This section gathers my research, essays, and commentary on the First World War home front in Yorkshire. You can browse the full archive below or explore by category using the menu.
If you’d like to discuss any of the topics covered here — or my novels inspired by these histories — please get in touch via the contact page.
When the Barnbow munitions factory exploded on 5 December 1916,Thirty-Five women were killed in seconds. In the chaos that followed, factory mechanic William Parkin repeatedly
For most of my life, Sarah Ann Jennings was just a name and a family story that wasn’t quite true. I later learned she was
Yorkshire’s First World War history isn’t confined to battlefields. From Scarborough’s bombardment scars and Barnbow’s hidden munitions earthworks to sound mirrors, training trenches, and quiet
On 16 December 1914, the war reached Scarborough. Among the civilians killed was George Harland Taylor, a 15-year-old Boy Scout out on an ordinary errand.
Writing historical fiction doesn’t mean sounding old. Strong sentences, grounded detail, and human emotion matter more than period phrasing. Focus on people, let setting do
On 16 December 1914, German battlecruisers shelled Scarborough, killing civilians and striking landmarks linked to safety and everyday life. This article looks at why the
