In the course of researching Sherwood Boys, I have been contacted by many people about individuals who served in the battalion. But perhaps none of these have been more unusual than the lady who just before Christmas 2025 got in touch with me about Captain Patrick Henry Bland y. The reason, she told me, was that she had his typewriter, and would I like a photograph of it? Captain Patrick Henry Blandy ‘Why would I be interested in that?’ was my immediate reaction. Blandy had j

Thoroughly enjoyed my discussion with Paul Woodage on WW2TV about the 2/5th Sherwood Foresters and Sherwood Boys .  Paul is a great host and mediator and hope to have the opportunity to talk with Paul again. The video is available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkR1cb5H6XY Have received some wonderful feedback too. 'a brilliantly presented and fascinating piece of work about a remarkable Battalion' 'Fantastic presentation from Michael, thoroughly enjoyed this'

While I was gathering material for Sherwood Boys , I naturally did some general searches on the internet with terms like ‘5th Sherwood...

Well - almost. On Monday 19 January 2026 at 7.00PM UK time I will be talking live with Paul Woodadge on his WW2TV YouTube channel about my book, the battalion and my research. Rather than a pre-prepared presentation it will be a more informal discussion with the opportunity for viewers to ask questions during the session. While I've done both recorded podcast discussions and live presentations before, this is the first time I'll have done an online chat format. So some n

It is unlikely that you will find the battle for Cesena in October 1944 mentioned in many histories of the Second Word War.  It was just one of the series of old Roman towns, strung out along the Via Emilia in the Po Valley, which Eighth Army had to take on its way to Bologna.  The Canadian Corps were advancing up the highway; but protecting their left flank in the Apennine foothills was 46th British Infantry Division.  139 Brigade were tasked with taking two ridges south of

Sherwood Boys: Biography of a Battalion Vol.1 April 1939-August 1943               will be published on 30 November, and is now available to pre-order on Amazon  and most other online booksellers, including some in Europe. The provisional publication date for Vol.2, September 1943-March 1946  is August 2026. In advance of this I will be giving two more talks about the 2/5th Sherwood Foresters in November. These will be another chance to hear the presentation I gave at Notti

17 June is the anniversary of the sinking of the SS Lancastria in 1940, the worst maritime disaster in British history.  The story of...

On 13 June I will be giving a talk in Buxton about the 1940 campaign. 85 years ago today men of the 2/5th and 9th Sherwood Foresters,...

In July 1945 the 5th Sherwood Foresters occupied part of Styria in Austria, near the border with modern Slovenia.  They were taking over...

On 26 August 1944, British troops of 46th Division crossed the River Metauro in Italy as part of Operation OLIVE, the assault on the...

On 3 September 1939 Britain declared war on Germany. My father was still only fifteen – young enough to be evacuated from North London to...