February 2025Mahatma Gandhi in WW1In 1914, Mahatma Gandhi considered himself to be a patriotic British Subject, one who would form the Indian Volunteer Ambulance Corps that year in support of those fighting on the Western Front. As late as the summer of 1918, Gandhi supported the largest recruitment of Indian soldiers of the war, to fight on behalf of […]
March 2025Lieutenant Bill Haine VC MC and the 1st Battalion Honourable Artillery Company in the Great WarLieutenant (later Lieutenant-Colonel) Reginald Leonard (Bill) Haine VC MC was a member of the 1st Battalion’s No 3 (or C) Company and went with it to France on 18 September 1914. He was awarded the VC for his actions at Gavrelle on 28-29 April 1917 during the battle of Arras, when, as stated in his […]
April 2025Musical Box, 1918 and 2024On 8 August 1918, the Medium A Whippet tank called Musical Box took part in the opening phase of the battle of Amiens, tasked with supporting Australian infantry and cooperating with the cavalry. The tank, commanded by Lieutenant Clem Arnold and crewed by Driver Willie Carney and Gunner Chris Ribbans went on a ten hour […]
May 2025Le Moncel – Lance versus LanceOn 7 September 1914, the 9th Lancers (2nd Cavalry Brigade) conducted the last lance versus lance charge on the Western Front. It took place at Le Moncel, just outside Paris, on what would become the end of the Retreat and the beginning of the Battle of the Marne. The commanding officer, and two troops of […]
June 2025Lessons of the Hundred Days – Amiens to the ArmisticeSimon reviews the lessons learned during the Last Hundred Days Campaign during the Advance from the Battle of Amiens on 8 August 1918, the taking of the Hindenburg Line and then to the Armistice on 11 November 1918.
July 2025There Were No Neutrals in the TrenchesIn this talk Michael will give an account of those American citizens who died fighting in the British Army during the Somme Campaign from July to November 1916.
August 2025Where The Money WentThis talk takes a look at where the money was spent during the Great War. Intended to awaken the imagination and look at aspects of the war rarely, if ever, considered. Not so much about the battles, but the everyday expenditure that everybody needs. Sometimes it is the size of the number, other times it […]
September 2025The Battle of the Sambre, 4 November 1918Dr Derek Clayton This talk is based on Dr Clayton’s PhD Thesis (University of Birmingham 2015). The Third and Fourth Armies deliver the final knock-out blow to the German Army as they assault the Forest of Mormal and force the crossing of the Sambre.
October 2025The Palestine CampaignFollowing three battles to break into Palestine at Gaza, the capture of Jerusalem and a spectacular victory at Megiddo (Armageddon) which finally broke the enemy forces, the Holy Land was freed from Turkish rule.
November 2025Kitchener’s Army RevisitedIn this talk Peter will look at revisions to the ideas which he originally put forward in the 1980s.
December 2025Members’ EveningFor our December meeting we draw on the wide and varied expertise and knowledge of our Branch members. We have a small selection of ten-minute length presentations throughout the evening on Great War related subjects of their choice.
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