2015/16 Membership Fees
Jo Hook writes:
The payment window for Guild membership fees is now
open. Please remember to email Jo Hook at the membership secretary address
if paying by BACs and the reference should be your GBG member number. If
paying by cheque please put member number on the back. Attached is a link
on “How to pay Guild membership fees” Tony please attach link.
Please note members will not be chased and it will be
assumed if membership has not been renewed by 1 April 2015 that membership is
no longer required.
Those who have made payments will be receiving receipts
shortly.
Please also note that should you wish to email me on any
Guild related matters please use the membership address only and not my work
email address or my personal email address or any form of social media.
Attached is a link to the guide produced by the membership
secretary on how to pay via cheque or BACs payment.
Despatches Magazine March
2015 Edition
Mike Peters writes:
The next edition of Despatches is already taking shape -
submissions should be with me by 30 Jan 15. Photographs of members out and
about on the battlefields would be very welcome!
Somme Validation Session -
30 Jan 15
Mike Peters writes:
During the Anzac season of 2014 I was approached by a small
group of determined men about the lack of validation opportunities available to
members living on the Somme. As a result we are now offering an out of season
validation opportunity at The Blighty Tea Rooms, La Boiselle on 30 Jan 15.
A small number of members have thrown their validation hats
in the ring and will be participating in the session.
A Validation Team will be travelling over to the Somme via
Eurotunnel early on the morning of 30 Jan, returning that evening.
There are seats available on the minibus should UK members
wish to travel and observe validation live. We will be hosted by Alison and Jon
at the Blighty Tea Rooms for the day. Lunch consisting of a banquette, soup and
a hot drink can be booked at a cost of 8 Euros.
Any member wishing to observe the session should contact me
by email to coordinate pick up en route. It is intended to call in at Maidstone
Services for breakfast at 0630 hour - members can be picked up there or along
the A14-A12 corridor that morning - There is a minimal charge of £20 for a per
seat for the minibus.
It is currently anticipated that the session will start
after an early lunch - members wishing to watch an Assignment 1 are very
welcome to attend.
More detailed timings will be circulated in next week’s
bulletin.
New Web site
Secretary writes:
Members may be interested to note a new website about the
German Army in WW2 - https://germanwarmachine.com/
The Australian Army
Bruce Littley writes:
The link below, is for the Australian Army. All periods are
covered.
It has superb copies of maps for the Western Front, the
Australians were in the areas which other regiments also visited, so will be of
use for everyone. Can be printed.
I particularly like the documents in Training Materials
(Within this section are training materials relating to the operational and
administrative conduct during World War One.)
The Wellcome Foundation
Archive
Andy Thompson writes:
The Wellcome Foundation has a large archive of images
relating to war and conflict. These are now available free (providing the
source is credited) and members can access the archive on:
Guild lunches 2015
Andy Thompson writes:
Diary dates for members:
·
Friday March 27th (Please note the change of
date as the original clashed with another guild event)
·
Friday December 4th The annual Christmas lunch.
Both events at The Union Jack Club (which is adjacent to
Waterloo Station) with full details being published eight weeks before the
event.
The Easter Rising Walking
Tour April 17th to 19th.
Kathleen Neagle writes:
A reminder of the tour in Dublin planned for April. Can
members who are planning on coming to Dublin please email me.
Some of the sites which will be covered include.
WYNNS HOTEL
It was here at a meeting chaired by Eoin Mc Neil that the
idea of forming a Volunteer Force came into being.
ROTUNDA RINK
The Rotunda Rink stood in the grounds now occupied by The
Garden of Remembrance. On the 25th of Nov 4,000 people turned up to a public
meeting held to form the Irish Volunteers.
THE GPO.
The General Post Office was headquarters of the Rising
leaders. There is a very good museum in the building, admission is 2 euro.
LIBERTY HALL.
It was here that the leaders met and marched to the GPO on
Easter Monday.
MOORE ST.
One of Dublin’s famous streets, Paric Pearce surrendered to
British forces on Moore St.
BOLANDS BAKERY.
Eamonn De Valera was in command at the bakery, he was very
fortunate to survive the aftermath of the Rising, he was sentenced to death but
reprieved.
MOUNT ST BRIDGE.
One of the major engagements of the Rising, the British
suffered heavy losses here.
SOUTH DUBLIN UNION ( St James Hospital)
120 Volunteers under the command of Eamonn Ceannt occupied
the South Dublin Union, located south of the liffey 2 miles west of the GPO.
KILLMAINHAM GAOL.
The leaders were imprisoned and executed here after
the Rising.
ARBOUR HILL
Final burial place of 14 of the executed Volunteers.
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND.
The Soldiers and Chiefs exhibition is well worth a
visit, there is a very good coffee shop there too !
For members flying to Dublin Airport the number 747 bus will
get you to the Hotel in approx. 45 minutes, the bus stops at a number of stops
in the city, Hueston St is the stop nearest the hotel. it costs 6 euro single
fare or 10 euro return trip.
The Ashling Hotel have given me room rates at 273 euro for a
single room for 2 nights B and B , with a twin/ double at 310 euro for 2
nights. the Reservation phone number is 0035316772324 contact name is
Charlotte.
Our guide for the weekend will be Donal Fallon who is is
an historian and published author, the guest speaker on Sat night will be
Damien Shiels, Damien is a conflict archaeologist and historian.
If anyone has any questions then please feel free to email
me at kayneagle@eircom.net
Tour de France on the
Somme
Tonie & Valmai Holt write:
To follow up Piers Storie-Pugh’s announcement about this, we
have heard from Francois Bergez, Departmental Tourist Officer, that Stage 5 on
8 July goes from Peronne, via Longueval, Thiepval, Albert to Villers Bretonneux
and Stage 6 the following day goes from Albert to Le Havre.
New Book
Peter Caddick-Adams writes:
Guild members might be interested in my latest book on the
1944-45 Ardennes campaign, just published in the UK by Preface Random House and
in the USA by Oxford University Press. The result of several years of research
and numerous staff rides, and entitled 'Snow and Steel:The Battle of the Bulge
1944-45', it is written partly as a battlefield guide. It has been reviewed
quite extensively online and by The Times, Wall Street Journal, National
Geographic & by Max Hastings in the Sunday Times. It is packed with
memoirs, anecdotes and scholarly analysis
Validation Event Swindon
Area – 7/8 March 2015
Alison Hine writes:
A Validation Event will take place based on the Cold Harbour
Inn, Blunsdon Nr Swindon on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th March 2015. There
will be five Validation sessions spread over the two days plus a one hour tour
of the Battle of Lechlade led by Chris Scott. As well as candidates we
need an audience and validators so all are welcome – up to a maximum of 20 –
30. The event cost will be a flat rate of £25 for
candidates/audience members and £10 for validators. Accommodation and
food are not provided but are available at own expense. The Cold Harbour
Inn is next to the Premier Inn, Swindon North, where accommodation may be booked.
Current online rates per room are £39.00 fixed or £70 flexible. For those
staying overnight dinner will be at own expense in the Cold harbour Inn
followed by a fiendish British Military History Quiz organised by Chris Scott.
Those wishing to attend should apply on the attached form to
Ian Gumm ian@inthefootsteps.com
Those wishing to validate should contact Alison Hine on valsec@gbg-international.com but
please note there is already a reserve list for Assignment One attempts.
Best Regards
Tony Smith
Guild Secretary
International Guild
of Battlefield Guides
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