Norwich Event & the
London Lunch
Mike Peters writes:
Last weekend members had a choice of 2 excellent Guild
events, in fact, some members managed to attend both. The first was a small but
convivial London lunch run by Andy Thompson at the Union Jack Club. Thank you
Andy for organising what was by all accounts great fun for those that attended.
We can all look forward to the next London Lunch in October.
Over the same weekend we also had a full Guild weekend in
Norwich, this event was planned and organised by Jo Hook. The weekend programme
included the opportunity to validate, new member Nick Lipscombe presented and
passed his Assignment 1 on Garcihernández.
Allan Wood was successful on Assignments 5 & 6, he is now just a single
assignment away from gaining his badge.
The Norwich programme included 2 city walks, the first was
led by Rob Webb - bringing the events surrounding Kett's Rebellion of 1545 to
life. We were also treated to a presentation on Zeppelins over Norfolk by Steve
Smith. The programme also included time for members to visit some of Norwich's
many book shops! On the Sunday morning Jo Hook led us all on a fascinating WW2
walk looking at the Baedeker raids that targeted Norwich in 1942. In summary a
very productive and enjoyable Guild weekend in East Anglia. Thanks are due to
those that made the effort to attend, to the validators, Christopher Newbould,
Jo Hook and John Cotterill, and of course Jo for organising a really well
balanced weekend of activities. Some of 'what they said' can be seen at http://gbg-international-whattheysaid.blogspot.co.uk/
Guild Insurance 2014/15
Secretary writes:
I have had a number of requests for quotes for the Guild
Public Liability insurance policy which starts again in April with a new cover
of up to £5m. I will be getting premium quotes out to people very shortly. If
you would like a quote and have not yet asked please send me details of your
annual anticipated guiding turnover by Sunday 30th. Below is the list of people
who have so far expressed interest and there are a number from last year who
are not on it. Please therefore check to ensure your name is on it in case I’ve
missed anyone:
Tim Pritchard -Barrett
Robin Burrow-Ellis
Frank De Planta
Paul Trickett
John Cotterill
Tony Coutts Britton
Peter Gascoyne Lockwood
Jonnie Walker
Martin Pelling
Duncan Barnes
John Hamill
Paul Oldfield
Richard Porter
Steve Chambers
Alan Leeson
Andy Johnson
James Scott Clarke
James Power
Terry Webb
Andy Thomson
Mike Peters
Ken Lees
Jo Hook
Mike Scott
Bob Brunsdon
Tony Smith
The Unveiling of the Welsh
Memorial in Flanders
Ian Gumm writes:
At 3:00 pm on Saturday 16th August 2014 the new Welsh
Memorial in Flanders will be unveiled on the Pilckem Ridge near Langemark in
Belgium. If you intend to be at the ceremony and will be arriving by
coach please complete the attached proforma and email it to p.carterjay@gmail.com and erwin.ureel@gmail.com so that the
details can be recorded for use by our Belgium team. This will greatly
aid the organisers with the traffic plan and assist with the provision of
parking
The Oldest War CWGC
commemoration?
Tony Scott writes:
During the Norwich weekend I visited this the grave of
George William Clements, he is buried under a CWGC headstone after dying during
the Great War, he was 85 and served in the Crimea! I was wondering if any
members know of an older CWGC commemoration? See - http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2803091/CLEMENTS,%20GEORGE%20WILLIAM%20VALENTINE
Books for Sale
Chris Scott writes:
A friend of mine recently purchased several 'shelves' of
military history books at a local well-known book auction house. He was
after some pretty rare American War of Independence volumes contained
therein. Having extracted those he does not want the rest - mostly WW1
and WW2 plus medal related stuff. He is selling these off at very silly
prices. If you would like to see a list of what's on offer, drop me an
email at christopher.scott80@ntlworld.com
and I will forward the request to him. At the moment they are stacked in
his study and he wants to get rid!
The Queen's Mutton Lancers
Adrian Ridley-Jones writes:
Members may recall a while ago there was mention of the war
diaries about the Queen's Mutton Lancers in the Update.
I followed up on this because of their WW2 activities but it
seems he only has the war diaries of WW1 on computer... (covering Messines
Ridge, Hill 61 and Passchendaele) but wishes to publish the material and share
any proceeds with their Regimental Association and SAAFA.
Perhaps another guide focussing on WW1 would be interested
in this material and furthering this... The gentleman concerned is Mr Skinner
email is carlynn.skinner@btinternet.com
phone 01778 393434
Royal Sussex Regiment
searches for Family Ties
Ryan Gearing writes:
The Royal Sussex Regimental Association is currently working
to seek any descendants of those that died, not only at Priez, France in
September 1914, but those of the 257 officers and men that fell from this point
to December 1914 with a view to including them in the new monument
commemoration on the old battlefield this autumn.
Regimental Historian Col. Roderick Arnold explained, “Some
interesting information has been found about the men on the Commonwealth War
Graves Commission website, in the Regimental archive at the West Sussex Record
Office and at the National Army Museum in London. Contemporary publications and
newspapers have also been researched. But it is not nearly a full picture.
After 100 years, it is difficult to find the descendants of these very brave
men that gave their lives and we are most dependent on the general public to
help us identify them.”
The Association is currently fundraising to unveil a new
Monument at Priez, France on 10th September 2014, where the county regiment
suffered its first casualties one hundred years ago to the day. It will not
only be a memorial to the 22 members of the Regiment that died that day, all of
whom will be listed on it by name, but will also honour the memory inscribed in
English and French of the 7,302 officers and men who died while serving in one
of the Regiment’s twenty Battalions during the Great War.
If anyone has any relatives concerning service in the Royal
Sussex Regiment in the Great War, the Association is asking for help. Please
get in touch at royalsussexregt@live.co.uk
or call Nigel Taggart on 01243 699881 if you have any information or
photographs relating to the fallen.
In the coming year's research will be expanded to cover
those that died in 1915 to 1919 as part of the Association's Centenary
commemorations.
Donations relating to the monument can be made online at https://mydonate.bt.com/events/priez
or by post with cheques/postal orders made out to “War Memorial Fund” and sent
to: Mr B Hudson, 29 Henry Avenue, Littlehampton, BN16 2PA.
News and updates about the memorial project can be followed
online at Twitter @RoyalSussexRegt or Facebook/royalsussexregiment
Possible 2015 Event
Secretary writes:
I am looking at the opportunity of developing a weekend tour
of the Infantry Training Centre at Woolacombe in Devon in 2015. This site was
used by the US to practice for the D Day landings and a significant amount of
archaeology remains. For some further details see http://www.assaulttrainingcenter.com/index.html.
I have been in touch with the historian, Richard Bass, who has extensively
researched the story of the centre and would be prepared to tell us the story
and lead us around the site in "appropriate wartime American
vehicles"!
I would be grateful if members might let me know whether
they would be interested in such a weekend so that I may gauge the levels of
interest and work up a full proposal.
The Battlefields Trust AGM
and Conference - Friday 4th – Sunday 6th April 2014
Frank Baldwin writes:
A joint conference between the Battlefields Trust and the
Royal Armouries (Bury Theatre, Royal Armouries, Armouries Drive, Leeds, LS10
1LT) is to be held on Saturday 5th April 2014 on the best practice of
battlefield conservation. To be followed by the Battlefields Trust’s Annual
General Meeting at 4pm. Entry to the Royal Armouries is from 10am and to the AGM
itself is free. Tickets to the conference, dinner and battlefield tours will be
published separately. See http://www.battlefieldstrust.com/cms/upload/docs/274/2014_conference_brochure.pdf
Saturday Evening. Battlefields Trust Dinner and awards.
On Friday 4 and Sunday 6 April there will a tour of local
battlefields.
Guild members can attend this AGM of the Trust at
preferential rates, paying only the same as Trust members.
Field of Battle Lands of
Peace 14-18 Exhibition
Mike Shiel writes:
The Fields of Battle - Lands of Peace 14-18 exhibition will
be at the Jardin du Luxembourg Rue de Medicis Paris from the 4th April to the
4th August. See http://www.fieldsofbattle1418.org/
Normandy Recce 12th
– 17th September 2014
Ian Mitchell writes:
I have put together an itinerary for the forthcoming
Normandy recce which is attached. A number of people have already expressed an
interest in attending. If any other members are interested in coming please can
you let the secretary know asap as we will need to get accommodation
booked.
Roads to the Great War
John Greene writes:
Members may be interested to note this website http://roadstothegreatwar-ww1.blogspot.co.uk/.
It contains various articles on the Great War and can be subscribed to giving
you e-mail updates on a regular basis.
BBC News
·
Soldiers killed during WW1 named via DNA from
relatives - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26690387
·
Ceremony to commemorate 'The Great Escape' - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26706141
·
World War One: Skye's Band of Brothers - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-26679982
Best Regards
Tony Smith
Guild Secretary
Posts
