Jon is a Secondary History teacher in Lerwick, Shetland.  A born and bred Shetlander, he has been interested in military history since a young age. This passion was complemented via continued research on his grandfather who served on the Western Front, 1914-1918,  with the 51st Highland Division. His curiosity was further nurtured via his father who grew up experiencing wartime Shetland during WW2, completing National Service during the Cold War. 

 Having studied a B.A. History at  the University of Stirling  in 1995, Jon subsequently obtained a PGDE in History from the University of Aberdeen, in 2006,  and later completed an M.A. in Military History via the University of Birmingham in 2018.

 He is passionate about the role and defence of the Northern Isles in both wars.  Jon has undertaken extensive research on the Shetland during both WW1 and WW2. This includes a data base of all Shetland-connected soldiers who served in the Army during the WW1 and theatres in which they served, alongside the exploring the experience of Shetlanders in WW2. 

 Research has involved writing regular articles in local press about Shetland’s involvement in war,  alongside publication Grim Red Dawn which focuses on the Shetland Territorial loss at the Battle of the Ancre, 1916.  

 As a local historian and guide, Jon has constantly been working on detailing and sharing the stories of war which surround the Northern Isles, wartime locations of interest and circumstances of the ‘Northern War’ connected to the strategic importance of Orkney and Shetland.  Tied to this, he has a keen interest in the wartime archaeology that still exists in the islands and is passionate about its preservation.  To compliment this work Jon has written online blogs for Promote Shetland on these key war-time sites and locations in Shetland. 

 Via Guiding, Jon is continually determined to keep stories from both conflicts alive, and is passionate about the sharing of them. Jon has been a Volunteer Guide with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission since 2021.  He has also supported guides with the Shetland connected story on the Western Front via school and local battlefield tours.