New Members
Jo Hook writes:
We welcome the following new members into the Guild:
·
Arthur G Petrie from Dyke Scotland joins. His
interests are WW1 WWII Airborne Ops
·
Glynn Oakley from Worcestershire joins. His
interests are WW1 Somme Ypres
Norwich Event 21st
– 23rd March 2014 - Validation Opportunities
Secretary writes:
There are validation opportunities available at the Norwich
event (21st - 23rd March). So far Alison has had confirmed applications from
Nick Lipscombe (Assignment 1) and Allan Wood (Assignments 5 & 6). If anyone
wishes to attempt an assignment please would they let her know asp - alisonhine@btinternet.com
Guild Event Newbury 9-10
May 2014.
Chris Scott writes:
Please register an interest before 4th March 2014.
Chris Scott will be running a Civil War Guild battlefield
tour of the First Battle of Newbury 1643 at the Hilton Newbury Centre Hotel in
early May. There will be expert speakers talking on the tactics and story
of the battle plus validation opportunities. With one overnight stay it is a
cheaper event but you still get a 3 course dinner, a single room with all the
amenities of a modern hotel, a full English breakfast and a conducted tour of
the field of conflict all for just £130. It is good value and as long as
we get a core of Guild members booking we will invite our friends in the
Battlefields Trust and the British Commission for Military History to join us.
To register an interest in attending and to receive details
of the programme and a booking form please email Chris Scott on: christopher.scott80@ntlworld.com
GBG Study Day at the RLC
Museum at Deepcut Saturday 8th February
John Richardson writes:
In the open forum, I told the story of Sgt Derwent Wood ASA,
who was trained as a classical sculptor in Germany, Glasgow and London and he
volunteered to fight in 1914 at the age of 41, but was deemed to be too old for
combatant service: however he volunteered for hospital duties with the
RAMC. It was through this and his exposure to facial injuries that lead
him to open a special clinic "The Masks for Facial Disfigurement
Clinic", where it is estimated that several hundred casualties were
treated with his techniques. His work was described in the Journal of the
RAMC. Where soldiers had lost part of the face and possibly an eye, he
would mask the injury by creating and painting life like features on a metal
moulded plate to cover the injury.
I had mistakenly misguided the members of the GBG at the
Deepcut Study Day that he had sculpted all or part of the Artillery Memorial at
Hyde Park Corner. I was correctly and courteously corrected by John
Cotterill, Badged guide number 10, who stated that Charles Jagger
was in fact the sculptor. Jagger saw some very hard
service as an infantry subaltern on the Western Front with 2nd Worcesters and
John's favourite work of his is the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing, at
Louverval on that long straight road between Cambrai and Bapaume. Some of the
detail on the bas relief of troops passing over enemy trenches could only have
been known by someone who was there.
Derwent Wood's sculptures after the war included a
controversial representation "Crucified Soldier" known as Canada's
Golgotha which led to diplomatic problems between Canada and Germany, together
with the Machine Gun Corps Memorial at Hyde Park Corner which was also
controversial.
I checked my source and John is of course correct and I am
grateful to him. Derwent Wood sculpted the controversial memorial to the
Machine Gun Corps at Hyde Park Corner, and not the impressive Artillery
Memorial there.
London Lunch 21st March
UJC
Andy Thompson writes:
Please can anyone thinking of attending the London Lunch on
the 21st March let me know asap. We now need to finalise numbers. Drop me a
line please at andy.ewt@gmail.com
New Sicily Guide
Roberto Piccione writes:
I would like to let members know that I passed the
examination for be a registered guide (in English and Italian) for the whole of
Sicily. So if any member, single or in a group, need a guide from July I will
have the badge! I can also organise customised tours using my own vehicle.
Contact piccioneroberto@gmail.com
Poperinge Events
The Belgium Tourist Office writes:
In commemoration of First World War, the Town of Poperinge
is planning several cultural events during the next four years. The first event
“The Soundtrack of 14-18” takes place from 12 March 2014 until the end of
December 2014.
The Soundtrack of 14-18 is a musical dinner with songs that
won the Great War. For booking, consult http://www.lijssenthoek.be/en/event/197/the-soundtrack-of-14-18.html
or call the Tourist Office 0032 (0)57 34 66 76.
The First World War - The
Debate
Simon Worrall writes:
Our President is debating the origins of the Great War with
other academics at the British Library. He is Wearing his Guild tie for the
occasion!
Video can be found on the BL YouTube channel at:
Guild Guide on the BBC
World War 1 at home website, Castle Vale RFC Aerodrome
Chris John writes:
I was contacted by the BBC Radio WM, who are investigating
stories for their On-line exhibition World War One At Home. I published an
article on Tom Morgans Hellfire Corner website some time ago and a researcher
was now interested in the history of Castle Bromwich aerodrome in the Great War
when it was established as no 5 Training School for the RFC. The research was
mainly into local burials of those killed during flying training. As a result I
met up with Alex Barnett, producer and Adrian Goldberg, Radio WM presenter at
some of the sites for an afternoon and we did some talking and recording on one
or two features. After broadcast on Radio WM a shortened version of this is now
online as part of the BBC website at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01rj3b1
The original Hellfire Corner article is at www.hellfirecorner.co.uk/castlebrom.htm
For those interested in guiding or taking groups around
sites within the UK it makes a good half days visit. Further information Chris
John at CEJB75@btinternet.com.
Queens Mutton Lancers
Derek Frisby writes:
I have had a gentleman contact me. He has the War Diaries of
the Queens Mutton Lancers (Queen's Royal Regiment West Surrey), plus a lot of
history of the Lancers. If any member would like to go into it a bit more if
they email me I will put them in touch with him - frisbyderek@googlemail.com
Guild Public Liability
Insurance Policy
Secretary writes:
I have circulated the message below to all members who have
insurance arranged under the Guild scheme. In case I have missed anyone see
below:
I have been told today of problems with the Guild public
liability insurer – the European Risk Insurance Company. The information (shown
on their website - http://www.erichf.com/)
is as follows:
Important information regarding the European Risk Insurance
Company hf
As of 12 February 2014, The Icelandic Financial Supervisory
Authority (FME) has withdrawn the operating licence issued to the European Risk
Insurance Company hf. (ERIC), Reg. No. 661103-2210, as the company no longer
complies with the provisions of Act No. 56/2010 on insurance activity with
regards to minimum solvency requirements and has surrendered its licence to
operate as an insurance company, as provided in the first paragraph of Article
90 of the cited Act.
The Financial Supervisory Authority has appointed a three
person Resolution Board, according to Article 91 of the Act on Insurance
Activities, which comprises of the following persons:
David A. Einarsson, Chartered Accountant
Erla S. Arnadottir, Supreme Court Attorney
Pall Johannesson, District Court Attorney
For claims notifications or information please use this
email address: claims@erichf.com
To contact the Resolution Committee please use this email
address: skilastjorn@erichf.com
All correspondence should be directed to your local office:
UK Contact Office
16 Weston Road,
Southend-on-sea,
Essex,SS1 1AS
Head Office
Síðumúla 28,
108 Reykjavík, Iceland.
I have been in contact with our insurance agent (CIIS) and
received the following response:
Further to our phone conversation, I have received the
following message from Drumm Insurance, which confirms what I advised you:
“I understand that ERIC have had their licence removed by
the FME (The Icelandic FCA) so they cannot write any more risks. They are
solvent and are dealing normally with claims. If that position were to change
then the FSCS (the Financial Service Compensation Scheme) would step in.”
As discussed, Drumm Insurance have already lined up a
replacement underwriter and I have already agreed the same terms as last year
with a Lloyds underwriter. I hope this calms your members concerns.
As you are aware the policy we have with ERIC expires at the
end of March 2014 – so not very long to go. However you need to be aware of
this situation and should take any steps you feel necessary.
BBC News
·
A child's eye account of Hartlepool's WW1
bombardment - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26275652
·
Mi Amigo Flying Fortress airmen remembered in
Sheffield - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-26312595
·
Rest Bay tank traps unearthed by storms - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-26278286
·
What are the chances of a third world war? - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-26271024
·
World War One: The tank's secret Lincoln origins
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25109879
·
World War One: Edith Cavell and Charles Fryatt
'martyred' - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25244361
·
World War One: Bet on It's a Long Long Way to
Tipperary - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25238656
·
A child's eye account of Hartlepool's WW1
bombardment - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26275652
·
World War One At Home: BBC NI launches new
series - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-26295194
·
World War One: Zeppelin raid was Scotland's first
air blitz - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25978256
·
WW1 soldiers' wills go online to mark centenary
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-26325654
·
First Women's Institute was in Wales to help war
effort - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-26133605
·
World War One: Scientist John Haldane tested gas
on himself - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-25843294
·
World War One: Carl Lody - Edinburgh's WW1 spy -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-26190499
·
MI5 spy controlled UK Nazi group, files reveal -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26365085
·
World War One: Chiseldon training camp's
soldiers with VD - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25040585
·
World War One: Problem-hit uniform gave Welsh
troops own identity - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-26374454
Best Regards
Tony Smith
Guild Secretary
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