Neil Ritchie

The 9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) at Leith following their mobilisation in August 1914. At the outbreak of the war, they formed part of the Lothian Brigade (TF). The 1/9th Battalion would deploy to France in February 1915 and would first see action at Second Ypres.

The departure of the 1/5th (The Sutherland and Caithness) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders from Wick railway station on 6 August 1914, heading for Bedford. The battalion was part of the Territorial Force and formed part of the Seaforth & Cameron Brigade.

📸 IWM (HU 94294)

Captain Thomas Sheridan Riddell-Webster of the 1st Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) at Maryhill Barracks in Glasgow in early August 1914. The 1st Battalion would leave Glasgow by train for Southampton on 13 August and would embark on SS Caledonia the following day.

📸 IWM (Q 51468)

3 August 1914: With Germany poised to attack Belgium and France, the British government issued orders for the Territorial Force to be mobilised. The following day, general mobilisation was ordered. Throughout July, the army had been preparing for mobilisation as the crisis in Europe deepened.

The French general mobilisation order, which was issued on 2 August 1914.

Medvedev is a notorious glue huffer, he is best ignored

We are clean on opsec

1 August 1914: Following Russia's full military mobilisation in support of its ally Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia and the German Army commenced its mobilisation against Russia and its ally France. Neutral Switzerland also began to mobilise its army.

1 August 1914: The British Admiralty issued orders for the full mobilisation of the Royal Navy's Home Fleets. This was followed by instructions to take up supply and hospital ships and colliers and oilers. The next day orders would be sent out for the mobilisation of the Naval Reserve.

Boeing VC-25A 29000 of the US Air Force's 89th Airlift Wing, Presidential Airlift Group (PAG) at Prestwick Airport

24 July 1914: The Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julien Davignon, sent a telegram to Belgium's ambassadors stating that, as a Franco-German war was becoming increasingly likely, orders were soon to be issued for the mobilisation of the Belgian Army to safeguard Belgium's neutrality.

24 July 1914: France began withdrawing troops from Morocco and began preliminary steps for full mobilisation. The French navy had already started to fully concentrate at Toulon. This followed an agreement with Britain that the Royal Navy would cover the Channel and protect France's Atlantic coast.

Erich von Falkenhayn

23 July 1914: Germany's military and political leadership returned secretly to Berlin to address the growing crisis in Europe. The military leaders, Moltke and Falkenhayn, advocated for an immediate German response following an Austro-Hungarian attack on Serbia with an offensive against Russia.

So what is the big distraction going to be to deflect from Trump's escalating "July Crisis"?

IWM (Q 102473)

With tensions rising in Europe, a grand review of the Royal Navy was held at Spithead on 17 and 18 July 1914. A test mobilisation of the reserve Third Fleet had begun on 15 July, and the three Home Fleets were at heightened readiness when orders for a full mobilisation came through on 1 August.

Action between HMS Lion and Elisabeth and Du Teillay | Jacobite Wars On 9 July 1745, over 100 miles west of Lizard Point, Cornwall, His Majesty’s Ship Lion encountered the French privateers Elisabeth and Du Teillay, which were carrying Charles Edward Stuart’s Jacobite ...

On 9 July 1745, over 100 miles west of Lizard Point, Cornwall, His Majesty’s Ship Lion encountered the French privateers Elisabeth and Du Teillay, which were carrying Charles Edward Stuart’s Jacobite expedition to the Western Highlands and engaged with them in a five-hour naval action.

Russia and the Jacobite scare of 1725 | Jacobite Wars On 15 June 1725, Russian warships and transport vessels anchored off of the Isle of Lewis while en-route to Spain. Rumours quickly spread that they were there to land arms and men to support a Jacobit...

On 15 June 1725, Russian warships and transport vessels anchored off the Isle of Lewis while en route to Spain. Rumours quickly spread that they were there to land arms and men to support a Jacobite rising, and it was feared that this was part of a larger Russian invasion.

2 July 1745: Lieutenant-General Sir John Cope, commander-in-chief in Scotland, received a report from Duncan Forbes of Culloden, Lord President of the Court of Session, that Charles Edward Stuart was expected to land in the western highlands that summer to attempt an insurrection.

Royal Marines from 42 Commando working with the embarked squadrons of 820 and 815 onboard HMS Prince of Wales conduct fast rope training serials on Operation Highmast. Photo by LPhot Bill Spurr / UK MOD © Crown copyright 2025.

GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator The GBU-57 MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) is a precision-guided bunker buster bomb weighing 30,000 lb (13,600 kg), in service with the United States Air Force (USAF). It is significantly larger tha...

The GBU-57 MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) is a precision-guided bunker buster bomb weighing 30,000 lb (13,600 kg). It is designed to destroy heavily fortified, deep underground bunkers and to destroy an adversary’s weapons of mass destruction situated within highly secured installations.

Just waiting for the go to drop the MOP on Fordo

The US Air Force has begun to forward deploy B-2 Spirit stealth bombers out from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. The aircraft are being supported by KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-46 Pegasus refuelling aircraft, and electronic warfare aircraft. Image: Joshua Hastings / US Air Force.

19 June 1746: Argyll Militia under Major-General John Campbell of Mamore arrived at St Kilda. Mamore had received intelligence that Charles Edward Stuart and other prominent Jacobites were hiding there. He found nothing but a population largely ignorant of world events.

Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, on his horse Copenhagen, chatting to an innkeeper while troopers of the Life Guards water their horses in the town of Waterloo on the evening of 17 June 1815. Painting 'On the eve of Waterloo' by Robert Alexander Hillingford.

Royal Marines from 42 Commando working with the embarked squadrons of 820 and 815 onboard HMS Prince of Wales conduct fast rope training serials on Operation Highmast. Photo by LPhot Bill Spurr / UK MOD © Crown copyright 2025.

Colonel James Campbell's Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) with their distinctive mitre caps guarding Spanish and Highland captives at the battle of Glen Shiel, fought on 10 June 1719. 3 Troops of the Greys saw action under Major Patrick Robertson. Painting by Lionel Edwards.

9 June 1719: Major-General Joseph Wightman's army reached the western end of Loch Cluanie and established a camp about a mile to the west of the present-day Cluanie Inn. Jacobite outposts commanded by Lord George Murray reported back that Wightman was now within 4 miles of the main Jacobite force.

6 June 1719: After marching out from Inverness the previous day, Major-General Joseph Wightman and his army arrived at Kiliwhimen at the southern end of Loch Ness, where they encamped. Supplies were shipped down the loch from Inverness, and additional troops under Colonel Henry Harrison arrived.

6 June 1855: The Allies began the third bombardment of Sevastopol during the Crimean campaign. It enabled the British to advance and capture the Quarries in front of the Redan, and for the French to capture the Mamelon Redoubt ahead of a major assault on the Redan and the Malakov. #CrimeanWar