Sadly, in the early hours of Tuesday 7 May, Ely Museum was broken into. Thieves stole the East Cambridgeshire gold torc and a gold bracelet, both dating from the Bronze Age.

The police are currently investigating the theft. We will be closed to the public on Wednesday 8 May.

OTD #DBP70 That's all folks. The end of the 57 day epic that was Dien Bien Phu. Thanks to those who followed. Hope we learned some stuff along the way. I'll post a bit on aftermath but will be pleased to focus on something else! Still hope to run a tour there so watch this space.

OTD #DBP70 Albatros closest to reality at Isabelle. Guns were targets but no assault. 1700hrs Lalande orders all weapons but 1x105mm gun destroyed. Breakout starts 2000hrs. E. & W. sides river. VM 57 Rgmt kill many but capture most (13km max). Lalande surrenders Isabelle 0150hrs.

OTD #DBP70 Giap's army is euphoric as by end of today c.12,000 Union French troops are POWs. de Castries & staff are a great prize. Isabelle though is still in French hands. Col. Lalande learned of main camp ceasefire at 1600hrs & with permission will attempt breakout tonight.

#Malvinas 07 de mayo de 1982.
Séptimo día de bombardeo aéreo y naval sobre tropa en las islas.
Como promedio se llevaban 22 días en las posiciones.

OTD #DBP70 1700hrs de Castries last call to Cogny, who insists no white flags. In truth, already flying. VM head into GONO from E. Meet no resistance but fire from Quad 50 as cross Bailey bridge. de Castries taken prisoner in his bunker c.1735hrs. After 56 days GONO has FALLEN!

OTD #DBP70 GONO has suffered a death blow but Giap's victories have cost VM dearly. His plan has been to pause at this stage, consolidate & put in final assault c.10 May. In GONO too there is a taking of stock & realisation that OP Albatros (breakout) is now only option left.

OTD #DBP70 Only VM failure of last night's many assaults was E12. 209 Regt fails to create breach with Bangalores. Despite individual acts of bravery and battered 366 Coy replacing by 363 Coy at dawn, VM kept at bay. 2 Platoons of Legionnaires even sent to E10 as reinforcements.

OTD #DBP70 E4 larger garrison than most - 5 BPVN, II/1 RCP, III/ RTA & 4/1 BPC (maybe 200-250 men). Solid defences - 2 two fortified peaks & 2 Tanks. Assault on 3 fronts. Caught in cross fires VM put in multiple attacks. VM Arty & reinforce' needed before E4 FALLs c.0930hrs.

OTD #DBP70 E10 - 6 BPC. Bunkers already KO'd. 115/165 Regt attack after brief Arty fire. VM sources: a platoon gets in & outnumbered. French: VM in great strength. Some 8BPC relief but too few & fresh assault takes last holdout. Cleared to retreat, few escape. 0930hrs E10 FALLS.

OTD #DBP70 E2 assault pause after mine blast. Trench delivers 174 Rgt to W. slope & also attack from E. - crater is obstacle for VM. GONO Arty support dies but MG fire from bunkers & tank Bazeilles extends fight. Pouget calls for reinforce' but don't arrive. 0440hrs E2 FALLS.

OTD #DBP70 With C5 taken heavy fighting in trench connecting to C4. Mixed force of defenders incl. few C5 survivors, Arty as infantry & BG31 Moroccans. Brief support by tank Ettlingen. VM advance halted. Also pressure on Junon but fought off by Tai & others, many already wounded.

OTD #DBP70 Deserters cut flooded C5's wire 5 May. 2 plat of 2/I/2 REI. Some bunkers KO by 2x75mm guns from 300m. 102 Regt assault through tunnel (sap in WWI) & diverting attack. 263 Coy takes HQ bunker. C-attack from C5 brief success but overwhelmed & retire. 0130hrs C5 FALLS.

OTD #DBP Mine blown 2130hrs an anti-climax. Tunnel too short & blast muffled as underground. Explosives recovered from defused bombs, most from wreck of a Privateer shot down 12 April. Its main impact, as had been case since WWI, was psychological on men hearing digging below.

#OTD Falklands82 Tony Pollard
On this day in 1982, 848 D Flight personnel who have been waiting on Ascension Island join the Norland for passage south. We met 2 Para for the first time and sailed later that night.

BREAKING: The media is finally acknowledging two brand new polls show President Biden leading by 4 and 5 points respectively. Retweet so all Americans dispel the narrative that Trump is winning.

OTD #DBP70 Mine under E2 is blown! Time debated but 2130hrs likely. Follow up assault not until c.2300hrs. Delay poss due to survival of summit blockhouse (tunnel too short). It's going to be a long and bloody night for both sides.

We return to the final battle for DBP in am.

OTD #DBP70 0645hrs Regt 98 assault E2, W. end after moving round S. side hill. Cut to pieces by Isabelle's arty fire. Newbies 1 BPC break up attack with MG fire. But this is only a taster. VM bombardment of Isabelle takes its toll. 2300hrs only one of 6 x 105mm guns still firing.

OTD #DBP70 Giap resolved ammo supply issues (still limited) & force strength. New 224 Rocket battery in H6. Assault targets: E2 & E4 (316 Div), C5 (308 Div), E10 & E12 - low Elianes (312 Div). Success to be followed by consolidation & prep for general assault on GONO core 10 May.

OTD #DBP70 VM guns open up. 1510hrs: 105mm bombardment of E4 & C5. 1630hrs hit summit of E2. Also terrifying volleys from new rocket launchers. 2000hrs massed fire incl. mortars onto Isabelle to stop her guns giving flank support to main camp. Giap's 4th offensive has begun.