Karl James

OUT NOW! The Series 2 finale has landed. In this special Q&A episode, we tackle listener questions on everything from the performance of the Chinese Army to the sheer scale of American involvement in the theatre. A huge thank you to everyone who wrote in! #ForgottenWarPod #WW2History #QandA

“He was an outstanding animal painter – the most important Australia has produced in this field” - The Argus * In 1917, H. Septimus Power was appointed as an official war artist with the honorary rank of lieutenant and attached to the 1st Division AIF. During the First World War, Power captured some of the last significant battles in modern warfare that involved horses, including this painting of the First Australian Division Artillery at the 3rd Battle of Ypres, 1917. Groups of six horses are depicted bringing forward 18-pounder guns that were used by Australian and British forces on the Western Front. Power’s composition places emphasis on the horses, portraying their strength and endurance amidst terrifying conditions. This painting was acclaimed when it was exhibited in 1919 at the Royal Academy in London. -- 🎨 Artwork: H. Septimus Power (1877–1951), ‘First Australian Division Artillery going into the 3rd Battle of Ypres’, (1919, oil on canvas, framed: 152 x 274.2 x 14.5cm) ART03330" * ""He loved painting animals"" The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) 4 January 1951: 4. Web. 15 Oct 2025 [https://brnw.ch/21wWOys]

Today’s favourite #warart

Details in ALT

@karljames1945.bsky.social

Coming soon to the Casemate Illustrated series, "Midget Submarines 1939–45" explores the World War II naval raids using midget submarines.

💻️: https://tinyurl.com/4978dzp5

#wwII #navalhistory #militaryhistory

The British destroyer HMS Defender (left) alongside the Australian destroyer HMAS Waterhen, after the latter had been attacked and crippled by German dive bombers off the port of Salum in Egypt. The Waterhen had been carrying reinforcements to the besieged garrison at Tobruk. It was one of several Australian ships that operated a shuttle service between Tobruk and various ports in Egypt, a service that became known as the Tobruk ferry or Tobruk taxi. HMS Defender is taking on board the crew of the Waterhen and the troops it has been carrying. HMAS Waterhen sank the following day, 1941-06-30. Places Africa: North Africa, Libya, Cyrenaica, Tobruk Area, Tobruk Oceania: New Guinea1, Aitape Accession Number ART22327 Collection type Art Measurement Overall: 55.2 x 71 cm Object type Painting Physical description oil on hardboard Maker Norton, Frank Place made Australia: Victoria, Melbourne Date made 1942 Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945 Copyright Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain Description HMAS Waterhen listing to port, prior to being taken in tow and later sinking.

Today's favourite #warart

Vale Waterhen

HMAS Waterhen sinking the day after being struck by Axis aircraft off Sollum.

@karljames1945.bsky.social

The Australian POWs who became double agents and uncovered genocidal plans It started a researcher down a rabbit hole "beyond anything anyone could ever dream up", involving deception, double agents, secret names and plans for a genocide.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

D.A.K. War Diary 9 April 1941 9 April 1941 Aerial reconnaissance during the morning 9 April showed: Mechili – Gadd el Ahmar free of enemy, there one of our detachments. 40km east of Gadd el Ahmar retreating enemy column. …

#OTD in 1941 General Bortolo Zambon, GOC Brescia division, relinquished his command. He had fought under Rommel for all of the latter’s battles and led his division during the siege of Tobruk.

@karljames1945.bsky.social @cedricmas.bsky.social @ima-naval-history.bsky.social

Stanning Joshua Chamberlain today because sometimes to save the Union you need a pointy-headed college professor with eccentric grooming

12th Field Company War Diary October 1941 Tobruk Lieutenant D.V Hutchinson M.B.E. and the 12th Field Company R.E. had now been in Torbruk Garrison for four days, situated at a camping area …12th Field Company War Diary October 1941

#OTD in 1941 12 Field Coy R.E. started a new war diary, settling in for another month of the siege of Tobruk.

@ubiquevir.bsky.social @karljames1945.bsky.social

rommelsriposte.com/2021/11/05/1...

It’s the best scene in the film

Family movie night 🦈

Sad news for Alexander Fax Booksellers in Mawson ACT. We're closing the shop. But not the business! We will continue to sell quality military books online and by mailorder to subscribers. If you are local, pop into the shop and check out the bargains. 50% off most; exceptions bargain bins & shelves.

This week at the Australian War Memorial, we had Michael Veitch present on Borneo, I’ve just finished the book 📖 It’s an easy read & a good introduction to the I Aust Corps operations on Borneo in 1945.

#WehaveWays #HistBookChat

B+W photo of Charles Bean at work, c. 1920s. AWM A05389.

Come and study with us! It'll be fun!

Applications are open for the Australian War Memorial Summer Scholars program, to be held in Canberra next Jan-Feb.

Apply here: www.awm.gov.au/get-involved...

On today at the @AWMemorial. It’s not too to come along this afternoon for what will be a great #WWII talk.

#WeHaveWays #HistBookChat

This #BookFriday don’t forget to book your free tickets for next week’s author talk at the @AWMemorial! Join us as Michael Veitch discusses his latest 📖 on the Borneo campaigns in 1945. See: awm.gov.au/author-talk-mi…

#WeHaveWays #WWII

London museum tells forgotten story of African and Indian troops in second world war National Army Museum’s Beyond Burma exhibition examines stories of soldiers from Britain’s colonies

London museum tells forgotten story of African and Indian troops in second world war
National Army Museum’s Beyond Burma exhibition examines stories of soldiers from Britain’s colonies

www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

This #BookFriday, the last of my recent🏖️reads, Captain Andrew Wilson's ripping memoir as a troop commander in Churchill flamethrower tanks in NW Europe & this brief history of Samurai & medieval Japan, beautifully published by @TuttleBooks 📚

#HistBookChat

This #BookFriday, the last of my recent🏖️reads, Captain Andrew Wilson's ripping memoir as a troop commander in Churchill flamethrower tanks in NW Europe & this brief history of Samurai & medieval Japan, beautifully published by Tuttle 📚

Depicts unidentified Australian soldiers standing with a Bren gun mounted on a tripod for anti-aircraft defence in the Western Desert during the North African campaign. Hele was serving as a private in the AIF, when in January 1941 he was commissioned in the field by General Blamey and given the task of depicting the activities of Australians in North Africa. His appointment was made official in October 1941. From June 1943 until the end of the Second World War Hele worked in a number of locations in Northern Australia and New Guinea, holding his commission until 1947. Hele was again commissioned an official war artist , with the rank of Major, during the Korean War. From 1953 he executed a number of portrait and painting commissions for the Australian War Memorial and in 1969 was awarded a CBE for his services to art. AWM Accession Number ART22868 Collection type Art Measurement framed: 83.7 x 73.8 cm Object type Painting Physical description oil on canvas on cardboard Maker Hele, Ivor Place made North Africa: Western Desert, Western Desert (Egypt), Mersa Matruh Date made 1941 Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945

Today’s favourite #warart

“Anti-aircraft defences, Marsa Matruh” (1941)

#desertwar #ww2 #militaryhistory

@karljames1945.bsky.social @thehistoryguy.bsky.social @alanallport.bsky.social @cedricmas.bsky.social

Aug 20, 1950 Australian born Major Benjamin Carlin and his wife yesterday reached the island of Flores, in the Azores, in their amphibious jeep. They had been missing for more than a week. The Carlins left Nova Scotia on July 19 in an attempt to cross the Atlantic in their 17ft converted jeep.

The Australian War Memorial's special #VPDay symposium "Interpreting Australia's Second World War: previewing Anzac Hall" is now online: www.youtube.com/live/P6vGj8_....

For more #WWII see, including author talks, see: www.awm.gov.au/the-end-of-t...

#WeHaveWays #WWII #VJDay80

Interesting history mystery you’ve uncovered

Oh wow 🤩

@karljames1945.bsky.social please keep an eye on this!

My latest article, “The Final Campaigns” about Australia’s controversial Pacific campaigns in 1944-45, is now available for free on the @AWMemorial’s new digital magazine WM: wm.awm.gov.au/read/final-c...

So too are some of my older Wartime articles on #WWII.

#WeHaveWays #VJDay80

Protecting ULTRA – Must try harder? Background ULTRA was the code-name given to radio interception and decryption of Axis radio communications. While many people know that this affected a lot of German radio communications, what is l…

Throughout the month of August 1941, the RAF put in a solid effort to allow the Axis to discover that their radio communications were being read.

@rafhistorical.bsky.social @rafhistory.bsky.social @cedricmas.bsky.social @rjhammond215.bsky.social @smoorebofb1940.bsky.social @alanallport.bsky.social

Something a little different this week - Rob and I discuss the evacuation of Burma, so often overlooked or just a footnote to 1942, then look at some harrowing eyewitness accounts. Fascinating and harrowing in equal measure.

Graham Broad: Using atomic bombs to end the Second World War was inevitable

Using atomic bombs to end the Second World War was inevitable thehub.ca/2025/08/10/u...

One day closer presents!

USS New Jersey BB62 — DockYardTalk Photo gallery of USS New Jersey (BB-62), America’s most decorated battleship. Explore her 16-inch guns, Cold War upgrades, and rich history from WWII to today.

🚢USS New Jersey (BB-62) — Iowa-class battleship with service in WWII, Korea, Vietnam & the Cold War.

In 2016, I explored her decks, guns & stories — a floating time capsule of American sea power.

📷 More from my visit: dockyardtalk.com/ship-visits/...

#NavalHistory #Battleship #USNavy #WWII