New Member
Jo Hook writes:
Malcolm Jones from Spain re-joins. His interests are the
Peninsular War
Membership Subscriptions
Jo Hook writes
I would like to remind members of the following:
1. The payment window for membership fees
is now open and will close on 1 April 2015
2. MEMBERS SHOULD - Email confirmation of
payment to the membership secretary at mbr.sec@gbg-international.com
if payment is made by Bank Transfer.
3. A guide on how to pay can be found at http://www.gbg-international.com/bank_account.html
4. Members who have not paid by 1 April
will not be chased and it will be assumed that they no longer wish to renew
membership.
Thanks
Dublin Weekend
Secretary writes:
The following members are booked on the upcoming Dublin
weekend:
·
John Cotterill
·
Sue Bell
·
Graeme Cooper
·
James Dinsdale
·
John Greene
·
Robert Hudd
·
Anthony Scott
·
Mike Jackson
·
Mrs Jackson
·
Charmian Griffiths
·
Brett Hayward
If anyone else would like to join the weekend please get in
touch with Kathleen asap - kayneagle@eircom.net
Kathleen will be using the services of a local guide to help
in the delivery of the weekend. To cover the costs of this and the various bits
of administration involved there will be a charge of £30 per head for those
going on the weekend. I would be grateful if those members attending could send
this to me asap.
By the way if you haven't yet booked your hotel, it seems
that rooms at The Ashling Hotel can be booked at a considerably lower rate on
Trivago!
Somme Validation Event
Mike Peters writes:
A very productive Guild Validation event was held in the
Somme on Friday. We achieved our aim of offering members the chance to validate
on the Somme and introduced the process to a number that had not had a chance
to see it in action before. Three members attempted their Assignment 1.
6th Fallschirmjager
Regiment
Tim Saunders writes:
This new BHTV DVD in the German Army in Normandy series is
due in at Pen and Sword’s warehouse today. It covers the fighting of this
unique regiment from D Day until the breakout. The process of researching and
making the film from the German perspective, on what are for Normandy Guides
are well known events, around St Comte Du Mont and Carentan was fascinating.
Commanded by that well known Fallschirmjager officer von der Hydte (Crete,
North Africa, Russia Italy, Market Garden and the Bulge), this remarkable
’pocket division’ showed remarkable tenacity against at times overwhelming
odds.
Making his debut for BHTV in 6th Fallschirmjager Regiment is
GBG member, Normandy guide and resident Jules Vernon. His knowledge of the
ground and contact with German veterans was essential in getting under the skin
of a key part of the Normandy Campaign.
Napoleonic Events
Suzanne Brunt writes:
Members may be interested in the following forthcoming
Napoleonic Events:
23 April Day at Stratfield Saye, 1000-1530
please contact me for full details
and to reserve a place.
15 June Visit to Trinity House, Trinity Square, Tower
Hill EC3N 4DH
Meet outside promptly at 1445 for a 2 hour visit with a tour
and refreshments.
£10 per person, please contact me to book a place.
The house has a portrait of Wellington as Master 1837-52, by
John Lucas.
Suzanne.brunt@talktalk.net
01795 842992
Hougoumont Restoration
Continues
Tim Saunders writes:
A recent report from Project Hougoumont provides welcome
information on the continuing work of restoration beyond the farm complex
itself.
‘After 18 June 2915 it is intended to start planning – and
raising funds for – the restoration of the landscape. This will involve
replanting the wood through which the French first attacked and of which only
three giant sweet chestnuts remain, recreating the laid hedges of beech and
hawthorn which proved such a formidable barrier to both sides, and planting a
new generation of hedgerow trees. All this replanting will be guided by the
findings of the landscape survey we have commissioned. The result will be to
make it easier for visitors to understand the later phases of the battle.’
Save Bastogne Barracks
Bruno Lacluyse writes:
The new Belgian's government has imposed a major austerity
plan. Mr. Steven VANDEPUT, the current Minister of Defence, will have to cut
budget of the Belgian's Defence with a total amount of 1.5 billion euro over a
period of five years.
One of the options is the permanent closure of the Bastogne
barracks, the museum and the Vehicle Restoration Centre.
Approximately 30,000 visitors have visited our site this
year. All of them always follow the tour with huge emotion of this historic
site.
Here, our job is to preserve the memory of these events, to
show gratitude to veterans who have allowed us to live in a peaceful Europe
during 70 years and at the same time certainly educate
the new generations about the worst time of our history.
Closing Bastogne Barracks will consign into oblivion what
happened 70 years ago. Do we throw up our hands while Bastogne had represented
the symbol of resistance during the Battle of the Bulge? That means to
surrender which General McAuliffe would never have done.
Unfortunately we are not able alone to tip the balance in
favour of a positive decision.
A few days ago one of our visitor started petition on the
canvas. Could you sign it and back his initiative if you believe :
First of all that our work should continue and Bastogne
Barracks survive
Secondly, could you share this link to all your friends,
contacts, relatives, family,...
Similarly, as McAuliffe during the winter ‘44 we shall
answer together ‘NUTS’ and resist to a possible closure of the Bastogne
Barracks.
A huge "Thanks" to you for your support,
Members Name Badges
Secretary writes:
We have had a number of complaints from overseas members
that envelopes containing name badges have been slit open and the badge
removed. We are guessing that this is because the magnetic fixing strip is
being included and this is causing the security people to open them. In future
overseas members badges will be sent without the magnetic strip which will
hopefully solve the problem. Please will overseas members awaiting their badges
be patient whilst we order new ones!
Battlefield Maps and
Photos
Tonie & Valmai Holt writes:
We are working our way very slowly through hundreds of maps
and thousands of photos that we have taken or drawn over the 40 years or so
that we have been writing about and travelling over battlefields. We will be
posting these onto Facebook for anyone to use and they may well be of
particular use to Members of the Guild. Perhaps you could let everyone know.
Our first effort is already posted with a few maps but as we are not frequent
users the maps have not come up as a single posting but as individual ones. We
will try to do better next time. Our Facebook link is https://www.facebook.com/tonie.holt.1
Neuve Chapelle Lecture - A
lecture and sandwich lunch, The Fusiliers Museum London in the Officer's Mess
of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers HM Tower of London12.30-2.00pm 11th February
2015
Secretary writes:
Battlefields Trust Chair, Frank Baldwin will talk about the
Battle of Neuve Chapelle which took place 10-12 March 1915. This is one of the
forgotten battles of the First World War. It is overshadowed in popular memory
by the battles of the Somme and the Ypres salient on the Western Front. Yet
this battle is important. It was the first significant British offensive. During
the battle, many innovative techniques were developed which formed the basis
for British tactics throughout the War. It was also a battle in which Britain's
Indian army played a big part and the location of the memorial to the soldiers
of the multi-cultural, multi-faith Indian Army..
Our hosts will be the Fusiliers Museum and the event
includes a sandwich lunch, a glass of wine and the opportunity to network in
the exclusive surroundings of the Fusiliers Mess in HM Tower of London.
If you would like to attend this lunchtime talk, please make
a donation of £25 for each attendee (£20 for members of the Battlefields Trust)
by clicking on 'Booking' to the right. Then please email your name, contact
number and any special requirements (dietary/mobility) to helen@battlefieldstrust.org On
receipt, email confirmation will be sent together with directions to the venue.
If you have any questions, please ring 0207 387 6620. We look forward to
welcoming you.
In order for you to receive a pass allowing you access to
the venue in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers building inside the Tower of
London and to be included in the catering, you must book at least 48 hours
before the event.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally
secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or
send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the
charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting
costs for the charity.
Skype Validations
Secretary writes:
In order to help those members that are in countries a long
way from the UK we have been trialling Assignment 1 validations by Skype. To
date members from the US and Australia have benefitted from this. Hopefully it
will encourage more members to start the validation process.
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 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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