I’m delighted to inform you all that my third book - ‘A Battalion in Burma’ has now been published. Chronicling the Suffolk Regiment’s part in the harsh and unforgiving Burma campaign, it follows their successes and setbacks, 1943/44. For me, it was a story that had to be told.

For every retweet of this post, I will donate £1 to the @VC_and_GC_Assoc up to £50,000. Time is running out following @I_W_M’s decision to close the Lord Ashcroft Gallery. Visit while you still can, to honour the bravery of those who risked so much to protect our great nation.

Today on #VJDay our family remember relatives captured and held at the hands of the Japanese. Pte Jack Cunnington (RAMC), and Pte Herbert Sharp (5th Suffolks) both fortunately returned but with the memories of captivity haunting them throughout their later life. #VJDay80

For #VJDay80 it is a privilege to be able to tell the story of this remarkable war memorial, created by the former Far East Prisoners of War in Leiston ten years after the fall of Singapore, and still helping to tell their stories all these years later: https://t.co/ovcBjBMP36

Thinking of my much missed Grandpa, Norman Harrison on #VJDay80 Captured by the Japanese in Singapore & put to work on the Burma Railway. Those who made it home were given a demob suit & encouraged not to speak of their experiences We must never forget them ♥️

So please spare a thought today, for those who never came home, but also for all those who did return and tried as best as they could, to lead a normal life whilst still suffering the physical and mental scars of their captivity as the ‘uninvited guests of the Japanese’ (3/3)

Of the 471 casualties suffered by 4th Suffolk, 77% (360) occurred in captivity, with only the remaining 23% (111) falling in battle. It was a higher proportion in 5th Suffolk with 90% of their 336 casualties occurring in captivity and only 10% (34) occurring in battle…(2/3)

Remember today, all those men of 4th & 5th Bn’s of the Suffolk Regiment who endured captivity at the hands of the Japanese, especially all those who sadly never made it home. The casualty statistics are both staggering and sobering, showing the brutality of their captors…(1/3)

Miniature Cambridgeshire Regiment Tropical Dress uniform made by Haverhill man Eric Thake while a Prisoner of War of the Japanese at Changi, WW2 This amongst many other exhibits can be seen at a special exhibition to commemorate VJ Day 80 at the Haverhill Arts Centre until

#InternationalCatsDay A black cat for good luck. Made by his wife and given to him on their wedding day in May 1944, a Suffolk Regiment sergeant carried it with him all the way through from D-Day to VE-Day.

“My own darling Joan, I wish so much that I could be with you tonight, but I guess I’m always wishing that my love, but the news that the war with Germany is over makes it a special night and we could be having such a wonderful time if only we could be together…” #VEDay

The #LordAshcroftGallery is my pride and joy. My only wish is for as many people to see it, before it closes for good. #LestWeForget @I_W_M

Lovely to see another one ‘out in the wild’ 👇

As it’s the season of goodwill, can I please ask that if any of you have brought a copy of my book ‘A Battalion in Burma’ from Amazon, whether you might consider giving it a review? Thank you.

Very sorry to hear of the passing of Timothy West. I only had the privilege to meet him briefly as a platoon member in the remaking of ‘Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes’ but he was always polite, professional and very funny. A real gentleman.

Great to find not one, but two of my books in the fantastic @ToppingsEly Both duly signed and now awaiting new homes!

I was sorry to hear of the passing of Harry Hughes, one of the very last Suffolk Regiment veterans who served in NW Europe, 1944-45. He left us yesterday on the 80th anniversary of the battle of Venray; a battle in which he participated. ‘Stabilis’ 📸Mark Brennan

Excellent! Happy reading 👍

80 years since Sid ‘Basher’ Bates, 1 ROYAL NORFOLK, won his VC in the fields beyond this memorial to his action. If you want to know more of what happened on that day by two men who were there I’d throughly recommend The Search for Sidney. #Normandy80

Finally…..a review!

As promised!