Ghee Bowman @GheeBowman Twitter profile

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Ghee Bowman

2 months

Steve McQueen is not in this photo, but these men were part of the Greatest Escape of the Second World War. On this #GreatEscape weekend, I’ve a few thoughts to share 🧵. Please read on…

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

Eighty one years ago today, this man led 299 Indian soldiers along the beach at Dunkirk. They were taken off in the middle of the night from the East Mole, and spent the next 3½ years in Britain. His name?

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 years

Thread. Giving the V-sign to captors. Around 15,000 Indian soldiers were captured in North Africa & Italy in #WW2 . They were held by the Germans and Italians for up to 5 years, and almost none of their stories are known. 1/9

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

His name was Muhammad Akbar Khan. He was a Great War veteran, and one of the very first group of Indians to be commissioned as an officer in the Indian Army, in 1919. Here he is in 1925 with his regimental hockey team.

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

To find the whole story of Akbar, Abdul Ghani and all their comrades, read my book, published one year ago by @TheHistoryPress , and endorsed by @MishalHusain

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 years

I am trying to track down relatives of these 15,000 Indian POWs. For example, in this group photo from a German camp for officers, there’s a #sikh officer in the back row. Was this your grandfather? 2/9

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

After Dunkirk he made friends with Leo Amery, recently appointed as Secretary of State for India. They met at Pribright - this photo also shows ZA Bokhari, who went on to found🇵🇰 Pakistan Radio. @ColourHeritage

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

Indian twitter - Can you help? I’m trying to trace an Indian Army Prisoner of war from the Second World War. He may be in the photo below. His name was Jai Lal, he was born around 1922 in Madina village, Godhana Tehsil, Rohtak, about 90 kms west of Delhi, in #Haryana .

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

M Akbar Khan was to become something of a celebrity during his time in the UK, appearing on the #BBC and meeting the King and Queen. Here he is visiting @ShahJahanMosque - possibly at Eid-ul-Futr on 2nd November 1940

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

One of my favourite photos of M Akbar Khan. London, May 1940 with a group from #ForceK6 on leave, a few days before the German #blitzkrieg . In a park, they bump into an old gent walking his dog, who stops for a chat. Perhaps he served in India and wants to practise his urdu...

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 years

Not all the Indian POWs were so lucky. There are around 500 Indian POWs buried in @CWGC cemeteries in Europe. This is Durnbach in #Bavaria , the last home of 64 Indian soldiers. 41 were reburied here, plus a memorial to 23 who were cremated 5/9

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 years

Many Indians escaped. Hardip Singh of Punjab regiment was captured at Benghazi in Libya in 1942. Spent over a year in POW camps in Italy until the Italians surrendered, when he took to the hills and joined a band of Italian partisans resisting the Germans. Picture @I_W_M NA5892

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

The portrait of M Akbar Khan was painted in 1941 by Henry Lamb RA, together with this companion portrait, of Driver Abdul Ghani. Akbar's portrait is in @I_W_M , and this one is in @KelvingroveArt

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 years

But there was at least one Indian at #Colditz . Birendra Nath Mazumdar was a doctor in the British Army. Captured in France in 1940 by a Panzer officer ‘looking at my colour, very politely said what are you doing here captain?’. Escaped in 1943 and made it to neutral 🇨🇭Switzerland

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 years

I would love to hear from families in the UK, South Asia or elsewhere in the world who have stories to share. Stories of hardship or escape, collaboration, maybe even romance. Stories that deserve to be heard. Please get in touch از راہ کرم رابطہ کریں कृपया संपर्क करें 9/9

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

I’m afraid it’s still nope. The largest successful escape of the Second World War is almost completely unknown. Over 800 soldiers of the Indian Army escaped from Stalag 315 Épinal in May 1944, a camp holding over 3000 Indian POWs. @VilledEpinal

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 years

Full press release here

Press Release: Was your Indian grandfather a Prisoner of War in Europe? - Blog - Force K6

A historian in South West England is trying to track down relatives of soldiers of the British Indian Army held as Prisoners of War in Germany, Italy and France during the Second World War. Around...

www.forcek6.org.uk

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 years

In Britain in the 60s and 70s, I grew up with images like these. POW stories were a staple, always featuring white men, usually officers, upper lips stiffened, trying to escape from #Colditz and Stalag Luft III. Where were the Indians? 3/9

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 years

Some Indian POWs joined the German army, convinced by Subhas Chandra Bose that the way to independence lay in fighting *against* the British Empire. They were posted in 🇳🇱 NL and SW 🇫🇷 France, but saw little active service. 8/9

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

I’ve been researching this story for the last two years, and my book The Great Épinal Escape comes out on May 9th, published by @TheHistoryPress

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 years

The vast majority of Indian POWs did what most prisoners did – sat and waited. Captain Anis Ahmad Khan of #ForceK6 was sustained by prayer, by playing sports, and by parcels from the Indian Comforts Fund He was held in POW camps from 25th June 1940 till 12th April 1945. 6/9

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

Over the next few weeks, scores of Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, #Gurkhas and Indian Christians could be found in the fields and woods of NE France, heading for neutral Switzerland. This is the only known photo of them en route, on the steps of the presbytère in the village of Etobon.

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

They were helped by many many local civilians, and crossed the Swiss frontier in large numbers. By the end of June, 500 had reached safety. 500. That was the largest successful escape of the Second World War.

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

Meet Beant Singh. Born 1917 in Montgomery in Punjab – now Sahiwal in Pakistan. Beant joined the Indian Army in #WW2 . He was a Dafadar (sergeant) in the 11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry – often known as PAVO. 1/4

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

There are many great photos of these men safe in Switzerland. Here’s a few. Gurkhas, a named soldier called Beant Singh, and an unnamed Muslim.

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

@MandeepBajwa Yes indeed. Anis Ahmad Khan is important part of the story of #ForceK6 . There's a couple of photos of him in the book, including this one, taken in a POW camp.

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

On May 11th - the 80th anniversary - I will be honoured to be part of a ceremony to lay a plaque at the site of the camp, invited by @Univ_Lorraine Film about the project here: Photo of some of the Indian Graves at Epinal cemetery @CWGC

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

5 years

Three years after starting my PhD @UniofExeter , I’ve handed in my thesis on Indian soldiers at Dunkirk and in the UK in World War Two. I’m now very happy! Look out for the book in 2020. #PhDone #PhDlife

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

Talking of Indian troops in North Africa, did you know there was an Indian part of the Long Range Desert Group #LRDG ? They went behind enemy lines in the desert, carrying out raids and gathering intelligence, rather like the #SAS .

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

4 years

I’m delighted to announce that my book on #ForceK6 will be published by @TheHistoryPress in May

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

AND the 3 who got away? No Brits, Poles or Aussies, but two Norwegians - Per Bergsland & Jens Müller - and one Dutchman: Bram van der Stok. He was the one who made it across the Pyrenees, helped along the way by kind civilians. Last week I looked at his report in @UkNatArchives

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

In fact, the officers at Stalag Luft III were way more multi-national than that. The 50 who were murdered by the SS were of 13 different nationalities, including 5 Aussies, one Czech and 6 Poles, with only 20 Brits among them. None of those who escaped were American.

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

First, of course, we should remember the 50 escapers murdered by the Nazis. This weekend I’ll be re-watching the film and reading about the true story behind it.

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

23 days

#OTD 11th May 1944; a sunny day in Épinal, a small town on the river Moselle, close to the Vosges mountains and Germany. The scene is set: nobody knows that this quiet French place, untouched by war since 1940, will become the site of the largest POW escape of #WW2 🧵

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

@theAliceRoberts Of course they have one great natural advantage over the UK - they're an island and so can control their borders easily. Oh, hang on....

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

The camp was accidentally bombed by the Americans, who were attacking the town’s railway station. Around 70 prisoners were killed, and hundreds escaped into the woods to the west. Photos from @ICRC archives showing the devastation after the bombing

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

Taken prisoner at El Alamein in June 42, he had an extraordinary career as a POW, with escapes in Italy & France. He was awarded the Indian Order of Merit for his work in starting and running a #frenchresistance group in the Haute-Saone department @Prefet70 of France🇫🇷. See below

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

Still nope. Then it MUST be the Crow’s Raid? When 105 French & Commonwealth privates and NCOs followed Aussie private Ralph Churches and 🇸🇮Slovenian partisans 250 kms through the mountains to be picked up by the RAF? Book by Churches’ son @Danaesidh

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

Do you know anyone in Madina near Rohtak? It’s possible that he’s remembered there. It’s possible his grandchildren live there and they have a drawer full of letters, photos & strange items from Italy, Germany and France. I would love to get in touch with them and tell his story.

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

@marcusjdl I'm so sorry to hear that Marcus. Please come down to Exeter some time, and we'll show you a proper West Country welcome. There are racists everywhere, and some of us are engaged in trying to reduce their influence in rural areas. The work goes on...

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

So. If the Stalag Luft III escape was not the largest SWW escape, which was? Perhaps the 26 British army officers who got out of Oflag VB in September 1941, of whom 4 got home? Or La Grande Évasion by 132 French officers from Oflag XVII-A two years later (2 of them got home)?

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

Thread - Please retweet. #OTD , August 8th 1940, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth met the men of the Royal Indian Army Service Corps in Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Two months before they had escaped from #Dunkirk . #WW2 #southasianheritagemonth @RoyalFamily 1/11

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

What on earth might these two chaps have in common? A moustached RAF officer in blue, and an Indian Army cook from Chakwal? Answer: both escaped successfully from German POW camps during the Second World War #WW2 🧵

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

Nope. Maybe the largest escape was the Polish escape from Oflag VI-B in September 1943, when 47 got out and 10 made it home?

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

The 2nd thing I find interesting is the nationalities of the escapers. Watch the film and you’d think they were all Brits, with one Aussie, a few Yanks celebrating July 4th, and one Pole, played by Charles Bronson – one of the three who succeeded in making ‘Home Runs’

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

Three things strike me as of interest in the story as it’s commonly remembered in Britain. Firstly (and briefly) the name ‘The Great Escape’. At the time, it was referred to as a ‘Mass Escape’. It was first called ‘Great’ in Paul Brickhill’s book, published in 1950.

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

4 years

I’m delighted to say that I passed my viva today with minor corrections. Many thanks to my wonderful supervisors Gajendra Singh and Padma Anagol, and my examiners Gareth Curless and @OxfordYasmin #PhDlife @UniofExeter

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

@MichaelRosenYes If anyone wants to read 'Osteopath Weekly' I have some back issues

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 months

At 12:00 noon today, I’m on @BBCRadio4 programme 'antisocial' talking about Muslim contributions in two world wars, including the remarkable Noor Inayat Khan. @shrabanibasu_

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

Additional info. He was in the Royal Indian Army Service Corps, attached to the 18th Indian Infantry Brigade. His service number was 904935. I don't have a definitive photo of him, I'm afraid. The photo below is of the 3rd Motor Brigade

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 months

Very excited to see that my new book is now available to order, even though it's not out for weeks yet!

The History Press

@TheHistoryPress

3 months

'The Great Épinal Escape: Indian Prisoners of War in German Hands' by @GheeBowman tells the story of the largest successful escape of the Second World War. Out this May, pre-order your copy now: #WWII #POW #warhistory

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

Correction, @BBCSaturdayLive @russelltovey there *is* a sculpture of a Black woman outside London. There's a lovely bust of @FloellaBenjamin at @UniofExeter

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 years

61 years after my birth, 39 years after finishing my BA, 8 years after I started my MA, and two years since I finished my PhD, I finally graduated from @UniofExeter @exeterclio along with @DrSophyAntrobus @drrhianelinor @Guy_S_Solomon @Dr_Imogene_HD Am I proud? You betcha!

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

Fascinating talk by ‘Sir’ @DalrympleWill this evening, looking at Company Artists in India in 18th/19th centuries. I didn’t realise what an interesting hybrid they were, of Moghul and European Enlightenment styles. Did such a fusion happen anywhere else? And how cool is this girl?

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

4 years

Brilliant! Anyone who thinks that Nazis were left wing because 'socialism' was in their name must be so confused by buffalo wings!

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

4 years

@DavidJBlakeBre1 @DPJHodges Teachers have seen unnecessary deaths of bus drivers, health workers and many other workers because of poor planning. Can you imagine a 5 year old managing to keep 2 metres away from others? The unions are doing the right thing in protecting their members. @TherealNihal

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

6 years

Do you know these men? Punjabi Muslim soldiers in Britain & France in World War II, some at #Dunkirk . They worked with British soldiers & made friends with Brit villagers. I’m researching their story in Pakistan. I’d love to get in touch with anyone who remembers them. Please RT

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

@sean_baillie @metpoliceuk You're offended by prayer? Did you try to chat to him at all? By the way, did you know that at least 1 million Indian Muslims fought for the British Empire in both world wars? Plus many others from elsewhere in the Empire. And that there were Muslim Indians at Dunkirk?

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

4 years

You can find out about *exactly* how wrong Manning was by reading my book 'The Indian Contingent: the Forgotten Muslim Soldiers of Dunkirk'

Irfan

@dr_irfan_malik

4 years

‘There were no P*kis at Dunkirk’ Hope we can reflect on how wrong Bernard Manning was - this is why we need improved education about the diverse contribution in the World Wars #RemembranceDay

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

4 years

Well said @adilray ! (and make that nearly 4 million Indians across both World Wars, half a million Africans in WW2)

Good Morning Britain

@GMB

4 years

'I studied WW1 and WW2 at school. Not once was I told that over a million Indian soldiers fought in that world war' - @adilray @calvinrobinson says it's 'not a political thing, it's about education' as he responds to calls for black and colonial history to become compulsory.

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

6 years

I was honoured to have helped to make this happen: a service to remember the Indian soldiers of #ForceK6 buried at #Kingussie in Scotland. @ColourHeritage . Thanks also to @AnasSarwar who read out names @ScotParl . Shared heritage, shared history remembered: the research continues.

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

I've never seen these photos before! Indian troops meeting the Pope in Rome in summer 1944. Also meeting an Indian RC priest. Thanks to @USI_CAFHR for the image!

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

@mhdksafa Hi Mohamad. If it drains you so much, then take a break! We'll still be here when you're ready to return, and I'm sure the twittersphere can survive without you for a while. Look after Number 1, mate!

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

25 days

So pleased to finally have my hands on a copy of my book ‘The Great Épinal Escape’ published by @TheHistoryPress . It arrived in the nickest of time - 5 minutes before I got on the train to take me to Épinal.

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

6 months

@thehistoryguy A big #WW2 myth is that 'Britain stood alone' for a year. The Empire was always there, for Heaven's sake! I like to contrast the cartoons below, Low on left, Fougasse on the right, both from the summer of 1940. I love the relaxed nature of Fougasse's soldiers! And the clouds.

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@GheeBowman

6 years

Looking forward to selling #WhitePoppies in the Forum @UniofExeter tomorrow between 12 and 2. We think it's the first time it's happened! @BritishQuakers

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

Another Indian POW I’d like to know more about is 5433 Havildar Clerk Ganpatrao Tawde of the 5 Mahratta Light Infantry. 5 MLI had the largest single group of POWs in German hands in the war – around 1200 of them. No confirmed photo of him yet - this is Belgaum '43 @NAM_London

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 months

Interesting news about the #Ramadan -related display at @LondonWaterloo station. I wonder if people know about this painting of the station, from 1942 by Helen Mckie? (Copyright @V_and_A )🧵

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@GheeBowman

4 years

This week should have been my graduation #PhDone , and tomorrow is my 59th birthday! As @UniofExeter can’t run any graduation ceremonies for now, my wife and I made our own. Only one thing could have made it better – a hug from @FloellaBenjamin

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

4 years

Dear @DalrympleWill - Please RT if you can - I’m delighted to announce that my book on #ForceK6 will be published by @TheHistoryPress in May

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

6 years

@joan503 @BegumNadiya @ImamDownUnder Joan: I think the UK can accommodate all kinds of religions and cultures. In fact, it has been doing so for thousands of years! I'd be interested to know where your great-great-grandparents come from

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

5 years

I counted 3400 marchers at the #Exeter Exeter #ClimateStrike today. #FridaysForFuture #GlobalClimateStrike Biggest demo in our city ever. Extraordinary times make for extraordinary measures!

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

Thread. Proud to be part of this moving protest, organised by @ExeterCycling . Last week a woman was killed here by a driver under the influence. She was a popular nurse at @RDEhospitals , with two children - the kind of person you want in your community. 1/4

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

Extraordinary photo from August 1945 of Indian POWs recovered from the Japanese Borneo. They had been taken at Singapore in Feb 1942. Thanks to @USI_CAFHR for the photo.

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

4 years

Online graduation @UniofExeter was strange, but with some high points, like the Chapel Choir singing Let it Shine, with a dog! Here's my home-made PhD graduation photo #ExeterForever

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

Beant Singh then spent several years in #POW camps in Italy, Germany and France. Eventually he escaped to Switzerland, where this photo was taken, and came back to India in late 44. I would love to know more about his life and his time in the war.

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 years

I’ve been enjoying the @BBCRadio4 reading of @BenMacintyre1 ’s book on #colditz . Last Friday’s episode especially caught my ear, with a section on Birendra Nath Mazumdar. So here’s a wee thread 🧵on Indian POWs in the Second World War 1/13

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

@Merciansaltmine @CeliaRichards0n Why so rude, Bob? What has brought you to this? Would you say that to somebody if you met them in the street?

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 months

Knock me down with a feather! Jeremy Hunt announced £1 million funding towards a UK memorial to Muslim soldiers in both world wars! #UKbudget Will that include the men of #forceK6 - pictured marching in #Edinburgh in 1943? @ColourHeritage

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

I'm thrilled to be doing my first book signing in India tomorrow! Six bookshops on Church St Bangalore. Come and say hi!

Pan Macmillan India

@PanMacIndia

1 year

#Bengaluru readers, come and meet @GheeBowman and get a signed copy of THE INDIAN CONTINGENT tomorrow! 🗓️ Friday, 7 March, 2 pm onwards 📍 #BookHome , @bookhive , @blossombookhous , #Gangarams , @bookworm_Kris , #Higginbothams

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@GheeBowman

1 year

Fascinating photo from @ICRC archives, showing #Sikh POWs at prayer. I will tell some of their story in my book, due out next year

Ramblings of a Sikh

@RamblingSingh

1 year

Sikh soldiers with the Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj in special room given in German prison camp, Altenburg, Stalag IV E : 27/06/1941. These Sikh soldiers were captured in North Africa by Germany's Afrika Korps commanded by General Erwin Rommel

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 years

Who’s the richest man in the world? Me I have a wife whom I love and who loves me. We have two smashing kids. We live in a lovely house in a great part of the world, at peace. I eat and sleep well and am healthy. I do work that interests and absorbs me. What more could I want?

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

5 years

There were #Muslim Indian soldiers in Europe in #WW2 ? At Dunkirk?? Seriously? Yup, #ForceK6 were there, and are now forgotten. My thesis tells their fascinating stories and explores the processes of forgetting and remembering. #tweetyourthesis @ExeterDoctoral

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 months

Hey @tezilyas - laughed a lot watching Live at the Apollo. Talking of BAME people ski-ing, how about this photo from Switzerland in 1943. Escaped POW Harbakhash Singh enjoying his time on the slopes!

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

2 years

There are 65 members of #Forcek6 buried in Europe and South Africa, Indian soldiers who had been at #Dunkirk . For #WarGravesWeek I will tweet photos of some of their graves, with info on the individual soldiers. @CWGC #secondworldwar Photo: #Kingussie cemetery in the Highlands

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

18 days

Salute to this veteran!

Colourful Heritage

@ColourHeritage

18 days

Happy birthday to Sgt Mohd Hussain, UK's last #Muslim #WW2 veteran from 🇵🇰living in Windsor who recently celebrated his 100th birthday! #DYK he fought for 🇬🇧 in Monte Cassino, Italy as part of the #BritishIndianArmy ?: @adilray @dr_irfan_malik

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 month

One week to go! On May 9th you can finally get your hands on my new book, published by @TheHistoryPress Read all about the largest POW escape of #WW2

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

Lovely piece here by @SudhaTilak about #Forcek6 and my book, @BBCIndia #Dunkirk

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

28 days

Publication day is Thursday!

The History Press

@TheHistoryPress

28 days

"An absolutely incredible story." Ghee Bowman speaks to @FYTWIO pod about his new book 'The Great Épinal Escape', and the amazing tale of the mass breakout from a camp in Épinal by hundreds of Indian servicemen. #WW2 #History @GheeBowman #IndianArmy 👂

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

Statue of Khudadad Khan from Rawalpindi in 🇵🇰 Pakistan

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

I am delighted to announce that ‘The Indian Contingent’ is going to be published in India 🇮🇳! The wonderful team @PanMacIndia will bring it out for #Dunkirk anniversary in May 2021. HUGE thanks to all who made it happen @TeestaGuha @RedInk10 @AanchalMalhotra @TheHistoryPress #WW2

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

The two Indian squadrons were made up of volunteers from the 3rd Motor Brigade, which had been hit hard at El Mechili. Their officers were Rand, Nangle and Cantlay.

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

I'm so excited about this launch! And so interested to hear what the reading people of India make of it! Good luck, little book, as you sail off into the wide world...

Pan Macmillan India

@PanMacIndia

3 years

THE INDIAN CONTINGENT: The Forgotten Muslim Soldiers of the Battle of Dunkirk by @GheeBowman is out today! This groundbreaking work reveals the astonishing story of the Indian soldiers who were evacuated from #Dunkirk . Order here: #BookTwitter #WWII

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

Singh was taken prisoner by the Italians in North Africa. Probably at El Mechili in April '41 (right). This little-known battle, according to one historian ‘must rank as one of the most gallant actions’ of the war, where Rommel was held up for two days. Left: 3rd Indian Motor Bde

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

1 year

Was this a forerunner of the @JaipurLitFest ? Article is from December 1945. @DalrympleWill might be interested #Jaipur

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

6 years

@guygrossman @PhDForum I tell myself and my PhD fellows that working 60 hours a week is too much, and that we all need a good healthy balance of work, sleep and social life. Let's not normalise this nonsense, please!

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

4 years

(Late) #OTD 1940. A small detachment of Indian soldiers of #ForceK6 on train bombed by the Luftwaffe. 4 men were killed, and are buried @CWGC Terlincthun. 1/2

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

4 months

I'm very pleased with my new shelves and reading area. #libraries #bookshelf

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Ghee Bowman

@GheeBowman

3 years

Read more about Indian soldiers in France and Britain in the #SecondWorldWar in my book The Indian Contingent. British edition published by @HistoryPress & Indian edition out on 1st September, published by @PanMacIndia Which cover do you prefer? 11/11

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