Guild Update 10th January 2014

New Members

Jo Hook writes:

We welcome the following new members into the Guild:

·         Paul Kersey from Woodbridge Suffolk joins. His interests are WW1 and Normandy and Arnhem

·         Jim White from United States working in Germany joins. His interests are 19/20th Cent history and WW1 and WW2

·         Glenn Hearnden from Cambourne Cambridge   re-joins. His interests are WW1 and WW2

Norwich Event 21st - 23rd March 2014

Jo Hook writes:

At the moment I am receiving emails from members into both my personal account and as Member Secretary.  Can I ask that if members wish to contact me regarding anything Guild or membership related please email me at mbr.sec@gbg-international.com and not my personal email address.

Similarly anyone wishing to attend the Norwich event even if they have already emailed me it would be a great help if they fill in the application form which can be found on the Guild website and either email or send it to me at Quince Cottage, 5 West Church Street, Kenninghall, NR16 2EN.  The application form is there for a reason. Please use it. 

Those attending are as follows:-

Jo Hook

Mike Peters

Hugh Williams

John Cotteril

Christopher Newbould

Terry Webb

Poss - Dickie Knight

Poss - Rob Steward

Vivienne Whelpton (Sunday only)

Allan Wood

Tim & Mary Stoneman

Nick Lipscombe

Award of World War 1 Centenary Medal

Secretary writes:

I am sure members will join to congratulate Major and Mrs Holt on their being awarded the WW1 Centenary Medal from the Conseil General de le Somme. The award, which is for their contribution to 'Remembrance Tourism' and dissemination of knowledge of the First World War, will be one of only six medals to be awarded. They will also be the first and the only Britons to receive it. For more details see the attached Pen & Sword Press Release.

Final Call for Deepcut Event 8th February

Alison Hine writes:

Places at the Deepcut event on the 8th February are now filling up. So far the following members have said that they are coming:

Stuart Baxter

Bob Brunsdon

Steve Chambers

Alain Chissell

Graeme Cooper

Jeff Cormack

Tim Courtenay

John Cotterill

Bob Darby

Nora de Bievre

Laurie Evanson-Goddard

Peter Fensome

John Greenacre

Charmian Griffiths

John Hamill

Joe Hamon

Frank Hooley

Ian Howard

Rob Hudd

Michael Jackson

Andy Johnson

Roger Lye

Terry Marker

Paul Oldfield

Mike Peters

John Richardson

John Ross

Tony Scott

Mike Sheil

Andrew Spooner

Terry Webb

Ray Wilkinson

Adam Williams

Hugh Williams

David Winn

Allan Wood

Simon Gregor

With speakers:

Gary Sheffield

Christopher Newbould

Andy Robertshaw

Peter Hodgkinson

Vern Littley

Tim Stoneman

Chris Finn

Alison Hine

If you would like to attend please let me know at alisonhine@btinternet.com asap

Press Coverage

Secretary writes:

Those of you that read the East Anglian Daily Times will no doubt have seen an article by Mike Peters on Battlefield touring which was recently published  

The Military Diary - Great War Edition

Secretary writes:

I have received the following e-mail from Howman Books which may be of interest to members:

Just a quick email to advise that this year we are pleased to offer Guild Members a Trade discount on promotional copies of 'The Military Diary 2014' (min. quantity 20 Diaries, including a customised bookplate inside the front cover of the diary with Members logos, contact details, annual itineraries etc).  

  

The Great War Edition of the Military Diary (the sixth in the series) features a wide range of articles on the conflict (Leaders, Weapons, Casualties, Medals, Military Law, Quotations., War Poems, The BEF, The Royal Navy, German Military strength etc, plus conventional pocket diary features and world maps in colour).

  

Product details are on our website www.howmanbooks.com or simply Google The Military Diary 2014.  We have some exciting new products out this year and would be pleased to offer Guild Members preferential terms on these too, as we support your ethos and work.

If you are interested please get in touch with Richard Howman at richard@howmanbooks.com

Help Wanted

Secretary writes:

I have received the following from Michael Kelly:

I have been asked if I know of any commemorations that are taking place in Crete in May 2014 in remembrance of the landings of May 20th. I can't see anything on the Guild website, if you can help I would be most grateful.

If anyone knows of anything please could they let Michael know at michael.kelly1915@ntlworld.com

More Help Wanted!

Secretary writes:

I have received the following from a lady called Victoria Goat - can anyone help. If so could you respond to me and I'll pass the information on:

I am hoping you can clear up a confusion for me about trenches around Reims (and /or Verdun?) in WW1.

I am reading a family diary of Americans on a trip around Europe in 1923. They take a day trip from Paris to Reims and describe the following:

'...then drove out to the battlefield. One cannot picture the ruined villages, broken trees and the upturned ground. We went in several trenches, block houses and saw guns and shells, human bones and all kinds of explosives everywhere in and on top of the ground. We are not allowed off the beaten path as it is dangerous.

'Saw the Hill where the French dug a trench 2 and 1/2 miles long under it and blew it up killing 30,000 Germans. They used 30,000 tons of dynamite for one explosion. There were 5 explosions. They found 200 tons recently in a trench unexploded. The horrors of war.'

The underlined part is the mystery. When I have looked it up on line, I get nothing like this. There is a reference to total number of people killed in that area, but not specifically 30,000 Germans in a single go. Also no reference to  a 2 and 1/2mile trench under a hill or 30,000 tons of dynamite.

I can only think that the woman recording this trip got confused given the amount of information they were probably being given at the time (she was in her late 50's and recorded every single day of a 3 month trip around Europe, so I guess she can be forgiven for this one recording error! ).

If you have any particular information which  might clarify this, I would be very grateful. If you do not have this specific information, but know of someone else who might, I would appreciate it if you could send contact details to me.

Operation Anthropoid

Secretary writes:

I have received the following details of a battlefield tour which might be of interest to members:

We are pleased to confirm that the forthcoming "Operation Anthropoid" day tour will take place on Tuesday 18/02/2014 in Prague, Czech Republic. The tour guide will be Milena Kolarikova BA (tourism management)

Milena has received official Czech recognition on behalf of her dedicated Czechoslovak commemoration and remembrance work honouring her countrymen who fought and fell for freedom in two world wars.

Her commemoration work dedicated to her nation's military history was also recognised and in 2011 she was awarded honorary life membership of the Association of Czechoslovak Legionaries Abroad who she represents mostly in Belgium, France and the UK.

The tour will be in English & Czech where required with the tour starting and concluding in Prague city centre.

Please contact Milena at info@lestweforgettours.com for full itinerary details and cost. More info with images concerning this particular tour may be located within the company web site here: www.lestweforgettours.com

Included within tour costs are all metro, tram and bus tickets,

St Cyrils church and crypt/museum entrance fee and lunch being a classic Czech cuisine dish of the WW2 period.

The shut off date for this tour is 11/02/2014.

BBC News

·         Battle of Waterloo site in Belgium to get permanent memorial - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25619341

·         WW1 banner to tour Devon in memory of dead relatives - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-25562846

Best Regards

Tony Smith

Guild Secretary

Guild Update 3rd January 2014

New Member

Jo Hook writes:

We welcome the following new member into the Guild:

·         Myriam Thompson from Ligny Thilloy France joins. Her interests are WW1

Sources of Information

Bruce Littley writes:

Another source of information with some good information and records in the databases:

http://www.ramc-ww1.com/ramc_in_war.php

And free books on the net!:

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/World_War_I_%28Bookshelf%29#Western_Front_.28France_and_the_Low_Countries.29

Prelude to War Event Deepcut Saturday 8th February 2014

Alison Hine writes:

The first Guild event of 2014 will be focussed on the lead-up to the First World War.  Many Guides will be taking tours later this year to mark the Centenary of the outbreak of the War and the aim of this event is to provide background information on the state and ethos of Britain's Armed Forces in August 1914 as well as the latest thinking on the origins of the War.   Topics to be covered are:  Gary Sheffield 'The Origins of the First World War: a briefing on current academic debates'; Christopher Newbould 'Reform of the British Army following the Boer War - doctrine, ethos and the changes in training and tactics between 1902-1914; Andy Robertshaw 'The British Infantryman  in 1914 - his uniform, kit and weaponry in comparison with his German opponent'; Peter Hodgkinson 'The Battalion Commanders of 1914'; Vern Littley 'Artillery in 1914'; Tim Stoneman - The Royal Navy in 1914; and Chris Finn 'The Royal Flying Corps in 1914'. The event will be held at the RLC Museum, Deepcut, Surrey on Saturday 8 February, 9.30am - 4.30pm, and refreshments and lunch will be provided.  A detailed programme will be put on the website shortly.  The cost of the day will depend on the numbers attending but will cost at the most £30 per head, lunch inclusive and payable on arrival.   Anyone wishing to attend the event is requested to contact either Tony Smith or Alison Hine (alisonhine@btinternet.com) as soon as possible.  Numbers are limited to a maximum of 50 and the deadline for bookings is Friday 31 January 2014.

Operation Neptune Battlefield Recce - British and Canadian Sectors September 2014

Ian Mitchell writes:

As Mike Peters highlighted in his Chairman’s New Year’s message this coming June will see the 70th anniversary celebrations of the D Day landings.  As most you will know – in 2013 the Guild ran a successful Battlefield recce which covered the American D Day landings and subsequent operations. 

Given this background it is proposed to undertake a Guild Battlefield recce lasting 5-6 days over a weekend in September 2014 which focuses on the British and Canadian operations on D Day codenamed - Operation NEPTUNE.  The event will take those who attend to view a range of possible stands for the seaborne landings on GOLD, JUNO and SWORD beaches and also the airborne landings to the east of those beaches.    

It is important to stress that this event is not a battlefield tour but is designed support the development of a guide’s ability to plan and execute battlefield tours on the D day landings in the British and Canadian sector.   To this end the recce will thus adopt the tried and trusted formula of requiring active involvement by all participants in researching, planning and conducting specific part of the recce albeit within a clear framework provided by experienced battlefield recce leaders. 

Although the much time will be devoted to visiting a range of possible land based stands that can be used to help tell the story of D day there will also be opportunities for guides to learn more about the air, naval, intelligence and deception operations linked to Operation NEPTUNE. 

Despite running 2 previous events to Normandy in 2013 and 2012, Guild Secretary Tony Smith and Ian Mitchell have proved to be suckers for punishment as they have volunteered once again to plan and run this recce.   A detailed 3 page outline of the tour will be produced over the next 6-8 weeks but the overall plan is for an event conducted provisionally from the 12th - 17th September.

Tony and Ian have asked that Guild members who might wish to attend such a recce express their interest by e mailing Tony (secretary@gbg-international.com) by 30 January so he and I can assess demand and do preliminary planning.  

Ramsgate celebrates the 75th Anniversary of Op Dynamo

Paddy Earp writes:

It might interest members that in 2015, Ramsgate is celebrating the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo over 20th – 25th May and I am on the management committee.  Great things are planned between Dunkirk & Ramsgate.

For more information please write to Paddy at paddy.earp@btinternet.com

Updates on the Guild Website

Secretary writes:

As requested at the AGM I am now putting copies of the weekly Updates on the Guild website under Guild News.

BBC News

Items for the BBC website which may be of interest include:

·         Harrogate Town AFC in appeal for WWI squad descendants - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-25536355

·         Deserted Salisbury Plain village of Imber opened to public - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-25525782

·         Staffordshire Regiment memorial fundraising campaign starts - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-25574160

·         Son fits QR code on war hero father's gravestone - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-25576682

Guild Update 27th December 2013

Country Life Magazine Travel Supplement

Secretary writes:

Those of you that read Country Life may have noticed a reference to the Guild and some its members in the 18th December Travel supplement. This follows a conversation that I had with the journalist earlier in the year.

Useful Web Sites

Bruce Littley writes:

Members may be interested in the following websites which I have identified. They contain material relevant to what we do:

·         http://users.telenet.be/blindganger/index.htm

·         http://www.n24.de/n24/Wissen/History/d/4031060/sturm-legt-deutsches-u-boot-wrack-frei.html

·         https://www.facebook.com/pages/Canadian-Virtual-Military-Museum/132262350165568

·         http://www.timeforremembrance.com/

·         http://4yearsofww1.info/

·         http://www.goldiproductions.com/angloboerwarmuseum/Boer90v_pastdis_tinchoc.html

·         http://www.choctawnation.com/history/people/code-talkers/code-talkers-of-wwi/

·         http://www.ww1sa.gravesecrets.net/cr.html

Poperinghe

Secretary writes:

I have received a .pdf from the tourist people at Poperinghe describing some of the work they have been doing in advance of the Centenary. I attach this (rather large) file with the update. If you can't receive 3mb files let me know and I'll see if I can make it smaller or put it on the website.

  

Messines Model excavation at Cannock Chase

Secretary writes:

I have received the following from Richard Pursehouse describing the work that has been undertaken on the Messines model at Cannock Chase. I also attach an article they have sent.

I thought I would update you on the excavation since it was brought to a halt in early October. The majority the model was uncovered within the time constraints, although nearly all of the "viewing platform" around three sides remained untouched, as did around half of the drainage system (on four sides). This was presumably because the excavation ran out of time, although how a "deadline" can be placed on such a project before a spade is put into the ground is a question for the archaeologists involved.

However, this does not detract from the incredible effort  involved in uncovering an area the size of half a football pitch, and the amount of the model found to have survived. Unseasonably kind weather and the tremendous effort of the volunteers ensured the excavation concluded successfully - in spite of the Council Comms Dept unilaterally agreeing to the recovering being delayed into November so that the BBC could film on the model; Comms "forgot" to ask those involved, having simply agreed to the BBC request.

The involvement of volunteers was crucial to the excavation. So too has the input from the archivist at the National Army Museum in New Zealand - Dolores Ho (see www.dolorescrossproject.org) and The Chase Project during the excavation kept the village of Messines fully updated on how things were going.

The Chase Project (Lee Dent and myself plus others) have been liaising with the NZ High Commission military attaches over the last six years (Lt Cols John Boswell and Nick Gillard) and after a meeting in London in February 2013 with the present incumbent, had invited Lt Colonel Mike Beale of the NZDF up to the excavation and he placed a wreath on the model on behalf of the people of New Zealand (see link below)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah8U3VrlxXA&feature=c4-overview&list=UUfZZx8dvtICwbKVFWLdMX8A

The excavation has been on BBC with "live" interviews on West Midlands News and the BBC Inside Out programme

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECK3MjMbi7E&list=LLfZZx8dvtICwbKVFWLdMX8A&feature=mh_lolz

And BBC Country File (fast forward to around 6 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zDr23K5Fiw&feature=c4-overview&list=UUfZZx8dvtICwbKVFWLdMX8A

The Chase Project also ensured that international coverage in New Zealand (eg Otago Daily News) happened, as well as Belgian online newspapers

http://www.flanderstoday.eu/living/british-archaeologists-unearth-scale-model-west-flemish-battle-site

Local newspapers and Blogs

http://threeshiresgenealogy.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/messines-revisited.html

The New Zealand WFA has already published our article on the excavation (a version of one we wrote for the British WFA magazine) and there is another seven page article to be published in the winter quarterly magazine (see attached).

We were also asked for a narrative and photographs for the second update in Military History magazine (see attached), and a second Britain at War photo diary update (with brief narrative) which will be published in the New Year. I can send a copy of our original Britain at War on the rediscovery if you are interested?

The Chase Project are currently putting the finishing touches to an article on the four terrain models constructed for Messines prior to the battle (Cannock having been constructed in early 1918).

BBC News

·         Tributes paid to Battle of Britain pilot Norman Brown - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-25477395

·         D-Day gun boats' 'race against time' for 70th anniversary - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25483778

·         York Army Museum gets £1m lottery grant - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-25485884

·         Royal pardon for codebreaker Alan Turing - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25495315

·         Northampton woman, 90, robbed of WW1 medals at knifepoint  - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-25518395

·         World War Two uneaten Christmas cake story revealed - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-25495087