Dave Voisey
@davev-vickersmg.bsky.social
History Teacher, ITT mentor and Education Officer at the Vickers MG Collection - interested in discussing how we teach warfare
I had some time due to Y13 Mocks to watch some film clips linked to my unit, we watched some of this beaut, Tell England (1931). Look at these shots, recognise them from a certain Spielberg film? Especially the action shots moving up from the SS River Clyde on Y Beach.
youtu.be/vanJZ3ColDk?...
youtu.be/vanJZ3ColDk?...
Gallipoli Beach Assault From the Movie Tell England (1931)
YouTube video by Chzz77 Dacan
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 9:27 PM
I had some time due to Y13 Mocks to watch some film clips linked to my unit, we watched some of this beaut, Tell England (1931). Look at these shots, recognise them from a certain Spielberg film? Especially the action shots moving up from the SS River Clyde on Y Beach.
youtu.be/vanJZ3ColDk?...
youtu.be/vanJZ3ColDk?...
Over the course of next October we'll be running an exhibition about the history of the Vickers and British machine gunnery from 1910s to 1960s. This is an awesome opportunity to support us if you fancy some museum work or to visit and see hands on what we do.
Big news for 2026 - The Vickers MG Exhibition.
November 24, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Over the course of next October we'll be running an exhibition about the history of the Vickers and British machine gunnery from 1910s to 1960s. This is an awesome opportunity to support us if you fancy some museum work or to visit and see hands on what we do.
My headcanon has the events of this Armstrong and Miller sketch matching the origin.
There is, however, a rather heartwarming notion that it was likely made by some absolutely hilarious squaddie.
youtu.be/Y1DWJQkOJew?...
There is, however, a rather heartwarming notion that it was likely made by some absolutely hilarious squaddie.
youtu.be/Y1DWJQkOJew?...
November 13, 2025 at 9:05 PM
My headcanon has the events of this Armstrong and Miller sketch matching the origin.
There is, however, a rather heartwarming notion that it was likely made by some absolutely hilarious squaddie.
youtu.be/Y1DWJQkOJew?...
There is, however, a rather heartwarming notion that it was likely made by some absolutely hilarious squaddie.
youtu.be/Y1DWJQkOJew?...
Currently at the Bristol Beacon supporting @davidolusoga.bsky.social's A Gun Through Time.
Do come and have a chat with us!
Do come and have a chat with us!
November 2, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Currently at the Bristol Beacon supporting @davidolusoga.bsky.social's A Gun Through Time.
Do come and have a chat with us!
Do come and have a chat with us!
Reposted by Dave Voisey
Sounds really promising - I’ll direct her that way.
Also found this during lunch time, looks like there might be some important narratives to explore here huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allfacultyot...
Also found this during lunch time, looks like there might be some important narratives to explore here huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allfacultyot...
Five Hundred African Voices: A Catalog of Published Accounts by Africans Enslaved in the Transatlantic Slave Trade, 1586-1936
The importance of published accounts by African slave ship survivors is well-known but not their existence in large numbers. Fogleman and Hanserd catalog nearly five hundred discrete accounts and more...
huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu
October 24, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Sounds really promising - I’ll direct her that way.
Also found this during lunch time, looks like there might be some important narratives to explore here huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allfacultyot...
Also found this during lunch time, looks like there might be some important narratives to explore here huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allfacultyot...
Reposted by Dave Voisey
Strongly agree. So many 17th century enquiries miss out King James I. He’s not just fascinating but his reign is crucial foundational knowledge to understand what comes next. Here’s a story we use to kick off our enquiry.
October 12, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Strongly agree. So many 17th century enquiries miss out King James I. He’s not just fascinating but his reign is crucial foundational knowledge to understand what comes next. Here’s a story we use to kick off our enquiry.
Reposted by Dave Voisey
New blog so that the GCSE historical stories that myself and @benbassett.bsky.social have worked on can be shared with the wider history teaching community. Enjoy.
open.substack.com/pub/petejack...
#historyteacher
open.substack.com/pub/petejack...
#historyteacher
Would you like to use more stories in your GCSE teaching?
Sharing some of our best stories to make GCSE History memorable and engaging.
open.substack.com
October 12, 2025 at 7:40 AM
New blog so that the GCSE historical stories that myself and @benbassett.bsky.social have worked on can be shared with the wider history teaching community. Enjoy.
open.substack.com/pub/petejack...
#historyteacher
open.substack.com/pub/petejack...
#historyteacher
Did some archive work at @vickersmg.bsky.social today. Quite emotional, lots of log books from aircrews who were KIA and this Christmas card wish Xmas to be bomb-free. Then again, there is this unintentionally funny wedding photo.
October 4, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Did some archive work at @vickersmg.bsky.social today. Quite emotional, lots of log books from aircrews who were KIA and this Christmas card wish Xmas to be bomb-free. Then again, there is this unintentionally funny wedding photo.
A project long in the making. It you want to know the concepts and practicalities of early Machineguns, then this episode of Dispactes from the Dugout by us @vickersmg.bsky.social will be essential viewing for you. Lots of discussion on what the impact of the MG was in 1914
youtu.be/jAFZm_yKB64?...
youtu.be/jAFZm_yKB64?...
Maxim - Vickers - Trenches | Dispatches from the Dugout
YouTube video by Vickers MG Collection & Research Association
youtu.be
August 10, 2025 at 5:31 PM
A project long in the making. It you want to know the concepts and practicalities of early Machineguns, then this episode of Dispactes from the Dugout by us @vickersmg.bsky.social will be essential viewing for you. Lots of discussion on what the impact of the MG was in 1914
youtu.be/jAFZm_yKB64?...
youtu.be/jAFZm_yKB64?...
Reposted by Dave Voisey
Recently I've been experimenting with a new type of booklet for students in KS3. Unlike my GCSE booklets, students don't write in these and instead use an exercise book for their class work. These booklets are also less task-based, consisting mainly of a story to be read and discussed in class.
June 26, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Recently I've been experimenting with a new type of booklet for students in KS3. Unlike my GCSE booklets, students don't write in these and instead use an exercise book for their class work. These booklets are also less task-based, consisting mainly of a story to be read and discussed in class.
Caught up with 2 of our Y12s who had done work experience @vickersmg.bsky.social. It was great seeing their joy at accessing the archive and being involved in the process of catalouging primary material. That was their focus, learning how to strip a MG was just a side feature for them.
June 23, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Caught up with 2 of our Y12s who had done work experience @vickersmg.bsky.social. It was great seeing their joy at accessing the archive and being involved in the process of catalouging primary material. That was their focus, learning how to strip a MG was just a side feature for them.
This scene from Andor is meme gold for misconceptions.
May 12, 2025 at 5:07 PM
This scene from Andor is meme gold for misconceptions.
When we teach the FWW we often pose it as the conflict where technology changed warfare. This is something that's often missed about the SWW. I spent yesterday doing some maintenance @vickersmg.bsky.social Firearms are pieces of material culture and they reflect the society and timeframe in which /1
May 11, 2025 at 9:45 AM
When we teach the FWW we often pose it as the conflict where technology changed warfare. This is something that's often missed about the SWW. I spent yesterday doing some maintenance @vickersmg.bsky.social Firearms are pieces of material culture and they reflect the society and timeframe in which /1
Honestly, taking apart and reassembling a BAR was incredibly stressful. This is controversial, yes its a 1917/18 design, but it requires tools, and nothing is easy to take apart.
Also testing @davev-vickersmg.bsky.social skills on cleaning a multitude of firearms.
We’re finding gaps in the videos available for some Safe Use of Small Arms guides.
We’re finding gaps in the videos available for some Safe Use of Small Arms guides.
May 5, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Honestly, taking apart and reassembling a BAR was incredibly stressful. This is controversial, yes its a 1917/18 design, but it requires tools, and nothing is easy to take apart.
Some awesome footage from our recent schools demo shoot. If this is something you're interested in, please do get in touch. If you want to see one in a non-school setting we're holding a demo for Patreons on the 12th July
youtu.be/Z1Ln4L0GS-8?...
youtu.be/Z1Ln4L0GS-8?...
Historic Firearms Demonstration Days #VickersMG
YouTube video by Vickers MG Collection & Research Association
youtu.be
May 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Some awesome footage from our recent schools demo shoot. If this is something you're interested in, please do get in touch. If you want to see one in a non-school setting we're holding a demo for Patreons on the 12th July
youtu.be/Z1Ln4L0GS-8?...
youtu.be/Z1Ln4L0GS-8?...
This is an amazing chance to see a variety of MGs being fired in person with a chance to discuss with experts that nature of Warfare - come check it out.
Fancy seeing the #VickersMG (and its friends and enemies) in action live in the UK?
April 30, 2025 at 4:55 PM
This is an amazing chance to see a variety of MGs being fired in person with a chance to discuss with experts that nature of Warfare - come check it out.
Reposted by Dave Voisey
Interested in a direct approach to history teaching? 'Lean lessons' with booklets, whole-class reading, explanation, and lots of questions?
@jacobolivey.bsky.social and I are leading a webinar series for @histassoc.bsky.social in June – and it's cheap! Just £50 for all six webinars.
Link below! 👇
@jacobolivey.bsky.social and I are leading a webinar series for @histassoc.bsky.social in June – and it's cheap! Just £50 for all six webinars.
Link below! 👇
April 28, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Interested in a direct approach to history teaching? 'Lean lessons' with booklets, whole-class reading, explanation, and lots of questions?
@jacobolivey.bsky.social and I are leading a webinar series for @histassoc.bsky.social in June – and it's cheap! Just £50 for all six webinars.
Link below! 👇
@jacobolivey.bsky.social and I are leading a webinar series for @histassoc.bsky.social in June – and it's cheap! Just £50 for all six webinars.
Link below! 👇
I'm glad that this finally has had a proper national outing. Discussions with female staff and trainees has shown how they are treated differently. It goes beyond social media figures, that's reductionist, but there is a culture problem inc. Parents
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Barking at female staff and blocking doorways: Teachers warn of rise in misogyny and racism in UK schools
Survey finds social media main cause of poor behaviour, with pupils mimicking Donald Trump and Andrew Tate
www.theguardian.com
April 19, 2025 at 10:16 AM
I'm glad that this finally has had a proper national outing. Discussions with female staff and trainees has shown how they are treated differently. It goes beyond social media figures, that's reductionist, but there is a culture problem inc. Parents
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
We at the @vickersmg.bsky.social have this fantastic memoir at half price to mark the anniversary of the VC action. It's a fantastic account of the Mesopotamian campaign in the FWW - teachers, this is something you really should teach about.
vickersmg.blog/product/grah...
vickersmg.blog/product/grah...
Reginald Graham VC. Istabulat 22nd April 1917.
This account is previously unpublished and includes the original diary and watercolours of (then) Lieutenant John Reginald Noble Graham, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders attached to 136 Company …
vickersmg.blog
April 14, 2025 at 5:15 PM
We at the @vickersmg.bsky.social have this fantastic memoir at half price to mark the anniversary of the VC action. It's a fantastic account of the Mesopotamian campaign in the FWW - teachers, this is something you really should teach about.
vickersmg.blog/product/grah...
vickersmg.blog/product/grah...
One of my jobs at the collection (alongside educating) is cleaning. The British Army in the early 20thC poured boiling water through barrels to wash away corrosive salts and to loosen any rust. At the @vickersmg.bsky.social still do this and it works a treat.
April 12, 2025 at 2:12 PM
One of my jobs at the collection (alongside educating) is cleaning. The British Army in the early 20thC poured boiling water through barrels to wash away corrosive salts and to loosen any rust. At the @vickersmg.bsky.social still do this and it works a treat.
Yesterday was my first time being really hands-on with a Maxim @vickersmg.bsky.social and it was a real eye opener. Checking and cleaning the Russian 1910 really showed how much a leap forward the Vickers was. Much easier to disassemble and didn't require a mallet like this did.
April 6, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Yesterday was my first time being really hands-on with a Maxim @vickersmg.bsky.social and it was a real eye opener. Checking and cleaning the Russian 1910 really showed how much a leap forward the Vickers was. Much easier to disassemble and didn't require a mallet like this did.
One of the perks of working at the @vickersmg.bsky.social Trying out a dual Vickers AA mount. It's very easy to move around in, once you've navigated your way into the seat.
April 5, 2025 at 5:27 PM
One of the perks of working at the @vickersmg.bsky.social Trying out a dual Vickers AA mount. It's very easy to move around in, once you've navigated your way into the seat.
A brief summary on patreon (free to access) of our demo for schools. This particular demo was shared by 2 schools - 26 students in total. If you'd be interested in joining us next year (these schools are coming back!) Get in touch.
www.patreon.com/posts/125836...
www.patreon.com/posts/125836...
Schools' Demonstration Shoot (April 2025) | Vickers MG Collection and Research Association
Get more from Vickers MG Collection and Research Association on Patreon
www.patreon.com
April 3, 2025 at 5:12 PM
A brief summary on patreon (free to access) of our demo for schools. This particular demo was shared by 2 schools - 26 students in total. If you'd be interested in joining us next year (these schools are coming back!) Get in touch.
www.patreon.com/posts/125836...
www.patreon.com/posts/125836...