I should probably clarify that it was 120,000lb of cheese in total. Not per hat. That’s still a lot of cheese.

Papers relating to the repatriation of Spanish POWs in July 1808. Along with the muskets, swords, accoutrements & cartridges going with them to Corunna were ‘hats of cheese’ weighing 120,000lb. I assume a hat was like a wheel but taller than wide. Anyone come across the term before? #cheese #history

Of course if I added up the costs of books, research trips etc it would probably come to several appliances.

Received my royalties statement today and have had to buy a new washing machine. The two amounts are almost exactly equal. Easy come, easy go.

Back at The National Archives for the fist time in a while. Will be looking at Sir John Moore’s papers amongst others.

Saw them at the Hammersmith Odeon in the mid-80s. Brilliant gig.

Similar story here, but I fear that in the UK a combination of increasing student debt and poor job opportunities will mean fewer will both going to uni in the future.

Ambush at Vimeiro?

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There are a few words where I always get the right letters, but not in the right order, and I swear it’s because some of my fingers are just a little slower than others.

An old blog about Christmas in the Peninsula.

daringdutycunningplans.wordpress.com/2019/12/02/c...

Cartoon from Punch, October 1937.

Good luck in the new job.

A taste of the titles coming in the first half of next year from Helion's From Reason to Revolution series. www.helion.co.uk/forthcoming-...

Yep, that seems to fit. Thanks. I was thinking it began with ‘a’ and ended ‘ously’.

The former complained bitterly of Sir J.M’s conduct to Lord C having said to him that he thought himself unworthily and [unreadable] treated by ministers; would not hear of his having the command.

Researching the Corunna campaign. Returned to my fave source used for my Vimeiro book: Brig Gen Anstruther's journal. Great stuff, but often impossible to read. Can anyone decipher the underlined word? Rest of sentence in thread.

Helion will survive. It’s far more important you get the work/life balance you want.

Sounds like a good idea. I hope it goes well for you.

So Just and Glorious a Cause: Britain and the Liberation of Portugal – Roliça and Vimeiro, 1808: 131 (From Reason to Revolution 1721-1815) Buy So Just and Glorious a Cause: Britain and the Liberation of Portugal – Roliça and Vimeiro, 1808: 131 (From Reason to Revolution 1721-1815) by Griffith, Robert (ISBN: 9781804514399) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

If you want a bargain Amazon UK have my latest book at only £12.78, down from £45!

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So Just and Glorious a Cause – Britain and the Liberation of Portugal – Rolica and Vimeiro, 1808 | The Napoleon Series So Just and Glorious a Cause – Britain and the Liberation of Portugal – Rolica and Vimeiro, 1808 Robert Griffith Helion Books (From Reason to Revolution 1721-1815 No 131) 2024 ISBN 9781804514399 Pages...

I'm very pleased to have received another great review for So Just and Glorious a Cause, this time from Gareth Glover on the Napoleon Series website: www.napoleon-series.org/book-reviews...

Yes, I had. But thanks for thinking of me.

The Fact & Fiction of Captain Peter Blassiere, 5/60th Almost everybody interested in the Napoleonic Wars will be familiar with Bernard Cornwell’s fictional rifleman, Richard Sharpe. However, the first fictional rifleman was probably from the 5th Bat…

An updated blog post on 'The Fact & Fiction of Captain Peter Blassiere, 5/60th Rifles'. My thanks to Thomas Hemmann for sending me the Hannoversches militairisches Journal article. daringdutycunningplans.wordpress.com/2018/12/19/t...

Have you read his Seven Men of Gascony? One of my favourite novels of the period.

Robert had a brother called Henry and it was actually him that should have been named as Robert died in Spain during the Corunna campaign. The brothers came from Ireland, where my ancestors were at the time, but apparently their actual name was Griffin. Both served in the light company.

With a name like mine it's not often you come across it when researching. This from a court martial of an assistant surgeon of the 1st Foot.

That looks interesting. Is it any good? Well referenced? Much on Corunna?

‘We never saw him again’: remembering a Scottish Highland soldier Plate from Percy Groves, History of the 91st Princess Louise’s Argyllshire Highlanders (1894) The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars exacted an awful human toll. As one British publicat…

Latest on my blog: a Scotsman remembers the last visit of his uncle, a Highland soldier who died during the Napoleonic Wars.
eamonnokeeffe1812.com/2025/04/08/w...

Yes, that fits. Thanks!

Notwithstanding the strong reasons which demand our acting with promptitude & vigor upon some well laid down plan you will hardly believe that Sir John Moore has not [?] a [?] from any of the generals, and he is in utter [?] [?] to their means & [?]