New Members
Jo Hook writes:
We are pleased to welcome the following new members into the
Guild:
·
Neil Pudney from Leatherhead joins. His
interests are WW1 Somme Ypres
·
Paul Stevenson from Tiverton Devon joins. His
interests are WW1 Ypres & Somme 63 Naval Division
·
John Marr from Inverness Scotland joins. His
interests are WW1 and WW2
·
Giles Guthrie from Faversham Kent joins. His
interests are History from Ground up
·
Martin Chandler from Eastbourne E. Sussex joins.
His interests are Normandy 1944
Somme Validation Event
30th January 2015
Secretary writes:
It has now been agreed that a Validation event will take
place on the Somme on January 30th. The venue wil be confirmed asap. If you
would like to undertake an assignment 1, 5 or 6 at this event please contact
Alison Hine
Remote Validation Trial
Mike Peters writes:
The Validation Team is pleased to report a successful trial
of remote validation techniques using Skype as a bearer system. The VT have
successfully completed validation of an Assignment 1 for Guild Member Todd
Fisher in the USA. Not only was the trial a success but Todd also passed his
assignment. It is intended to make further use of Skype for international
candidates. Members should note that this technique will be employed on an
occasional basis and will be the exception rather than the rule. Further
information will be promulgated by the Director of Validation at the AGM.
AGM - Presentation by
Guild President Prof Gary Sheffield
Mike Peters writes
The programme for the AGM is still being finalised, members
may however be interested to know that our President is speaking on matters
related to Battlefield Guiding. Gary has agreed to talk about the challenges of
fashioning a narrative that blends good old fashioned, engaging story telling
with the presentation of solid historical fact. It promises to be an
interesting presentation.
Guild AGM
Secretary writes:
To date the following members have indicated that they will
be coming to the AGM:
Vivienne Whelpton
Mike Scott
Tony Smith
Mike Peters
Chris Finn
David Harvey
John Greene
Paul Oldfield
Wybo Boersma
Willem Kleijn
Carlo Larosa
Chris Scott
Glen Hearnden
Bob Brunsdon
John Cotterill
Alan Wood
John Pratt
Terry Webb
Andy Johnson
Tim Stoneman
Tony Coutts Britton
Ray Wilkinson
Andy Thompson
James Porter
Alain Chissel
Mike Mizen
Christopher Newbould
Stuart Barltrop
Tim Pritchard Barrett
Alison Pritchard Barrett
Brian Shaw
John Hamill
Major & Mrs Holt
Tom Dormer
Andrew Duff
John Chapman
Simon Bendry
Gordon Hill
Kirk Drew
John Coppen
Anthony Rich
If you would like to attend please get your requirements
back to me asap as spaces are filling up fast.
AGM Validations
Alison Hine writes:
The following candidates have asked to be validated at the
AGM:
·
Assignment 1: Anthony Rich, Chris Nation
·
Assignment 5: Viv Whelpton, Glen Hearnden, James
Porter, Joel Stoppels
·
Assignment 6: Carlo Larosa, Viv Whelpton, James
Porter, Joel Stoppels
If anyone has been omitted from this list, please would they
let Alison Hine know as soon as possible. Anyone else wishing to validate
in November should contact Alison by 7 November. New
Validation email address: validation@hine49.org.uk
Will Townend Award
Secretary writes:
All members will by now have received details of the Will
Townend Award which honours the memory of the late Will Townend, in particular
his willingness to share his extensive technical knowledge of Artillery and his
wider knowledge of battlefields in general with his fellow Battlefield Guides.
It is also intended that those nominated for the award will
be recognised as selfless members of the GBG who freely and unselfishly share
their knowledge with their peers.
I have received a few nominations to date. Would all members
consider who they would like to nominate for the award and send them to me as
soon as possible please?
New CWGC App
Glenn Hearnden writes:
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has today made its
brand new CWGC War Graves App freely available for smartphone and tablet users
to download from www.cwgc.org/app
With the new App you can find directions to cemeteries or
use the ‘near me’ function to see what sites are in your vicinity – never
before has it been easier to find these places of remembrance locally and
internationally.”
The app, which can be downloaded for free on Windows,
Android and Apple phones and other mobile devices (tablets), allows users
to:
·
Discover war graves at former battlefields
across the globe
·
Find war graves close to where you live
·
Download and navigate to your chosen war grave
site
New Badged Guide
Secretary writes:
As members should be aware I am pleased to announce that we
have another new Badged Guide – John Pratt has just successfully completed his
final assignment and is awarded Badge number 67.
New Battlefield History TV
DVDs
Tim Saunders writes:
A couple of new DVD releases from BHTV; the fourth film in
the 1914 series covers the’ Battles of the Marne and the Aisne’, in which
members of the Guild follow the change of fortune for the BEF from Retreat to
the offensive taking part in Joffre’s advance into the lightly guarded German
flank which led to the Battle of the Marne and culminated on the Aisne where
the British attacked the dug-in Germans on the Chemin des Dames. Checked by
modern quick-firing artillery and machine guns, Field Marshal French ordered
the BEF to dig-in; trench warfare had started to set in.
The second release in the Peninsula Collection; ‘The 95th
Rifles 1812 to the Pyrenees’. This film covers the aftermath of Battle of
Salamanca, namely the liberation of Madrid, another nightmare withdrawal to the
Portuguese frontier and winter quarters. From there we follow the Rifles
lightening march across Spain, examining actions against the retreating King
Joseph and his French Army, as they headed back towards northern Spain,
fights that led to a climax at the great Battle of Vitoria. Here the Rifles
plaid a key part in unhinging the French defensive position and setting up the
victory that saw the French heading back to the Pyrenees Mountains, while some
lucky Riflemen filled their pockets with loot.
The battles in the mountains and the and the Siege of San
Sebastian culminated with the Light Division attacking and breaking through
Marshal Ney’s defensive line high on the Rhune Mountain on the border of
France itself.
The Christmas Truce and
Sainsbury's
Secretary writes:
Members may be interested to note that the Sainsbury’s
Christmas ad will feature the Christmas Truce football match. Comment can be
seen here
Badged Guides Directory
Secretary writes:
Could all badged guides please look at the badged guide tour
directory at http://www.gbg-international.com/gbg_tour_directory.pdf.
You will see that this is well out of date. Please can all badged guides update
this and let me have the new details. As the list currently finishes at badge
51 (!) please could all those guides post 51 let me have the details that they
would like put up.
WW2 Aircraft
Dennis Weatherall writes:
Members may be interested to read this article about a
collection of WW2 aircraft in America - see http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2014/August/Pilot/f_talltale
Independent Article
Secretary writes:
members may be interested to read an article published in
the Independent which discusses the First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours
Programme see http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/schools/thousands-of-teenagers-to-visit-battlefields-of-the-first-world-war-in-new-government-scheme-9812343.html
BBC News
·
Viewpoint: How WW1 changed aviation forever - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29612707
·
Brighton Pavilion wreath ceremony remembers
Indian troops - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-29674319
·
Camelford erects granite poppy to mark World War
One - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-29681508
·
Last WW1 Gallipoli ship HMS M33 to open to
public - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-29680915
·
Memorial Arboretum Land Girls monument to be
unveiled after three-year fundraising campaign - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-29694149
·
Pte William Butterworth: Military reburial for
WW1 soldier - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-29696541
·
'Hail of bullets' VC hero Pte Henry May honoured
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-29712163
Best Regards
Tony Smith
Guild Secretary