Lewis Rattray

Scottish teacher and musician on a wee adventure in the Middle East.

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@l_swaile Oh aye, that’s a winner

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@BGRobertson1 @Prof_Murdoch @NorthernScotEUP @NordicUHI @UHI_Research @UHIHistory @drzee17 @UHIBritStudies @drmarkjardine @EnglishCivilWar @CourtStudies @Dundee_Scots @ScottishHistSoc @ScotHistNetwork @MikkiBrock @Scotchurchhist @AJKDuncan Haha ! To be honest, I’m deeing for a bit of wintery weather! Hope you are well, good to see you on here.

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@Prof_Murdoch @BGRobertson1 @NorthernScotEUP @NordicUHI @UHI_Research @UHIHistory @drzee17 @UHIBritStudies @drmarkjardine @EnglishCivilWar @CourtStudies @Dundee_Scots @ScottishHistSoc @ScotHistNetwork @MikkiBrock @Scotchurchhist @AJKDuncan Fit like Barry? A weel thumbed copy out here in Dubai! Keep going back to the early chapters, the politics of the 1590s are endlessly fascinating. Also, Battle of Glenlivet, excellent case study for Early Modern Scottish warfare.

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@MrMarkBeaumont Awesome mate ! Great job, hope you’re all well. L

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@Prof_Murdoch @WeirdScotland @WorthingtonD @HistoryScotland @welovehistory @Allan_D_Kennedy @hermiston @oldbooksandwine @FunkyPlaid @ISHRStAndrews @ScotsAntiquary @Weegie_Graeme @JackAbernethy @pruetweets @S_M_R_G Happy with that !

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@Prof_Murdoch @JackAbernethy 65%, need to get the books back out, it’s been a while!

[History | Repton Dubai @ReptonDXBHist]

Year 7 are studying the Norman Conquest. All of this work was done via distance learning/teaching in the last week. Great work guys. Meanwhile novelty tea mugs have gone to the next level....

[History | Repton Dubai @ReptonDXBHist]

Year 10 are continuing to produce some excellent work from home. Meanwhile Mr R recommends lots of tea in novelty history mugs to keep sane ! @ReptonDXBHist

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@TonyHom33 @bermicourt Evening Tony, yes the first three are Coriano Ridge, the last one is Gradara. My Grandfather was in the area September 1944 during Operation Olive.

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

About to leave Italy, fascinating trip researching 12 RTR on the Gothic Line, 75 years ago this Aug/Sep. @bermicourt #gothicline

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@bermicourt The Churchyard at Casaglia.

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@bermicourt I visited during the summer. The graves in the churchyard tell their own tragic family stories.

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@bermicourt @RoyalTankRegt Having looked at the terrain it seems the Shermans in 21 Bde were deployed generally in the flatter valley terrain and closer to the coast than trying to tackle the ridges, again exceptions to the rule but generally holds true.

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@bermicourt @RoyalTankRegt Yes that seems to broadly be the case, although the Sherman crews in 48 RTR were in the thick of it; 3 Shermans and 3 Churchills damaged beyond repair on 15/9. On 19/9 C Sqdn lost 4 Sh and 1 Ch. These seem to be the exception though.

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@bermicourt @RoyalTankRegt Correct, just recounted ! Really quite horrific casualty rates in an almost completely forgotten theatre.

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@bermicourt @RoyalTankRegt 2/2 At San Martino 145 RAC lost 8 killed (in addition to 5 killed on 17/9) meaning 12 in total for the Bde. The photo shows the San Martino ridge looking towards Rimini today.

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@bermicourt @RoyalTankRegt 18/9 was a tough day for 21st Tank Brigade, the bloodiest of the campaign. 12 RTR lost four killed; Lt Clompus, Tpr McMahon and Tpr Pilley buried in Gradara and Tpr Birkinshaw buried in Coriano. 1/2

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@crusaderproject @bermicourt @RoyalTankRegt He also served in 48 RTR as 2ic from Oct 44- Feb 45 and briefly CO in Dec 44. He returned to 12 RTR to be 2ic in Feb 45.

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@crusaderproject @bermicourt @RoyalTankRegt Also interesting date for emergency commission. After Berlin blockade, too early for Korea. Am I missing something significant ?

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@crusaderproject @bermicourt @RoyalTankRegt Interesting. Does that mean/imply he was Acting Major at time of Op Olive in 44 ?

[Lewis Rattray @LewisRattray1]

@bermicourt @RoyalTankRegt Quite a guy. Regular soldier before the war, would be interesting to know what he did after.