Daly History Blog

2012 in review

James Daly — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 12:24:04 +0000

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog. Continue reading →

Kirchner’s Argentina: externalising domestic tensions

James Daly — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 20:00:21 +0000

Cristina Fernandez-Kirchner, the President of Argentina, started the year in typical fashion by publishing an 'open letter' in the Guardian and the Independent, calling for negotiations over the status of the Falkland Islands. Continue reading →

New Year Message from James

James Daly — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:00:03 +0000

First of all, I would like to wish you all - regulars, visitors, friends and family - a very happy new year. Continue reading →

Bomb Sight – mapping the blitz in London

James Daly — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 12:57:48 +0000

This fantastic website was launched yesterday. It maps every bomb - high explosive, incendiary, parachute - that landed on Greater London during the Blitz, from 7 October 1940 until 6 June 1941. Produced by the University of Portsmouth (my alma mater), the National Archives and JISC, it's a great example of geography and history working together. Continue reading →

BAE Systems may close one of British shipyards

James Daly — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 21:23:22 +0000

One of BAE Systems British shipyards may close, the firms Chief Executive told the Sunday Telegraph. Continue reading →

Portsmouth’s World War One Heroes available for pre-order

James Daly — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 12:23:30 +0000

I haven't even written it yet, and it's not due for publication for another eleven months, but my next book 'Portsmouth's World War One Heroes' has been listed on Amazon and is now available for pre-order. Continue reading →

WW2 Pigeon discovered; code may never be broken

James Daly — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 11:55:12 +0000

As you may have seen in the news recently, the remains of a Second World War code-carrying pigeon have been discovered in a chimney in Surrey. The bird had a small red canister attached to its leg, of the type used by SOE - the Special Operations Executive. The code inside cannot be broken with any existing codes, and is currently being worked on by Government code experts at GCHQ. Continue reading →

The Complete George Cross by Kevin Brazier

James Daly — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 11:55:14 +0000

I've always been fascinated by the George Cross as an award. Overshadowed by its more high-profile cousin, the Victoria Cross, the George Cross is the highest awardnfor bravery that isn't in the face of the enemy. I've done a lot of research into Chief Petty Officer Reginald Ellingworth GC, a Royal Navy Bomb Disposal man who was awarded the George Cross posthumously after being blown up by a mine he was working on in 1940. Continue reading →

How to Make a Royal Marines Officer (1989)

James Daly — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 18:47:40 +0000

I've found this rather interesting programme on BBC iplayer showing the training of a group of Royal Marines officer trainees undertaking the Commando Commissioning Course at Lympstone. Continue reading →

The Battle of El Alamein: 70 years on

James Daly — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:27:59 +0000

The Second Battle of El Alamein, frequently cited as the turning point of the war in North Africa, began 70 years ago today. Continue reading →