Mark Doyle

My article about the Hollywood blockbuster 'A Bridge Too Far', a young Dutch boy killed by a landmine and how a violent death sent grief - and hope - through generations👇 linkedin.com/in/mark-doyle-…

@VenusteNews Hi Venuste - kindly follow for DM. Thank you - Mark Doyle ex BBC

@modelofchange Kindly follow and DM me, Gerry. I think we know each other from Rwanda in 1994. Thanks - Mark Doyle

We all mourn the loss of Hollywood great Robert Redford this week, but do you know the real-life landmine tragedy behind the Second World War blockbuster he starred in, A Bridge Too Far? The film depicts the Battle of Arnhem, which took place 81 years ago this weekend. Redford plays an officer in the Anglo-American Airborne Corps fighting to take a series of bridges along the Rhine in Nazi-occupied Holland. But the Nazis forced the Allies into a defensive pocket in the Arnhem suburb of Oosterbeek, where a family home was used as a field hospital for British military casualties. The house that was used as the field hospital – both in real life and in the film – belonged to the Ter Horst family. They knew only too well about the human cost of war. In 1947, three years after the war ended, their 13-year-old son Piek stepped on a landmine as he played in the garden. He died instantly. Read Mark Doyle’s story on how Piek’s brother and sister can still recall that terrible moment – and how a generous gift in their mother’s will has helped HALO clear landmines around the world since – saving thousands of other children from the fate of her own child. bit.ly/4nyhDoM

In a moment like this, when tensions are high, part of the job of the president is to remind us of the ties that bind us together.

@nelsabbey Good points. I don't think I ever described the Yoruba as a "tribe" in the years I was lucky enough to report for the BBC on Nigeria. I would usually describe them as an "ethnic group" - though if homing in on Yorubu culture or organisation, I might sometimes use "Yoruba nation".

Ever wondered why Yoruba, a population of 70m people is labelled a "tribe", yet Scotland, a population of 4m people, is considered a "country"? I broke it down for 'Everything Is Political' (full video is available on Instagram):

Predicted headline in #Ghana Daily Graphic tomorrow: ‘#Agyeman saves England’

Predicted headline in The Ghana Daily Graphic tomorrow: ‘Agyeman saves England’

@Ben_Astell Kindly follow for DM

@ben_astell Kindly follow for DM from fellow ex BBC scribe. Thanks

@malaika_tapper Kindly follow for DM about Syria. Thank you

@RajaAbdulrahim Kindly follow for DM. Thanks

@jenanmoussa Hi Jenan. Have DM'd you. Thanks.

@JenanAlAan - kindly follow for DM, or DM me your email address. Story in Syria you may be interested in. We met in Mali. Thanks

@jenanmoussa Hi Jenan. We met in Mali. Kindly follow for DM or DM me your email address. Thank you.

@ingarogg kindly follow for DM about Syria or DM me your email address. Thank you!

@ragehomaar Hi Rageh - kindly follow for dm - Mark Doyle

@jayrayner1 Hi Jay I work for @TheHALOTrust and have an idea to share. Kindly follow and dm me with you email. Thanks - Mark Doyle

@jayrayner1 Hi Jay. I work for @TheHALOTrust and have an idea to share with you. Please follow me for DM and send me your email address. Thanks - Mark Doyle

@KimSengupta07 Hi - we met in Mali. Kindly follow and DM me your email