Despatches
Secretary writes:
The latest edition of Despatches should have reached you by
now. If you have not received it please could you let me know and let me have
your full address so we can ensure that our database is up to date.
Legal Casualties in Ypres
Anthony Rich writes:
Attached below is a link to an article that recently
appeared in The Law Society Gazette, the magazine of the professional body for the
solicitors’ profession. It deals with 2 of the first legal casualties of 1914,
and their backgrounds. It may be of interest to IGBG members guiding parties in
Ypres especially if the parties or individuals have an interest or background
in the legal and allied professions or in social as well as military history.
Interestingly the deceased had been a reserve forces officer, not a regular,
contrary to the myth that 1914 was the exclusive preserve of the regulars and
former regulars recalled from the reserve.
The Gazette is taking the WW1 centenary seriously and they
have a number of other articles of interest on line , such as the recollections
of a legally qualified officer called onto serve as a member of a court martial
in a capital case (a sleeping sentry) which members may find of interest. (The
officer concerned refused to convict when informed that the death penalty would
be mandatory, and as a “line” officer had his own, interesting but doubtless
effective, way of dealing with the offence locally, informally and mercifully).
Waterloo 200
Glen Nolan writes:
Looking at going to the 200th Waterloo, is anybody in the
Guild doing a package over the event, any information would be great. PLease
contact Glenn at nolanglenn@yahoo.com.au
Winter Lecture Series
John Greenacre writes:
University Campus Suffolk in Ipswich is running a free,
winter public lecture series on the First World looking at diverse topics, such
as landscape, soldiers' diet and shell shock. One of the speakers is Guild
member Mike St Maur Sheil. Full details of each lecture are on the attached
flyer. If anyone requires more information they should contact John Greenacre
at john_greenacre@hotmail.com
BEF - the Dyle to the
Canal Line
Chris Finn writes
In addition to John Cotterill and myself, Duncan Barnes,
Neil Bright, Terry Webb and Paul Oldfield have expressed interest in attending
the "BEF - the Dyle to the Canal Line" weekend 20 to 22 Mar 15.
The outline is for us to meet in Brussels on the Friday night and stay there
both nights. On the Saturday we will go to Eben Emael to look at the
strategic and operational settings, and the German assault on the
fortress. Depending on time we will then go to the "Maastricht
Bridges" before lunch. We will then go to Gastuche, on the
River Dyle. Here we will look at the problems facing the BEF, the initial
actions against the German Army and the defence of the bridge at Gastuche (Lt
Dick Annand VC). On the way back to Brussels we will stop at Heverlee War
Cemetery, just south of Louvain. The cemetery contains burials from the
Dyle Line fighting, including Capt the Lord Cambridge (Coldstream Guards)
and Fg Off Garland VC, Sgt Gray VC and SAC Reynolds of 12 Sqn. It also
contains the six ATS graves from the accident of 13 Jan 45. On Sunday we
will go to Esquelmes, on the River Escault to look at the retreat to the
Escault Line, whether that should have been the BEF's initial defensive line
and the fight for Poplar Ridge. We will then go to the Ypres-Comines
canal area where we will look at the 5 Div battle of 26-28 May 40 which enabled
much of the BEF to cross the Lys and retreat towards Dunkirk. Can anyone
else interested in participating in this weekend please email me and/or have a
chat at the AGM.
Best Regards
Tony Smith
Guild Secretary
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