SAT 13 APRIL
Remembrance and The Great War - Taff Gillingham
Nearly 100 years since the end of The Great War, unlike
their European counterparts, the
majority of the British public have no idea why the war was
fought, little understanding of those who fought it, and no comprehension of
the achievements of the British Army of 1914-1919. This talk should help
redress the balance.
Taff Gillingham is a military historian and historical
advisor for film, television and theatre. Taff specialises in the life of the
soldier and his uniforms, equipment and weapons.
SAT 4 MAY
Otway’s 35th Foot and the 1758 Louisbourg Campaign (prelude
to Quebec) - Colonel Hugh Boscawen
Sponsored by the Royal Sussex Regiment
Colonel Hugh Boscawen served 32 years in the Coldstream
Guards, seeing operational service in Northern Ireland before leaving the Army
in 2009. An eighteenth-century naval and military specialist, and a yachtsman,
he has contributed to British military doctrine and to various regimental
histories and journals while also running battlefield visits. This talk centres
on The Capture of Louisbourg, 1758 in 2011 and Hugh’s published book on the
subject has gained excellent reviews. He has tried to answer the question ‘what
did soldiers and sailors do all day’ during this successful campaign, which
opened the way and gave the commanders and troops the experience to attack
Quebec.
SAT 1 JUNE
The Glider Pilot Regiment at Arnhem - Major Mike Peters
The fierce struggle between the British 1st Airborne
Division and the superior German forces in and around Arnhem is well
documented. This story uses first-hand accounts by the men of the Glider Pilot
Regiment (GPR) and the role played in the battle for Oosterbeek and the bridge
at Arnhem. Mike Peters is a serving Army Air Corps Officer with more than
thirty years of military service and extensive operational experience. He
maintains close links with the GPR veterans, is an honorary member and awarded
the AAC Silver medal. He has also published Glider Pilots in Sicily as well as
DVDs on its history and Pegasus Bridge and leads European battlefield tours
with his insights.
SAT 6 JULY
El Alamein - Bryn Hammond
Bryn Hammond is the author of the highly regarded Cambrai
1917: The Myth of the First Great Tank Battle – praised as the definitive
modern account of one of the most important battles in the history of warfare.
His second book, El Alamein, is a fresh examination of
events in the North African Campaign between July and November 1942. In
particular it uses the experiences of the participants to dismiss some of the
myths of the desert war and to underline the harsh realities of desert warfare.
SAT 3 AUGUST
The Victoria Cross - Mark Smith (FirePower Museum)
The Victoria Cross has held a fascination for Mark and he
has spent the last nine years studying the history and origins of the
Cross itself. This talk will explore in some detail his findings illustrated
with stories behind the awards and real artefacts.
Mark joined the Civil Service in 1982 and has held posts
within RAF Logistics and Movement, Defence Intelligence and Finance Policy.
Since 2004 Mark has held the position of Curator of the Royal Artillery Museum;
graduating in 2007 with a Masters Degree in Museum Studies from University
College London.
SAT 7 SEPTEMBER
Ghosts on The Somme - Andy Robertshaw
The Battle of the Somme is one of the most famous, and
earliest, films of war ever made, recording the most disastrous day in the
history of the British army - 1 July 1916. The film had a huge impact when
shown in Britain and has profoundly influenced
our view of the battle and of the Great War itself ever
since. Where and when was the original material filmed? Who were the men filmed
and what was their fate? This talk looks at the question of how much was real
and how much false and what you can still see today.
SAT 5 OCTOBER
The Greatness of Haig - Peter Hart
Given that Haig commanded the BEF from December 1915 right
through to the successful conclusion of the Great War it might be considered
that his claims to greatness were self-evident. However, many later
commentators blame Haig for the tragedies of Somme
and Passchendaele and, blinkered by their hatred of him,
refuse to admit that he could ever have triumphed. This talk gives the chance
to look at these opposing views in an attempt to discover how great Douglas
Haig was. Peter Hart is the oral hstorian at the Imperial War Museum and
the author of several acclaimed books about the First World War. He is also an
internationally acknowledged expert on Gallipoli and has guided British Army
staff tours around the battlefield.
SAT 2 NOVEMBER
Boy Soldiers of the Great War - Richard van Emden
The youngest soldier who fought in the Great War was twelve
years old. Caught up in the wave of patriotism, thousands of other boys lied
about their age and inflated their chests to bluff their way into a war of
unforeseen horror. How and why so many under-aged boys were able to get to the
Western Front is explained by author, Richard van Emden.
All tickets include entry to the museum collections, gun
platform, parade ground, shop and Outpost Cafe
All talks by guest speakers will run from 2pm to 4pm. After
the main presentation there will be a break for refreshments followed by a
question and answer session. Book signing will be available where appropriate.
Booking information –
Adult £12
Concessions £10
In person – Pop into the Redoubt Fortress Museum reception
to pay and collect
By phone – Call 01323 410300 to check availability and make
payment by credit or debit card
By post – Write to Redoubt Fortress, Lecture Series Tickets,
Royal Parade, Eastbourne, BN22 7AQ, clearly stating the Lecture you wish to
attend, your name, address, contact number and SAE. Cheques should be made
payable to Eastbourne Borough Council.
Posts
