Branch Meeting 20th April 2012

Rob Thompson is a military historian who has written a number of books on the Great War.
His talk is entitled;

'Futureshock - Stories from the Devastated Zone'

Rob explains how the BEF re-learned the skills of open, mobile warfare when pursuing the Germans' retreat to the Hindenberg line in the Spring of 1917; lessons which proved invaluable 18 months later. 

Branch Meeting 16th March 2012

Paul Handford MBE is a retired police officer and a member of Birmingham Medal Society.  His talk is entitled:

'Volunteer Ambulance Drivers of the British Red Cross 1914-15' 

In this talk, Paul tells us of the exploits of the civilian ambulance drivers of the British Red Cross and Order of St. John who supported both the BEF and the French Army during 1914 and 1915.

Branch Meeting 17th February 2012

At a much anticipated meeting we will welcome Charlotte Cardoen-Descamps who has, for many years, run a B&B business on the family-owned Varlet Farm in Poelkapelle, Belgium, and is well known to many of us who have visited the Great War battlefields of Flanders.  Details of her talk are;

'The Iron Harvest'

Many farming families in Belgium and Northern France have, for nearly 100 years, had to deal with regularly unearthing military ordnance from the Great War.  Much of it, including explosive shells, gas shells and grenades, is very unstable and has to be handled with extreme care.  Charlotte highlights the problems it causes and how the authorities dispose of it.

Branch Meeting 20th January 2012

This evening we welcome Dave Rowland to Callow End. Dave is Heart of England Chairman and a past president of the Royal Aeronautical Society. His talk is:

“Amelie’s Boys – The Flying McCuddens”

The story of the famous McCudden brothers, three of whom served in the RFC during the Great War, including James McCudden VC.

Welcome to our new blog

The Worcestershire & Herefordshire Branch of the Western Front Association will post all branch news and meeting updates on this site for the benefit of WFA members and non-members alike, as well as relevant features and stories on all aspects of the Great War .  I hope you will find the content educational and interesting and that you will return on a regular basis for all up-to-date information about our branch.

Steve Moorhouse,
Chairman