WESTERN FRONT ASSOCIATION
Herts & Beds Branch
NEWSLETTER Sept 2014
NEXT MEETING: FRIDAY 12th SEPT
Members’ Evening & AGM
Agenda for the AGM:
1) Apologies for absence
2) Minutes of the 2013 AGM
3) Matters arising
4) Chairman’s report
5) Treasurer’s report
6) Election of officers
7) A.O.B.
The treasurer will present his report and the numbers, while the secretary will have the 2013 minutes. My thanks to both for their efforts, and of course to the committee as a whole. Please note that anyone is welcome to attend the branch AGM, but only WFA members are entitled to vote. As stated in the May newsletter, I shall be standing down both as branch chairman and newsletter editor.
As for the “Members’ Evening”, we have been underwhelmed by the response to the call for speakers. So I am grateful to our treasurer, Clive Mead, who will give a talk on the artillery’s use of sound ranging, as mentioned in the June talk (see below). Also, there should be one other surprise item! Come early to be sure of a seat…..
JUNE MEETING REPORT
We had a good talk from David Rogers which opened up a rather hidden topic, the role of “boffins” in the war, and in particular the service given by Fellows of the Royal Society. Divided into five, later six, sections they made valuable contributions in the areas of food, aircraft, armaments, gas (both protection and as a weapon), submarines, wireless, mapping, artillery sound-ranging and code-breaking (room 40 at the Admiralty). Between 1915 and 1917, over 41 thousand inventions by Fellows were recorded. Nor were these people always “back room” scientists, as several were awarded gallantry medals or were mentioned in despatches. One, Brigadier Sinton, as a captain, was awarded the VC. Others received civilian honours. A good example of their work was at the Zeebrugge Raid in March 1918, where a special type of smoke was used, which unsighted the defenders, while enabling the attackers to advance through it without choking. Rather less successful was research into the possibility that sea lions could track enemy submarines! More information about the Society and its members can be found at www.royalsociety.org
NEWSLETTER QUIZ
Answer to quiz 246: the Yser Tower is at Diksmuide, it commemorates Flemish soldiers killed in the war, and the letters stand for the Flemish for “All For Flanders, Flanders for Christ”. Barry Cobb won and sets quiz 247: which British soldier fired the first shot of WW1, and when?
HELION BOOKS
This company specialises in books on military history through the ages, and further details of their publications can be found on www.helion.co.uk or by phoning 0121 705 3393.
SEMINAR
Last call for the Seminar at Milton Keynes, which promises to be a particularly good way to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the war. Just in case you need one I attach a booking form. Cost is now £25, to WFA Milton Keynes branch. Cheque and form to me with SAE please. Booking must be received by 15 Sept so that the catering corps can be advised of numbers!
ANOTHER WEBSITE
No shortage of WW1 stuff on the web, but another site that is
worth a look is Paul Foster’s www.remembering1418.com
DIARY
SEMINAR: Sunday 21st September, Milton Keynes
10 Oct: “In a Hole in the Ground; Tolkien and the Trenches”, John Garth
14 Nov: “Empire, Faith & War: The Sikhs and WW1”, Parmjit Singh
12 Dec: “Pyramids & Fleshpots: Middle East Campaigns 1914-16” Stuart Hadaway
Venue: Room SP101, 1st Floor, Sports Hall, St George’s School, Carleton Road, Harpenden, AL5 4TD. Doors open 7.30pm, 8.00pm start. Requested donation min. £3.50. Tea, coffee & biscuits at half time. Note: park in the main school car park and walk round to the Sports Hall at the back.
CONTACTS
Chairman & Newsletter Editor
Andrew Gould: 01908 643669
Secretary
Geoffrey Cunnington: 01582 762897
Treasurer
Clive Mead: 01582 508699
NEXT ISSUE
Copy by 29th Sept to Andrew Gould, 1 Drovers Way, Newton Longville, Milton Keynes, MK17 0HR. Email: (Any copy received will be passed on to the new newsletter editor.)