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Neal Russell
@NealRussell17
Cornishman gripped by a fascination of the First and Second World Wars. Endlessly reading the books and visiting the battlefields when I can. Tweeting about it.
The Cornish/Devon border
Joined May 2021
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    Neal Russell
    @NealRussell17
    Jun 20, 2024
    The fate of Crete was sealed at Maleme airfield. Where the allies snatched defeat from the jaws of victory? With terrible casualties and little unit cohesion, by nightfall on 20/05/41 the Germans thought they were defeated. The NZers were holding everywhere, so what happened?
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    Neal Russell
    @NealRussell17
    Sep 22, 2023
    🧵 #OTD 1944 CSM Reg Philp was in a Bren carrier at the head of a column of the 5/DCLI driving on Driel to relieve the beleaguered Airborne troops. He knew another column from the battalion was ahead and in the half light was making best speed in his effort to catch up 1/7
    Photo from Reg’s Obituary. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9172080/Reg-Philp.html
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    Neal Russell
    @NealRussell17
    May 21, 2022
    Sgt Andy Evans RM, C Flight 3 CBAS, killed on this day 40 years ago, flying his Gazelle (XX411) in support of the Brigade Landings at San Carlos. Getting ahead of 3 PARA, who had been delayed clearing the settlement, Andy’s aircraft was observed by 40 argentines
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    Neal Russell
    @NealRussell17
    Jun 18, 2024
    I am about to travel to the battlefields of Crete. In an effort to contextualise future tweets I thought a short post for anyone interested in the battle may be useful. The battle for the island followed yet another ignominious defeat for the British in spring 1941.
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    Neal Russell
    @NealRussell17
    Jul 9, 2023
    Currently climbing in Wales and keep seeing this photo everywhere. It is Siegfried Herford and George Mallory at Christmas 1913. They were the leading men of their day and known to be fearless in the mountains. Robert Graves would climb with them around this period. 1/2
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    Neal Russell
    @NealRussell17
    Apr 9, 2022
    Close your eyes and you can almost hear their boots!
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    Neal Russell
    @NealRussell17
    Sep 22, 2023
    Replying to @NealRussell17
    Elsewhere the fire eating Lt Col George Taylor DSO was awarded a bar to his DSO for his part in the battalions actions that day. He had lead the main body up to Driel in a lightening dash and was under orders to “take all risks” to relieve the Airborne Division. One for all 7/7
    IWM B 12495
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    Neal Russell
    @NealRussell17
    Jun 22, 2024
    I was just starting curse the intel Sgt of the 23rd Battalion & his 83 year old sketch map when I came across definite remains of their battalion position- a line of pickets complete with barbed wire. These discoveries when walking the ground are so powerful for our understanding
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    Neal Russell
    @NealRussell17
    Oct 30, 2023
    What is it that calls us back? What is that feeling we get only here? To those who don’t understand or experience it, it is impossible to explain. Those who do understand it need no explanation.
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    Neal Russell
    @NealRussell17
    Aug 28, 2023
    A German soldier from 16 Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment, who died in a General Hospital in Plymouth in spring 1915. A long way from home, I wonder if his family has ever visited?
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    Neal Russell
    @NealRussell17
    Aug 27, 2022
    Chuffed to see this painting today at the DCLI museum. 2nd Lieutenant Alec Forbes, painted by his father on his final home leave before joining the 1/DCLI. Killed at the head of his platoon, two days after joining the battalion, assaulting Guillemont.
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    Neal Russell
    @NealRussell17
    Jun 25, 2024
    After naval losses, Admiral Cunningham was under significant pressure to call the Sphakia evacuation off. He was Nelsonian in his response. “It takes the Navy 3 years to build a new ship. It will take 300 hundred years to build a new tradition. The evacuation will continue”
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    Neal Russell
    @NealRussell17
    Jun 21, 2024
    An old service family. The very same whose forbear rode to a cross roads on the Brussels road to relieve the Duke of Wellington in June 1815. There was as a third brother killed, Leberecht, whose body was never found. I’ll do something in depth on them when I go to Heraklion.
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    Neal Russell
    @NealRussell17
    Jun 30, 2023
    Two machine gunners of the 2/A&SH in November 1914. The man on the right is Lance Sgt Peter Dean, an old contemptible. He would be awarded a DCM at Loos before going on to be awarded a bar at Polygon Wood during Third Ypres. (IWM Q 56196)1/3
    IWM Q 56196
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