
Walton
Whitaker
Watson
Wrangler
Werewolf
Westphal
Wave
Weazel
White Bear
Wellesley
Wheeler
Whip
Whippet
Whelp
Willoughby
Winter
Westward Ho
Yeoman
Zealous
Zebra
Zodiac
Wye
Vashon
Vengeful
Vigo
Vigorous – renamed Wistful
Virulent
Volage
Volcano.
Wager
Wake
Waldegrave
Walton
Whitaker
Watson
Wrangler
Werewolf
Westphal
Wave
Weazel
White Bear
Wellesley
Wheeler
Whip
Whippet
Whelp
Willoughby
Winter
Westward Ho
Yeoman
Zealous
Zebra
Zodiac
January 23, 2026 at 7:08 AM
Cancelled V&W destroyers
Wye
Vashon
Vengeful
Vigo
Vigorous – renamed Wistful
Virulent
Volage
Volcano.
Wager
Wake
Waldegrave
Walton
Whitaker
Watson
Wrangler
Werewolf
Westphal
Wave
Weazel
White Bear
Wellesley
Wheeler
Whip
Whippet
Whelp
Willoughby
Winter
Westward Ho
Yeoman
Zealous
Zebra
Zodiac
Wye
Vashon
Vengeful
Vigo
Vigorous – renamed Wistful
Virulent
Volage
Volcano.
Wager
Wake
Waldegrave
Walton
Whitaker
Watson
Wrangler
Werewolf
Westphal
Wave
Weazel
White Bear
Wellesley
Wheeler
Whip
Whippet
Whelp
Willoughby
Winter
Westward Ho
Yeoman
Zealous
Zebra
Zodiac
@garius.bsky.social @dreadships.bsky.social @dralexclarke.bsky.social @drachinifel.bsky.social
HMS Blankney was adopted by Nantwich. The town still has two roads named after the destroyer, Blankney Avenue and The Blankney.
Let's see if we can track down other reminders of adopted Warships
HMS Blankney was adopted by Nantwich. The town still has two roads named after the destroyer, Blankney Avenue and The Blankney.
Let's see if we can track down other reminders of adopted Warships
January 23, 2026 at 6:22 AM
@garius.bsky.social @dreadships.bsky.social @dralexclarke.bsky.social @drachinifel.bsky.social
HMS Blankney was adopted by Nantwich. The town still has two roads named after the destroyer, Blankney Avenue and The Blankney.
Let's see if we can track down other reminders of adopted Warships
HMS Blankney was adopted by Nantwich. The town still has two roads named after the destroyer, Blankney Avenue and The Blankney.
Let's see if we can track down other reminders of adopted Warships
Reposted by Robert Lock
😆
Close your eyes, imagine you're in a medieval monastery, the scriptorium and then the abbot walks in...
youtu.be/mW7_9Pqhi1s?...
Close your eyes, imagine you're in a medieval monastery, the scriptorium and then the abbot walks in...
youtu.be/mW7_9Pqhi1s?...
Illuminated Manuscript - John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme
YouTube video by John Finnemore
youtu.be
January 23, 2026 at 5:32 AM
😆
Close your eyes, imagine you're in a medieval monastery, the scriptorium and then the abbot walks in...
youtu.be/mW7_9Pqhi1s?...
Close your eyes, imagine you're in a medieval monastery, the scriptorium and then the abbot walks in...
youtu.be/mW7_9Pqhi1s?...
Reposted by Robert Lock
Unwilling to accept defeat, Smallbones hunts for a solution.
He realises the USA is sneakier about how it blocks Jews from immigrating. It gives them visas, but then only lets a certain percentage a year use them.
He thinks about how to 'hack' this, and comes up with a British-based workaround. /7
He realises the USA is sneakier about how it blocks Jews from immigrating. It gives them visas, but then only lets a certain percentage a year use them.
He thinks about how to 'hack' this, and comes up with a British-based workaround. /7
January 21, 2026 at 12:52 PM
Unwilling to accept defeat, Smallbones hunts for a solution.
He realises the USA is sneakier about how it blocks Jews from immigrating. It gives them visas, but then only lets a certain percentage a year use them.
He thinks about how to 'hack' this, and comes up with a British-based workaround. /7
He realises the USA is sneakier about how it blocks Jews from immigrating. It gives them visas, but then only lets a certain percentage a year use them.
He thinks about how to 'hack' this, and comes up with a British-based workaround. /7
Reposted by Robert Lock
Smallbones was exactly the kind of chap he looks like in this photo (with his wife Inga). Small 'c' conservative. Described as a bit dull but always good company. Happy family man.
A solid diplomat. In 1932, the Foreign Office sent him to Munich. By '38 he's British Consul-General in Frankfurt /2
A solid diplomat. In 1932, the Foreign Office sent him to Munich. By '38 he's British Consul-General in Frankfurt /2
January 21, 2026 at 12:52 PM
Smallbones was exactly the kind of chap he looks like in this photo (with his wife Inga). Small 'c' conservative. Described as a bit dull but always good company. Happy family man.
A solid diplomat. In 1932, the Foreign Office sent him to Munich. By '38 he's British Consul-General in Frankfurt /2
A solid diplomat. In 1932, the Foreign Office sent him to Munich. By '38 he's British Consul-General in Frankfurt /2
Reposted by Robert Lock
The US granted visas to Jews but only allowed 30,000 in from Germany a year. You had to wait for your number to come up.
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
January 21, 2026 at 12:52 PM
The US granted visas to Jews but only allowed 30,000 in from Germany a year. You had to wait for your number to come up.
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Reposted by Robert Lock
Haven't written one of these in a while! sillylittlewalk.substack.com/p/i-go-on-a-...
January 20, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Haven't written one of these in a while! sillylittlewalk.substack.com/p/i-go-on-a-...
Reposted by Robert Lock
In the 2010s, the Icelandic tv station Channel 2 accidentally added subtitles from a gritty crime drama to an episode of Teletubbies.
I have translated some of the highlights
I have translated some of the highlights
January 20, 2026 at 12:30 AM
In the 2010s, the Icelandic tv station Channel 2 accidentally added subtitles from a gritty crime drama to an episode of Teletubbies.
I have translated some of the highlights
I have translated some of the highlights
Reposted by Robert Lock
Everything I know about Starscream is just pure joyous character assassination and I adore it
Do you all know the joys of the Danish Voice Actor for Starscream in the original Transformers cartoon? I promise you aren't ready for it.
January 20, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Everything I know about Starscream is just pure joyous character assassination and I adore it
The Surrey class were a never-built heavy cruiser class, in fact. The 1929 financial crisis, and criticisms over a woefully inadequate protection led to their cancellation in January 1930 before their keels were even laid down they were have been HMS Surrey and HMS Northumberland.
#navalhistory
#navalhistory
January 19, 2026 at 11:05 PM
The Surrey class were a never-built heavy cruiser class, in fact. The 1929 financial crisis, and criticisms over a woefully inadequate protection led to their cancellation in January 1930 before their keels were even laid down they were have been HMS Surrey and HMS Northumberland.
#navalhistory
#navalhistory
Six ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Suffolk, after the county of Suffolk starting in 1680.
The WW2 example was famously involved in the hunt for Bisnarck and then was sent to the Indian Ocean where she saw out rest of War
#navalhistory
The WW2 example was famously involved in the hunt for Bisnarck and then was sent to the Indian Ocean where she saw out rest of War
#navalhistory
January 19, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Six ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Suffolk, after the county of Suffolk starting in 1680.
The WW2 example was famously involved in the hunt for Bisnarck and then was sent to the Indian Ocean where she saw out rest of War
#navalhistory
The WW2 example was famously involved in the hunt for Bisnarck and then was sent to the Indian Ocean where she saw out rest of War
#navalhistory
Reposted by Robert Lock
I think a good strategy for your non-leftist social media presence (ie everywhere but here) is to give this photo - the remains of Danish soldiers returning in coffins after being killed in America's war in Afghanistan - as wide an audience as possible. Remind people who we're betraying
January 19, 2026 at 4:32 PM
I think a good strategy for your non-leftist social media presence (ie everywhere but here) is to give this photo - the remains of Danish soldiers returning in coffins after being killed in America's war in Afghanistan - as wide an audience as possible. Remind people who we're betraying
Chip wreck sometimes the headlines just write themselves
January 18, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Chip wreck sometimes the headlines just write themselves
There was no HMS Stafford or Staffordshire in WW2 there was an HMS Stafford in WW1 nee HMS Staithes that was scrapped interwar
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunt-cl...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunt-cl...
Hunt-class minesweeper (1916) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 18, 2026 at 3:36 PM
There was no HMS Stafford or Staffordshire in WW2 there was an HMS Stafford in WW1 nee HMS Staithes that was scrapped interwar
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunt-cl...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunt-cl...
There was no HMS Somerset in WW2 but it's largest City was remembered as HMS Bath
USS Hopewell was transferred to the RN as HMS Bath as a Town-class destroyer, and then to the Royal Norwegian Navy as HNoMS Bath. Bath was torpedoed while escorting a trans-Atlantic convoy on 19 August 1941.
USS Hopewell was transferred to the RN as HMS Bath as a Town-class destroyer, and then to the Royal Norwegian Navy as HNoMS Bath. Bath was torpedoed while escorting a trans-Atlantic convoy on 19 August 1941.
January 18, 2026 at 3:23 PM
There was no HMS Somerset in WW2 but it's largest City was remembered as HMS Bath
USS Hopewell was transferred to the RN as HMS Bath as a Town-class destroyer, and then to the Royal Norwegian Navy as HNoMS Bath. Bath was torpedoed while escorting a trans-Atlantic convoy on 19 August 1941.
USS Hopewell was transferred to the RN as HMS Bath as a Town-class destroyer, and then to the Royal Norwegian Navy as HNoMS Bath. Bath was torpedoed while escorting a trans-Atlantic convoy on 19 August 1941.
Reposted by Robert Lock
Miniature railways save lives, pass it on
Turns out the new miniature railway at Harcourt was instrumental in saving the town from the fire...
January 17, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Miniature railways save lives, pass it on
@lydiajane13.bsky.social someone in your sphere of interest minesweeping in Norway very proactive very ruthless and a loose cannon
His minesweeping force was called Tigerverband and he developed his own tiny minesweeper and midget submarine #navalhistory
His minesweeping force was called Tigerverband and he developed his own tiny minesweeper and midget submarine #navalhistory
Hans Bartels (Marineoffizier) – Wikipedia
de.wikipedia.org
January 15, 2026 at 7:49 AM
@lydiajane13.bsky.social someone in your sphere of interest minesweeping in Norway very proactive very ruthless and a loose cannon
His minesweeping force was called Tigerverband and he developed his own tiny minesweeper and midget submarine #navalhistory
His minesweeping force was called Tigerverband and he developed his own tiny minesweeper and midget submarine #navalhistory
Ever wonder why Oxfam was formed ?
It was because of a famine in Greece in WW2
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_F...
It was because of a famine in Greece in WW2
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_F...
Great Famine (Greece) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 14, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Ever wonder why Oxfam was formed ?
It was because of a famine in Greece in WW2
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_F...
It was because of a famine in Greece in WW2
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_F...
A little outside my normal interest , but I've just been to see "Just for one day" the live aid musical. This was one of ships chartered by Liveaid to ship relief supplies.
January 12, 2026 at 10:54 PM
A little outside my normal interest , but I've just been to see "Just for one day" the live aid musical. This was one of ships chartered by Liveaid to ship relief supplies.
Reposted by Robert Lock
I am excited to be able to report that the tiny book I started researching in November is now at the proofing stage.
I had hoped to use Lulu this time but there was some glitch I just couldnt get past so unfortunately I am back with the evil empire.
I had hoped to use Lulu this time but there was some glitch I just couldnt get past so unfortunately I am back with the evil empire.
January 10, 2026 at 7:45 PM
I am excited to be able to report that the tiny book I started researching in November is now at the proofing stage.
I had hoped to use Lulu this time but there was some glitch I just couldnt get past so unfortunately I am back with the evil empire.
I had hoped to use Lulu this time but there was some glitch I just couldnt get past so unfortunately I am back with the evil empire.