New Members
Jo Hook writes:
We welcome the following new members into the Guild:
·
John Giblin from Newport Wales joins. His
interests are all aspects of military history especially Roman Army, Knights
Templar, Anglo Zulu War, Anglo Boer War, British Indian Army, Irish War of
Independence, First World War, Second World War and Falklands War
·
Baris Yesildag from Canakkale Turkey joins. His
interest is Gallipoli
Baris is our first ever Turkish member!
Social Media
Mike Peters writes:
An increasing number of Guild members are actively embracing
social media to advertise themselves as Battlefield Guides and to showcase what
they are doing on the battlefields. This is of course a positive use of
technology and the Guild is actively encouraging members to do just that. There
are however a small but increasing number of members who are advertising their
membership while also posting inappropriate private tweets or messages on their
guiding feed. Please think about what you are doing on social media - If
necessary open separate business and Personal accounts. The current situation
of individuals proclaiming ‘proud membership of the Guild’ on account headers
while posting inappropriate/political material or images is not acceptable.
Council is currently drafting a members code of conduct which will be in place
before the AGM however, in the interim, Council retains the right to impose the
ultimate sanction - revoking of membership..
Assignment 8B
Tim Saunders writes:
We have already had a query regarding the new business
related assignment 8B. To clarify; the aim of this assignment is to encourage
Guides to think realistically about their conduct of our craft in business
terms. In 8B we are looking for planning, marketing, costings, etc, etc. These
are of course applicable to sole traders as much as businesses, both large and
small, plus charities and societies. As long as the aim of the organisation is
clear and the ‘business’ objective is stated that will be fine. The Guild is a
broad church and validation seeks to be relevant to the broadest range of
Guides as possible.
Assignment 8A, also has a business focus, but relates to
marketing/promotional material.
Validation Assignments
Chris Finn writes:
When submitting assignments would candidates please use the
following electronic file title format: Name Assignment Date e.g. Fred
Bloggs A2B 11 Aug 15.docx . This will save the ValSec and I sorting
through a host of "GBG Assignment 4"s !
lastly, could you make a general comment to the effect that
Tim and I now have the Dval and CVal email addresses which should be used for
all Guild correspondence. it would help if both were promulgated on the
Contact page on the website.
Validation Day Bosworth
12th September
Chris Finn writes:
We will be running a Validation Day at the Bosworth
Visitors' Centre on Saturday 12 September.
Currently all the slots are filled, but if anyone wants to
be a reserve please let me know.
There is only one Assignment 1 planned, for after
lunch, so anyone who wishes to watch that is most welcome, again please let me
know if you plan to attend at cval@gbg-international.com
A revised Validator Training instruction will shortly be
published on the website. Any Badged Guide who is considering becoming a
Validator should, in the first instance, read that.
Guild 6th Annual Golf
Championships Friday 21st August
Graeme Cooper writes:
Any Member wishing to take part in the Guild’s Annual Golf
Championship for the Ashhurst Trophy and Putter at the John O'Gaunt Golf Club,
Sutton Park, Sandy, Bedford SG19 2LY please e-mail Graeme Cooper info@corporatebattlefields.com
with their Guests names and Handicaps. Details and cost will be forwarded in
due course.
Guiding Regulations in
Italy
Linda Heywood (ETOA) writes:
Recently we have received emails from both tour operators
and individual Tour Guides asking for more detailed clarification of the
guiding regulations in Italy.
This has arisen in part because there have been reports of
changes in practice at certain sites in Italy which previously may have offered
free admission to holders of the ETOA ID card.
The document linked below clarifies the status of ETOA’s ID
card particularly for those Tour Guides legally established in Italy.
It also provides an update on recent regulatory
developments.
Please do revert to me with any questions you may have about
the content of the document.
Gallipoli Events
Major and Mrs Holt write:
There are two Gallipoli Events, neither of which seem to
have got much publicity in the media, which will be of interest to members:
1. Inauguration (as part of the Government’s official
centenary of Gallipoli commemorations) of restored M33, only surviving Monitor
from the landings at Suvla Bay, on Thursday 6 Aug at the Historic Dockyard,
Portsmouth.
We were fortunate to have been invited to the ceremony by
Ross Bastiaan, who unveiled one of his superb bronze plaques featuring the
M33. We first met him when he installed the very first of his well over
200 plaques world-wide at ANZAC Cove on the 75th Anniversary. Many members we
are sure will be familiar with these informative, sturdy, durable and easy to
maintain plaques along the Western Front (e.g. on the Menin Gate ramparts, at
Mouquet Farm near Thiepval etc.)
The M33 has been beautifully restored and the
audio-video presentation below decks is very atmospheric. Well
worth a visit.
2. Commemorative Centenary swim to ANZAC Cove – see
account from a participant below:
Good afternoon Major and Mrs Holt,
As I mentioned on the phone to Mrs Holt, prior to
ordering your guidebook, I travelled to Turkey with a group of friends to
participate, firstly in the 6.5km Bosphorus Swim on 26th July and then a new
swim to commemorate the Gallipoli Centenary. Both were brilliantly organised by
the Turkish Olympic Committee and involved 2000 and 720 competitors
respectively.
We boarded a ferry from Kabatepe and taken to a point
1915m (or so!) off the coast looking into ANZAC Cove. A ceremony on board saw
100 wreaths tossed on to the sea and a minute's silence for the fallen of 100
years ago. My Australian friend, who had a Great-Uncle serve and survive at
Gallipoli, was delighted to be able to throw one of the wreaths. As the Dad of
a Royal Marines Officer I was equally proud to be there to pay respects in some
small way too to his predecessors. The swim wasnt easy due to a stiff breeze
but everyone made it to an incredible warm welcome at the finish. No winners,
no race, everyone got a commemorative medal.
Our swim took us just around the corner of ANZAC Cove
into the larger area above North Beach. The beauty of the peninsula is only
overcome by the thought of how on earth, or indeed why, one would have chosen
to attack such high ground. There was a great sense of occasion in all of those
swimming, from youngsters to those nearing 80 years old.
Kind regards
Jim Boucher
Despatches Magazine
Secretary writes:
We have had more copies of Despatches returned as 'gone
away'. Please can the following members let the membership secretary (mbr.sec@gbg-international.com)
have their latest address:
·
Paul Trickett
·
Phil Tomason
·
Jonathan Porter
·
Col Giles Orpen-Smellie
Can I remind all members that in order to communicate
effectively with you we need to know your home and e-mail addresses as well as
telephone numbers. If you change them please could you ensure that you tell
us!!
Badged Member Talks Union
Jack Club
Bob Darby writes:
Guild Members are invited to attend talks given by Badge
Members at the Union Jack Club, Sandell Street, Waterloo, London. The Chief
Executive of the Club Simon Atkins has extended this invitation to all GBG
members.
There is a cost of £10.00 per session which covers the cost
of a welcome drink(s) Some you who are members of the Club already attend
these talks.
The next dates are on:
24th September 2015 - Battle of Britain 'Never in the field
of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few'
Speaker ANDY JOHNSON Badge No 52
22nd October 2015 - El Alamein - How the battles evolved
turning the tide in the North African campaign
Speaker JOHN COTTERILL Badge No 10
Please book in at events@ujclub.co.uk
stating you are a member of the Guild or alternatively let Bob Darby know bobdarby@btinternet.com. Payment is
made on the day and talks start at 1830hrs. Dinner can be taken in the
Restaurant by prior booking
Canadian Military History
Simon Worrall writes:
Members may be interested to note that the Journal of
Canadian Military history is now available free.
Download articles and read at the following weblink.
Bound to be of interest to any member who runs trips with a
Canadian flavour:
Toastmasters
Bob Darby writes:
The UJC have asked me if I know any Toast Masters. If you
can help please let me know at bobdarby@btopenworld.com
New Ypres Destination
Mike Peters writes:
I have received the following which may be of interest to
members:
I’m Filip Decroix, winemaker in Ieper (Boezinge). In
2007 I started a vineyard on the most Northern tip of the Ypres Salient.
(Wijngoed Zilver Cruys)
This special location, heavily loaded with history, as it’s
known for the horror of the first poisonous gas attacks in 1915, is now a place
of tranquility and is producing some very special products.
It’s also the location where my great grandfather, Henry, a
soldier in the Belgian army, was heavily wounded in 1916. He was
transferred to Rouen (Fr) where he was nursed by a 16 year old French girl,
that later became my great grandmother. In short, if it hadn’t been for
the Great War, I wouldn’t be here.
Silver Cross vineyard is one of the most Northern wine
estates of Europe. It goes without saying that making wine here is an absolute
challenge.
Visitors to the estate get a 2 hour grand tour of the
premises, comprising a walk in de vineyard, obviously with all the stories
related to the site. A visit to the winery, where no detail is spared regarding
the production process, and off course followed by a tasting of the products
that I make here. On a sunny day the tasting can be had on the ‘sundeck’ with
magnificent views on the vineyard. History is so tangible here, so can
actually see remnants of the great war everywhere.
I’ve had some amazing feedback from visitors, including a
letter from Ian Hislop, editor of ‘the Private eye’, congratulating my on my
efforts to keep some of the memory alive.
He wrote the foreword of a reprint of the Wipers Times
Trench newspaper. As the Wipers Times can be seen as the forerunner of his satirical
newspaper.
Best Regards
Tony Smith
Guild Secretary
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