Matthew Palmer
@so3brocktree.bsky.social
🇬🇧 Former soldier. Accidental journalist. Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy and RNSSC.
Thoughts & feelings on defence and other things. Not always serious. Views my own.
Longer thoughts & feelings on substack:
https://crackingdefence.substack.com/
Thoughts & feelings on defence and other things. Not always serious. Views my own.
Longer thoughts & feelings on substack:
https://crackingdefence.substack.com/
The current pile of books for my Master’s degree.
Truly, a first world problem that I am happy to indulge.
Truly, a first world problem that I am happy to indulge.
November 11, 2025 at 8:28 PM
The current pile of books for my Master’s degree.
Truly, a first world problem that I am happy to indulge.
Truly, a first world problem that I am happy to indulge.
Remember, remember, the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow....
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow....
November 5, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Remember, remember, the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow....
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow....
On Trafalgar Day, here is a great rendition of one of Britain's greatest battles by one of her greatest artists:
October 21, 2025 at 10:40 AM
On Trafalgar Day, here is a great rendition of one of Britain's greatest battles by one of her greatest artists:
Back to university and about to open the first book of the year! Absolutely buzzing - so good to be back in an nerdy intellectual environment 🤓📖
September 29, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Back to university and about to open the first book of the year! Absolutely buzzing - so good to be back in an nerdy intellectual environment 🤓📖
Its not over until its over, of course, but it looks like PAS will clinch victory over the pro-Russia parties in Moldova! 🇲🇩
September 28, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Its not over until its over, of course, but it looks like PAS will clinch victory over the pro-Russia parties in Moldova! 🇲🇩
Finally.... its done! All 1440 pages of it....
Finally conquered the beast - and, tbf, thought it was brilliant.
Finally conquered the beast - and, tbf, thought it was brilliant.
September 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Finally.... its done! All 1440 pages of it....
Finally conquered the beast - and, tbf, thought it was brilliant.
Finally conquered the beast - and, tbf, thought it was brilliant.
DSEI done.... now I just need to get writing a shedload of articles 😅
September 12, 2025 at 3:17 PM
DSEI done.... now I just need to get writing a shedload of articles 😅
Final round of the excellent Prime & Load Podcast's 'Top 18C. Commander' poll. Hard one. Will probs vote for my beloved Marlborough.
I imagine @sodrock.bsky.social @bafriedman.bsky.social @gravitysra1nbow.bsky.social @willfreer.bsky.social and ofc @kabinettskriege.bsky.social might have thoughts 😜
I imagine @sodrock.bsky.social @bafriedman.bsky.social @gravitysra1nbow.bsky.social @willfreer.bsky.social and ofc @kabinettskriege.bsky.social might have thoughts 😜
September 8, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Final round of the excellent Prime & Load Podcast's 'Top 18C. Commander' poll. Hard one. Will probs vote for my beloved Marlborough.
I imagine @sodrock.bsky.social @bafriedman.bsky.social @gravitysra1nbow.bsky.social @willfreer.bsky.social and ofc @kabinettskriege.bsky.social might have thoughts 😜
I imagine @sodrock.bsky.social @bafriedman.bsky.social @gravitysra1nbow.bsky.social @willfreer.bsky.social and ofc @kabinettskriege.bsky.social might have thoughts 😜
Glorious paragraph 😅
September 6, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Glorious paragraph 😅
Anduril advertising hard prior to DSEI...
September 5, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Anduril advertising hard prior to DSEI...
Pure aggression.
Marshall Vorwärts would approve 💪
Marshall Vorwärts would approve 💪
August 26, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Pure aggression.
Marshall Vorwärts would approve 💪
Marshall Vorwärts would approve 💪
Uh... unless I'm missing something, this is exactly how most good western military staffs should operate anyway (the ones that I've worked in did). Sure AI can absolutely help speed up the process, but if they are offering this as a 'new model' of staffwork my eyebrows are somewhat raised.
August 20, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Uh... unless I'm missing something, this is exactly how most good western military staffs should operate anyway (the ones that I've worked in did). Sure AI can absolutely help speed up the process, but if they are offering this as a 'new model' of staffwork my eyebrows are somewhat raised.
As ever, the humiliating truth...
August 20, 2025 at 1:13 PM
As ever, the humiliating truth...
Finally got my hands on a set of @sebastianbae.bsky.social's Littoral Commander: The Baltic.
Can't wait to give it a go with @willfreer.bsky.social and a few colleagues!
Can't wait to give it a go with @willfreer.bsky.social and a few colleagues!
August 19, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Finally got my hands on a set of @sebastianbae.bsky.social's Littoral Commander: The Baltic.
Can't wait to give it a go with @willfreer.bsky.social and a few colleagues!
Can't wait to give it a go with @willfreer.bsky.social and a few colleagues!
'Les Anglais??? Les barbares? Mais, non, monsieur president, c'est impossible!'
August 14, 2025 at 11:37 AM
'Les Anglais??? Les barbares? Mais, non, monsieur president, c'est impossible!'
You can see that I got rather excited and put far too much effort into this...
July 22, 2025 at 8:50 PM
You can see that I got rather excited and put far too much effort into this...
However, I still think the 2021 White Paper cover art is the all-time best:
July 16, 2025 at 8:03 AM
However, I still think the 2021 White Paper cover art is the all-time best:
Japan has released its annual Defence White Paper, which is always a highlight in the calendar not just because of the content, but because their cover artwork is always fantastic. This year they've gone for a Manga style - looks great!
www.mod.go.jp/en/publ/w_pa...
www.mod.go.jp/en/publ/w_pa...
July 16, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Japan has released its annual Defence White Paper, which is always a highlight in the calendar not just because of the content, but because their cover artwork is always fantastic. This year they've gone for a Manga style - looks great!
www.mod.go.jp/en/publ/w_pa...
www.mod.go.jp/en/publ/w_pa...
Qataris announcing missiles intercepted, no casualties.
No further news from Iraq so far.
No further news from Iraq so far.
June 23, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Qataris announcing missiles intercepted, no casualties.
No further news from Iraq so far.
No further news from Iraq so far.
A reminder today that it is the 210th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, one of the great battles of European history.
Below - the ever-romantic 'Scotland Forever!' by Elizabeth Thompson, depicting the doomed charge of the Scots Greys.
Below - the ever-romantic 'Scotland Forever!' by Elizabeth Thompson, depicting the doomed charge of the Scots Greys.
June 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM
A reminder today that it is the 210th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, one of the great battles of European history.
Below - the ever-romantic 'Scotland Forever!' by Elizabeth Thompson, depicting the doomed charge of the Scots Greys.
Below - the ever-romantic 'Scotland Forever!' by Elizabeth Thompson, depicting the doomed charge of the Scots Greys.
Out on Tuesday, my next piece will be about why I think we are often too myopic in our approach to conflict analysis and the history of war, and why this can blind us to the useful insights from less-culturally dominant case studies.
crackingdefence.substack.com
crackingdefence.substack.com
June 15, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Out on Tuesday, my next piece will be about why I think we are often too myopic in our approach to conflict analysis and the history of war, and why this can blind us to the useful insights from less-culturally dominant case studies.
crackingdefence.substack.com
crackingdefence.substack.com
Turns out that middle-aged men becoming obsessive armchair generals has a long history...
(From 'In These Times' by Jenny Uglow)
(From 'In These Times' by Jenny Uglow)
May 26, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Turns out that middle-aged men becoming obsessive armchair generals has a long history...
(From 'In These Times' by Jenny Uglow)
(From 'In These Times' by Jenny Uglow)
I visited the National Army Musuem in Chelsea today for the first time in years. Having originally been a bit disappointed with the museum, I can happily say that I have changed my tune! An excellent museum with lots of interesting insights, tastefully curated. Highly recommend!
May 23, 2025 at 3:49 PM
I visited the National Army Musuem in Chelsea today for the first time in years. Having originally been a bit disappointed with the museum, I can happily say that I have changed my tune! An excellent museum with lots of interesting insights, tastefully curated. Highly recommend!
What a savage paragraph.
'The truffled sea bass crudo “marinated in passion fruit sauce” has a valid claim against the kitchen for harassment in the workplace' 😅
Brilliant writing from Jay Rayner www.ft.com/content/c17d...
'The truffled sea bass crudo “marinated in passion fruit sauce” has a valid claim against the kitchen for harassment in the workplace' 😅
Brilliant writing from Jay Rayner www.ft.com/content/c17d...
May 5, 2025 at 8:52 AM
What a savage paragraph.
'The truffled sea bass crudo “marinated in passion fruit sauce” has a valid claim against the kitchen for harassment in the workplace' 😅
Brilliant writing from Jay Rayner www.ft.com/content/c17d...
'The truffled sea bass crudo “marinated in passion fruit sauce” has a valid claim against the kitchen for harassment in the workplace' 😅
Brilliant writing from Jay Rayner www.ft.com/content/c17d...