Huw J. Davies

Very sorry to hear this. One of the Titans of British Military History. A name that is synonymous with quality, innovation and originality. An indispensable source of guidance for those who studied and worked with him, and a source of inspiration for those who read his considerable body of work.

Statement from @smh-historians.bsky.social on the meaning of military history and its importance, including honest history at museums and in PME, was slow in coming for *reasons* but is also really important. 🗃️ www.smh-hq.org/docs/Stateme...

I used to work at Exeter Smiths 2002-4. I loved the book section & never failed to make a sale if I happened to be asked for a recommendation. Despite this, I was actually assigned the DVD section & had to understand & care about difference between Jason Bourne & Vin Diesel’s XXX. Which I did not.

Fellowships at Royal Museums Greenwich Apply for funding to support research at Royal Museums Greenwich through our Caird Research Fellowships

Just wanted to draw people's attention to the Fellowship programme at the Greenwich Maritime Museum - it looks like a lot of fun to me. www.rmg.co.uk/collections/...

This is stupid. The real list is

1. Being assigned to a boring committee

2. Grant proposal rejections

3. Papers not cited by colleagues

4. Teaching evaluations

5. Promotion to Head of Department

Hi everyone, the Society for Military History is pleased to be here and contribute to this space. Join us as we work to advance the study of military history! www.smh-hq.org

1/7 This is the key development in the culture war over the history of Empire that I’d anticipate in 2025:

Happy Christmas from The Terrier (who required quite a few Christmas dog treats for this single shot)!

Department of War Studies, KCL Join the conversation

Saturday morning foray: Matched KCL (@kingscollegelondon.bsky.social) Department of War Studies people with Bluesky accounts to compile an unofficial Starter Pack of lecturers, researchers, and other academics. Give them a follow.

go.bsky.app/QN1CVyc

I don't know the historiography well enough to speak to that last point, but the rest is spot on! Wandering Army is a great read for anyone interested in the 18th-19th century British Army
#wargaming

Generous review by Gavin Daly of Wandering Army in English Historical Review. “Engagingly written, well organised, rich in detail & source material, vast in geographical sweep, & long in its time frame, this book offers a major new interpretation of the development of British military leadership…”

The Wandering Army: The Campaigns that Transformed the British Way of War, by Huw J. Davies This important book explores the evolution of improvements in the British army’s command, operations and fighting methods from the War of the Austrian Succ

Gavin Daly reviews 'The Wandering Army: The Campaigns that Transformed the British Way of War', by Huw J. Davies @huwjdav.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/ehr/advance-... @yalebooks.bsky.social @yalepress.bsky.social

Fascinating lecture last night at Pembroke College, Oxford, by @mpmfinch.bsky.social on his book 'Making Makers: The Past, The Present and the Study of War.' Mike explored the origins, development & impact of the first edition of 'The Makers of Modern Strategy', a seminal text in the history of war.

Not an exhaustive list, but we're all likely exhausted.

go.bsky.app/3dQn6DG

Thanks Rory. Depends on a number of factors, but most likely 2028. Maybe earlier if I can get some research time in the next couple of years.

2025 Conference - Liverpool John Moores University — Britain and the World

It’s time, friends! We welcome submissions for #batw2025 in Liverpool, UK. Join us at John Moores University 25-27 June 2025 for another great conference!

We can’t wait to see you there! Watch here for more info.

britainandtheworld.org/2025

Many thanks for this, Jono. I will look those up, & get to Liverpool to see that model. Your description of how you deduced the location of the grave is fascinating. We should take more pride in our successes. I thought it was a British thing to be shy about such things, but apparently not!

British soldiers' lost graves uncovered at Ruapekapeka Twelve British soldiers lay lost for more than 170 years after the Battle of Ruapekapeka. Yesterday, they were found.

I decided to transfer this thread from the Bad Place after @jonocarpenter.bsky.social got in touch yesterday. He worked on the restoration and memorialisation of the site, and found the communal grave of British soldiers killed at the Pā. Check out this article www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu... 15/15 🗃️

During this trip I met up with Rowan Light, NZ War curator at the Auckland War Memorial & @aucklanduni.bsky.social We began discussing the material culture of the NZ Wars. We’re now working on developing a project looking at the collections associated with the wars held in British museums. 14/15 🗃️

Col. Wynyard built a model of Ruapekapeka Pā in an effort to understand how to counter Māori defensive works in preparation for any future conflict. British officers often engaged in informal professional learning and this forms part of the knowledge networks I’m investigating in my book. 13/15🗃️

Peace negotiations had already begun, and despite Ruapekapeka being painted a British victory, the Māori emerged with most of their war aims, whilst Heke and Kawiti were both granted full pardons. The site today is wonderfully preserved and memorialised. 12/15 🗃️

Despard this time eventually concentrated his firepower at one site and breached the palisade in the north east corner. He ordered an attack but Kawiti had already withdrawn. 11/15 🗃️

Anti-artillery bunkers protected the defenders and trenches allowed Māori marksmen to fire on the British from positions of safety. 10/15 🗃️

The Pā itself was well constructed. Double palisades afforded protection from artillery. A flax curtain prevented British seeing in to the Pā. Here’s a plan of the Pā, a model built after the war, & the trenches today. I’ve pointed out on the plan where the photos are taken. 9/15 🗃️

Despard had to march 18 miles inland, establishing a road and move his supplies. He set up camp 750m from the Pā and then built batteries 300m from the palisades and commenced a bombardment. This is the site of the British batteries today. 8/15 🗃️

Having inflicted severe costs, the Māori withdrew. A series of similar contests led to similar results until the British launched an attack on Kawiti’s newly built, Te Ruapekapeka Pā. I visited there & it is one of the best preserved & signposted battlefields I’ve been too. 7/15 🗃️

At Ohaeawai Pā 8 May, after engaging in an ineffectual bombardment, British commander Col Henry Despard launched an assault. A complete failure the assault resulted in 114 casualties. Māori casualties casualties were small, having been protected by palisades and trenches. 6/15 🗃️

Heke and Kawiti built a series of Pā - fortifications. Traditional Pā controlled important agricultural sites, but the new Pā were placed strategically to force the British to advance far from their supply lines. The Māori also incorporated trenches into the Pā design. 5/15 🗃️