Simon Batten

Historian. Archivist at Bloxham School. My latest Great War book, 'Remember Him at the Altar', is available from @Helionbooks. Opinions are my own only.

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

Congratulations to Junior of @Bloxhamsport on his second appearance for @EnglandRugby U18s in the Six Nations Festival in France. Two eye-catching performances so far. @NextGenXV @BloxhamSchool

[England Rugby @EnglandRugby]

Team news 📋

England U18 Men’s head coach Jonathan Pendlebury has named his squad to take on Spain in the U18 Six Nations Festival on Monday.

#U6N18 | @Honda_UK

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

A superb history trip today to the site of Banbury's Great War munitions factory; in use 1916-24, it had 1500 workers and made 4 million HE shells + 350,000 mustard gas shells; enough survives to give a good idea of the site, with Dale Johnston doing a great job as guide.

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

@footsteps_pod That's a tragedy for your family as well as your listeners! Seriously, get well soon.

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

Superb conditions for today's @SchoolsCup first round tie between @Bloxhamsport and @BedfordSchool . After a well contested game Bloxham ultimately ran out 27-17 winners. @NextGenXV

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

@KitKowol Well done, Kit. I've just ordered a copy and am really looking forward to reading a fresh interpretation of a seemingly familiar topic.

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

A great Western Front trip with @footsteps_pod at the weekend, with the highlight the steep climb up the taller (nearly 190m) of the twin slag heaps at Loos. In glorious sunshine we got a great impression of the flat and open terrain of the battlefield.

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

Yesterday I visited the beautiful Hermanville Cemetery in Normandy to pay my respects at the grave of @OldBloxhamist Lieutenant Robert Bell-Walker (1st South Lancashire Regiment), killed in action on nearby Sword Beach in the early hours of D Day, 80 years ago today.

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

@DalrympleWill I think he was actually Ambassador to Versailles a couple of decades before he commanded at Dettingen, but it certainly is a fine portrait.

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

@GraemeCallister Excellent thread, thank you.

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

@EngChurchPics @Portaspeciosa It's very fine work.

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

Captain John Wilson, 1st Australian Imperial Force (died of wounds 21.5.15 suffered at Gallipoli), Driver Maurice Adams, 5th N.Z. Artillery (KIA 28.5.17 at Messines) and Private Charles Hammill, 1st/4th Australian Infantry (KIA 18.9.18 at Hargicourt).

[Simon Batten @SimonBatten3]

This morning I took part in a school assembly explaining ANZAC Day. Alongside Dr Earl and me, two pupils of New Zealand descent told the stories of three @OldBloxhamist ANZACs who perished in the Great War; they will be remembered in the school chapel on Thursday. @Gallipoli100

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

Congratulations to @OldBloxhamist Dan Eckersley on his man-of-the-match display for Loughborough in Wednesday's BUCS Super Rugby final. Dan captained the @Bloxhamsport 1st XV during the 2019-20 season.

[BUCS Super Rugby @BUCSSuperRugby]

🏆An absolute EPIC at the StoneX, and it's @LboroSport who take the title and end @ExeterUniRFC's dreams of a three-peat!

What. A. Game.

#EXELOU 31-35 | FT

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

@dStephenB @Nick_Britten These photos really emphasise what a constricted space the massacre took place in.

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

A privilege to be at tonight's event to mark the blessing of the new redevelopment of St Mary's, Bloxham, with its distinctive curved screens at the West End, accommodating toilets and a kitchen. Great to see the church's 1583 Breeches Bible on display too.

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

@tommo15mrT Indeed. Three Orient players were killed in the Battle of the Somme.

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

@WIGWOOD @benpauling1 @LydiaHislop @RacingTV A very impressive and frank interview from a fine trainer at a testing time for him and his stables.

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

@GemmaHAuthor If you want to escape the crowds in the chateau, pop along to the tennis court where the oath was sworn in 1789 - if you can manage to find it open!

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

@ianmac67_SE @ProfGSheffield Enjoy!

[Simon Batten @bloxbatts]

@S_R_Tunnicliffe @RAFNewsReporter @gregbagwell @RAF_Odiham Very sad news, I remember him and his sons well.