Profile avatar
marksthompson.bsky.social
PhD. Military history; Peninsular War; Royal Engineers; Author of several books on Peninsular War, military engineering and soldiers. Web: https://marksthompson.weebly.com/
322 posts 957 followers 181 following
Regular Contributor
Active Commenter
Posts 18 Comments 32

@thehistoryguy.bsky.social Dan can I message you? Or drop me a line via www.f-ltv.co.uk Mark S Thompson

submitted 18 days ago • 1 comment

The Washington Post refused to run this ad. Sure would be a shame if it went viral.

submitted 20 days ago • 133 comments

Next talk for Friends of the Lines of Torres Vedras will be by historian Steve Brown on 21 Jan. Title: The command structure, dispositions and strengths of the Allied forces in the Lines. Register interest by emailing: [email protected]. NOTE. Talk starts 8pm UK time due to time differences.

submitted 55 days ago • 0 comments

Packed beach this morning - Druridge bay, Northumberland, UK. It was 4C , so not so warm

submitted 85 days ago • 0 comments

A friend of mine, who is female, has just been dropped from a well known battlefield tour company, because one of the older male ‘experts’ doesn’t like her because she actually knows what she’s talking about. I am so pissed off. Every time I think we’re getting better, someone proves we’re not.

submitted 92 days ago • 25 comments

I did a talk tonight for the Fortress Study Group on the logistics involved in preparing for. 19c siege (Ciudad Rodrigo 1812). The answer 2000 ox carts, 5000 oxen, 3000 civilians, 200 river barges and 8 months planning. Simples!

submitted 94 days ago • 0 comments

Great to be recording again with @andnapoleon.bsky.social tonight on this guy. Scandals, clash of swords & wooden legs all covered, coming to your podcasts. (That's Henry Paget, Earl of Uxbridge, later 1st Marquis of Anglesey, but Handsome Henry to the ladies)

submitted 95 days ago • 0 comments

I reached 800 followers today. Welcome to you all. But, I still do not understand the purpose of those accounts with no picture, no profile and no posts.

submitted 97 days ago • 2 comments

@mcribbhistory.bsky.social I see your book on Porto 1809 is scheduled for release next month. 👍

submitted 99 days ago • 0 comments

When I visit Badajoz in May, I hope to meet the guy who translated my book on the battle of Albuera into Spanish. I still am amazed that mine is the only English language book with a Spanish edition #rightplacerighttime

submitted 100 days ago • 1 comment

@robgriffith.bsky.social Hi. Welcome

submitted 101 days ago • 1 comment

Just for clarification, these posts about Royal engineer officers are written for entertainment not for academia. I believe the facts are correct.

submitted 101 days ago • 0 comments

4/3 (I cannot count!) In the royal Engineers at this time, promotion was strictly on seniority, Mackelcan appeared to do better than other engineer officers. His story is told in fiction in Jean Plaidy’s ‘The Prince and the Quakeress’

submitted 101 days ago • 0 comments

3/3 Mackelcan was the senior engineer in Guernsey until 1808 when he was found guilty at a Court Martial of using engineer workmen for his own purposes. There is no record of his employment after 1808.

submitted 101 days ago • 0 comments

2/3 Despite having no active service during his career, he was put on half pay in 1815 with the army rank of Major General. He was promoted to full General in 1838, a rank no similar engineer officer managed.

submitted 101 days ago • 0 comments

1/3 Royal Engineer No. 3. General John Mackelcan. It is claimed he was the Illegitimate son of George III and actress Hannah Lighfoot. Mackelcan was sponsored for his commission by Earl Chatham suggesting friends in high places.

submitted 101 days ago • 0 comments

Just booked my flights to visit Elvas, Badajoz and Albuera next year. Interested to see where they have been putting solar panels on the Albuera battlefield. The work has stopped as they found lots of skeletons. Who would have thought?

submitted 103 days ago • 0 comments

Having been researching British optical telegraphs for several years I have now found three references to ‘blue light’ telegraphs in as many weeks. This is all new to me. 😳

submitted 106 days ago • 0 comments