Branch Meeting 15th November 2013

Dr Graham Winton, a researcher and lecturer, is our guest speaker this month.  His talk is entitled;

"British Cavalry in the Great War - Myth & Reality"

This talk examines the role of the cavalry during the conflict, what it did and how effective it was.  Graham also discusses whether cavalry could be considered as a war-winning factor on the modern battlefields of 1914-1918.

Branch Meeting 18th October 2013

Michael Stedman is a leading expert on the Battle of the Somme and has spoken at our branch on a number of occasions.  His books 'Salford Pals' and 'Manchester Pals' tell the story of some of those volunteers who found themselves involved in the blackest day in the history of the British Army, 1st July 1916.  Mike's talk tonight is;

"Success on the Somme?"

Mike looks at the contrast between the opening fortnight of the Battle of the Somme and the events of mid-September and the lessons which could be drawn from the later period's fighting. 

Autumn Conference, 19th October 2013

This special event will take place at the University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ

Commencing at 12.30pm (doors open at midday), we will welcome two guest speakers during the afternoon.

"The Battle of Arras, 1917" by Jeremy Banning
and
"The Boy Soldiers of the Great War" by Richard van Emden

Various display stands will be on view during the meeting.

Please call 01905 774797 or e-mail  whb.wfa@hotmail.co.uk  for further details and to request a booking form.  Please be aware that forms must be returned by 27th September.

Branch Meeting 20th September 2013

We welcome Dr Rob Thompson to Callow End this month.  Rob is a former lecturer in Modern History at the University of Birmingham and his talk is entitled;

"The Church in the Bog - Passchendaele, October 1917"

After three unsuccessful attacks by General Plumer's forces during Third Ypres ('Passchendaele') in late September and early October 1917, Rob examines the fourth attempt, the disastrous Battle of Poelcapelle on 9th October, asking what went wrong, and why.

 

Branch Meeting July 19th 2013

This month's guest speaker is Dick Robinson, who's talk is entitled;

"The 1st World War Diaries of Sister Edith Appleton RRC OBE"

Dick's great-aunt served as a nurse throughout the Great War.  His presentation includes Sister Appleton's life story and many extracts from her diaries (read by Dick's wife, Lisa) describing the conditions under which the medical services worked.  An unusual record of service in the combat zone, told from a woman's perspective.                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                   

Branch Meeting 21st June 2013

This month's guest  is Ross Beadle, who's talk is entitled;

"Von Schleiffen and the March to the Marne"

In this presentation, Ross examines the strategic options of the Schleiffen Plan and asks some searching questions.
Why did the Germans choose such an all-or-nothing approach?
Could they have won in the west?
Why did the French have such serious intelligence and strategic failures?

Branch Meeting 17th May 2013

Fraser Skirrow is an author and business consultant.  In his second visit to our branch, he presents a talk entitled;

"Fighting Spirit - The Patrol War, 1916-1918"

Using the 2/5th West Yorks as a template, Fraser looks at the improving tactics of patrolling and trench raiding and discusses the impact such actions had on those involved and whether they achieved any strategic advantage. 

Branch Meeting 19th April 2013

Michael O'Brien is a member of Lancashire & Cheshire WFA.  His main military interests are the USA in the First World War and the War in the Adriatic.  The title of his talk at this meeting is;

"Before the Music Sounded"

Baron Georg von Trapp became famous as the head of the family which inspired the hit film and stage production, "The Sound of Music".  However, before that, as Korvettenkapitan Georg Johannes Ritter von Trapp, he served in the Austro-Hungarian Navy during the First World War.  Mike looks at his distinguished career, which earned him numerous decorations.

Branch Meeting 15th March 2013

This month's talk is presented by Andy Lonergan, a member of the WFA's Northampton Branch.  The subject is;

"Lt-Gen Sir Thomas D'Oyly Snow"

D'Oyly Snow is remembered as the grumpy, useless commander who oversaw the attacks at Gommecourt on the 1st July, 1916.  This talk asks whether there is more to him than history records.

Branch Meeting 15th February 2013

Our speaker this month is Vern Littley.  Vern, a former soldier, is a member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides.  His talk is entitled;

"The Battle of Nonne Bosschen - 11th November 1914"

Vern will describe the battlefield today and tell the story of how XLI Brigade stopped the Prussian Guard in its tracks.

Update; Extra Meeting

Following the cancellation of last month's meeting, we are in the process of re-engaging Jeremy Banning at an extra event later in the year.  All meetings for the rest of 2013 have speakers booked, so the idea is to arrange a meeting at an alternative venue, possibly on a Saturday, to promote the WFA in general, and the branch in particular.  We may also book a second speaker and we are looking to invite other like-minded local organisations to join us on the day (History Societies, for example).  Details will be published in due course.

**STOP PRESS** Meeting Cancelled!!

Due to the forecasts of adverse weather in our region, we have decided to cancel the meeting planned for Friday 18th January, 2013.  This decision was taken after discussions between committee members and with the scheduled speaker.  Please accept our apologies for any disappointment this may cause, but the welfare of travelling members was our main concern.  We will endeavour to re-book Jeremy Banning later in the year and will post subsequent information on this site and elsewhere.

Branch Meeting 18th January 2013

This month's speaker is Jeremy Banning BE (Hons), MA.  Jeremy is an author and military historian specialising in the 1917 Battle of Arras and underground tunnelling warfare in the Great War.  He appeared in the last series of the BBC's 'Who Do You Think You Are' and also advised on the Time Team's 2010 Channel 4 special, 'The Somme's Secret Weapon', which followed the search for a Livens Flame Projector buried on the battlefield.  His talk is entitled;

"The Battle of Arras: April-May, 1917"

This presentation describes the British attack of 1917, investigates the costly French attacks of two years earlier and looks at the political, strategic and logistical situation facing the Allies in Spring 1917.