David Ulke

Poorly. Watching it tomorrow. Promise.

What interested me most is how objects like this act as unofficial archives. Not heroic relics or medals, just things that travelled home with their owners, carrying stories that formal records often miss. Material culture can really earn its keep.
#HiddenHistories #HistoryThroughObjects #POWs

The suitcase lid is covered in names: officers who shared captivity in German POW camps during the First World War.

Each inscription is a trace of a relationship: comradeship, survival, boredom, solidarity. Together they form a quiet social network, scratched into an everyday object.
#RAF

The social history of a suitcase: tracing the lives of Royal Air Force prisoners of war through one captive’s keepsake This article examines a First World War suitcase lid belonging to Lieutenant Reginald Alfred Charles Brie of the Royal Flying Corps, later RAF, inscribed with his name, those of twenty-two fellow p...

My latest research paper traces the lives of First World War RAF prisoners of war through something very ordinary, a suitcase, and what it reveals about captivity, friendship, and memory www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

#ConflictArchaeology #MaterialCulture #PublicHistory #WW1History #RAFHistory

My latest 1/35 scale project honouring the three paratroopers whose dog tags we have archaeologically recovered over the years.

First day out with the new detector today. I’ve re secured my local permissions, so as the weather and daylight improve you may see me out and about. Hopefully I will also have something interesting to show you from our local social history if anything interesting comes up and the land owner agrees

www.tandfonline.com

Broken Pots, Mending Lives: The Archaeology of Operation Nightingale | The Past REVIEW BY IAIN BANKS This is a landmark publication, summarising as it does the 12 years (and counting) that Operation Nightingale has been in existence. Du ...

If you’re stuck for ideas for your archaeology loving family and friends, please consider this book. All profits go to SSAFA which will ultimately allow us to support more veterans in their archaeological journey…and you might spot me somewhere in it too 😁

the-past.com/review/books...

German El.Z. Zt. bomb fuze: A complex, impeller-armed design that stays safe until 300–1000 rotations withdraw internal safety pins. It could be set for instant, short or long delays, and its intricate construction was meant to hinder defusing.

RAF MUSEUM NATIONAL COLLECTION Object conditioning day.
We were back in the main hangar this morning sorting through various boxes of bomb fuse mechanisms.
This one in unissued condition is a Pistol fuse (No75 Mk 3), a real workhorse component in the RAF’s aerial warfare campaign.

www.facebook.com/share/p/16iG... Remembering 2Lt Lester Lowry.

Latest bit of research I played a small part in back in 2020 trickles through to the present!

salford.figshare.com/articles/med...

www.justgiving.com/page/phil-ha... Please help Phil get to his target of £1500 to help vets into supported accomodation-a worthy cause!

Tailors label identifying the jacket as HRH The Duke of Gloucester's

close up of left breast pocket detailing RAF pilots brevet wings and three rows of medal ribbons.

close up of the left shoulder board adorned with the royal ciphers of three kings and one queen

close up of the aiguillettes adorned with the four royal ciphers

RAF Museum object conditioning day: today’s standout find was a 1942 RAF uniform by Davies & Son, once worn by HRH The Duke of Gloucester, personal ADC to four monarchs: George V, Edward VIII, George VI & Elizabeth II. A royal career spanning army Lt to Marshal of the RAF: history in every stitch.

photo of Lord Trenchard in the ceremonial uniform from the collection circa 1920

Tailors label inside the jacket identifying it as Lord Trenchard's and dated 1920

close up of the left shoulder board showing the king's crown and RAF motive in gold bullion thread

Close up of the RAF pilots brevet badge in gold bullion thread

RAF Museum object conditioning day: a red-letter moment! While nearing the end of our clothing rack checks, we uncovered a 1920s era uniform of none other than Air Chief Marshal Lord Hugh Trenchard, Father of the RAF, and its first Chief of the Air Staff. A true privilege to handle such history.

a photo of the VC winner in his RFC uniform

The uniform jacket hanging up complete with dress trousers

close up of the left breast pocket showing the medal ribbons and RFC pilots brevet wings

close up of the medal ribbons and wings

Volunteering: object conditioning day at the RAF Museum collection at Stafford: chills seeing this uniform. William George Barker VC, Canada’s most decorated WWI airman. VC, DSO & Bar, MC & 2 Bars, Italian & French valour medals. Fearless Sopwith Camel ace whose courage redefined air combat.

Thank you. Could I prevail on you to forward them to Sandi with my compliments?

@rakshadigs.bsky.social

@rakshadigs.bsky.social some snaps of the scale model diorama commemorating Lester Lowry. (I couldn’t get down to site when you were filming so the model didn’t make the cut).

Remembering my 2016 visit to Jersey to assist with the amazing Le Câtillon II, the largest hoard of Iron Age gold and silver coins, jewellery and ingots ever found in Western Europe. I got 4 days of hands on, supervised work with Reg, one of the finders, and this great team of specialists.

My hand holding a copy of my book, the Road to Mons Graupius

To celebrate reaching 6000 followers, I am going to give away a free copy of my book The Road to Mons Graupius, which charts my journey along a Roman road through Scotland! To enter, follow me, then like and repost this post. I will choose a winner at random on Friday 16th May... #RomanSiteSaturday

@tessmachling.bsky.social

Time Team Sutton Hoo gig 2024, Episode 2.

We’ve been watching it all again on catch up. Just at the end of series 2 as of Thursday gone.

Neon Knights

Released OTD in 1980 and rarely off my playlist. IMO the best album from the Dio era.
open.spotify.com/track/7r2QK9...

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Very pleased that copies of our new volume with @cypriotartleeds.bsky.social & Thomas Kiely ‘Empire & Excavation. Critical perspectives on archaeology in British-period Cyprus’ have arrived! Thanks to @sidestone.bsky.social 🏺

Changing Veterans' Futures through Digging up the Past: The Inspiring Story of Operation Nightingale The inspiring story of Operation Nightingale, the archaeological programme helping to change veterans’ futures through studying the past.

www.oxbowbooks.com/blog/2023/07...

Please consider getting a copy of this fantastic book. Every penny raised has been gifted by the author, Richard Osgood MBE, to SSAFA, which in turn will support many more veterans to engage in archaeology as part of their recovery process.

Thank you. 🙂

So, Maiden’s first album came out 45 years ago this week, and I bought it from Malcolm Smith who was running Lotus Records in Mill Street, Stafford at the time! (Small world, Malc!)

Playmobil archaeologists! Exercise Druid Sacrifice, RAF Valley, 2025