Forthcoming Military History Conferences/Lectures

Via mail-
"Manchester Military History Society on Tour

Manchester In World War 2 - at the Wilmslow Historical Society

11th January 2017 @ 7.30pm

Ian Sanders will be telling some well known and less known tales of wartime Manchester at the Wilmslow Historical Society on 11th Jan 2017.

Following tea/coffee and biscuits at 7:15pm, lectures usually start at 7:45 pm in St. Bartholomew’s Parish Hall, Chancel Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 4AA."

 

Via email-
"MANCHESTER MILITARY HISTORY SOCIETY
Our next talk is:

"Thoughts on the Origins of a Venetian Defence Work in the Ionian Islands"

Tuesday 14th Feb 2017 at 7.30pm

A recent holiday in Corfu (Kerkyra) and Paxos (Paxoi - plural - being several islands), found Paul Beckmann doing his usual rounds of local castles and fortresses.

In Paxoi, on the summit of the island of Agios Nikolaos (St Nicholas), stand the remains of the castle of Agios Nikolaos. At first sight, as the visitor approaches from the south, the view is of a fairly conventional medieval wall, but as the visitor progresses round to the west, towards the main entrance he is suddenly struck by the fact that this is a very peculiar castle indeed.

This talk is part military history, part archaeological detective story and the audience is invited to share in the speculations!’

All are welcome and a lively discussion is guaranteed!

Admission £4 per attendee including tea and coffee."
http://www.mcrmilhist.org.uk/?utm_source=Mailchimp&utm_medium=Link&utm_campaign=email

 

Via email-

"Managing Our Military Heritage Short Course

With apologies for cross-posting on multiple jiscmail lists

A two day CPD course aimed at addressing the management of our military heritage, both past and present is being held on the 8 & 9 May 2017 at the University of Leicester and RAF Alconbury, UK. This course will examine issues around the protection, conservation and management of modern military heritage.

The course is aimed at local authority historic environment staff, other curators, and consultants responsible for assessing the significance of modern military heritage and who are looking for solutions for sustainable long term management.

It will also appeal to other professionals who are called on to advise on the significance and management of historic military areas. Managers and trustees of historic military sites will also find the course of interest.

You can find more information, including booking details from the University of Leicester website:
http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/history/heritage/managing-our-military-heritage "

 

Via email-
"Dear all,




I would like to bring the following session of the next EAA conference in Maastricht to your attention:
Exploring the spatial and temporal scales of warfare and conflict

Organizers: Max van der Schriek, James Symonds, Nico Roymans, Stefan Burmeister.

Conflict archaeology is a new and promising field of research which has developed rapidly over the past two decades. This distinctive branch of archaeology focuses on the material manifestations of human violence from prehistory to the 21st century. The wider spatial and temporal dimensions of warfare and conflict, however, appear to be relatively underexplored themes; most research is site-based and related to a specific period or conflict.
The goal of this session is to explore the advances in conflict archaeology by a consideration of the wider scales of analysis in a spatial as well as a temporal sense. Where are the edges of conflicts and wars? How essential is the availability of historical sources? How can we study long-term trends? A consideration of ‘conflict landscapes’ might serve to re-focus work away from individual battles to explore the interrelationship between different spatial elements. Landscapes of conflict consist of more than just battlefields, but also include military encampments, airfields, practice areas, ammunition depots, and crucially, civilian settlements. There is a need, however, to explore long-term developments that cross-cut traditional chronological boundaries around themes like ‘warfare and ritual’, combat strategies, post-battle activities at conflict sites, the impact of warfare on rural communities, and the issue of warfare and migration.

The objective of this session is to offer:

• 
  Case studies that focus on landscapes of conflict;
  
• 
  Case studies that explore long-term developments in warfare and collective violence;
  
• 
  Studies exploring the potentials and limitations of new methodologies and techniques with regard to the above themes.
  

Keywords: Conflict archaeology, Landscape archaeology, warfare.

The session is now open for contributions. Please submit your paper to the EAA (https://www.klinkhamergroup.com/eaa2017/) as well as a copy to the session organizers (listed below).[SIZE=12pt] [/SIZE]

Proposals (15 minutes paper) can be submitted until 15th March 2017"
I won't give the email addresses here. You could always click on this-
[SIZE=12pt]http://helpdesk@klinkhamergroup.com[/SIZE]

 

Via email-
"
MANCHESTER MILITARY HISTORY SOCIETY ON TOUR

World War 2 Invasion Defences in the North West

Friday 17th Feb 2017 7:45pm

at The Stockport Historical Society, Stockport Sunday School, Nangreave Road, just off the A6 near Stockport Grammar School.
Pillbox

Fortified pubs, hedgehogs and dragons teeth! MMHS Secretary Ian Sanders details the fascinating story behind the varied and ingenious types of defences in the North West and shows where to find local remains almost 80 years later.

Stockport Historical Society, Stockport Sunday School, Nangreave Road, just off the A6 near Stockport Grammar School.

Time: 7.45pm Admission £2.50"

 

Via email-
"Dear Colleagues,

Please find below a call for papers for a panel on the theme of Institutions and Violence, for the African Studies Association Conference that will be held in Chicago this year.

For further details about the panel, please see the call for papers in blue, below. For further information on the conference and different themes, please see http://www.africanstudies.org/annual-meetings

For those interested in presenting a paper, please send an abstract to solange.fontana@qeh.ox.ac.uk anddavidmpeyton@northwestern.edu by March 10th at the latest."

"Manchester Military History Society

"The Battle of Arracourt 1944"

Tuesday 14th March 2017 at 7.30pm

The Battle of Arracourt (18-29 September 1944) was a major clash between U.S. and German armored forces near the town of Arracourt, in Lorraine, France – and was one of the largest armoured engagements on the Western Front.

Tim Cockitt will be presenting, guaranteeing an entertaining evening.

Admission £4 (includes tea and coffee)

Please feel free to share widely."
http://www.mcrmilhist.org.uk/?utm_source=Mailchimp&utm_medium=Link&utm_campaign=email

 

Via email-
"With apologies for cross and multiple postings, and to those who may have already responded. Please also pass this call on as widely as you like!
This is a reminder that we seek contributions to the following session at this year’s EAA conference to be held in Maastricht, Holland from 30th August to 3rd September.

TITLE: WHERE NOW IN CONFLICT ARCHAEOLOGY?

ORGANISERS: John Carman, University of Birmingham

Christopher King, University of Birmingham

Philip van Lochem, University of Birmingham

The 21st century is shaping up to become one of the most bloody in human history. It is perhaps therefore no accident that Conflict Archaeology has emerged over past decades as an area of increasing interest and influence, as evidenced by its inclusion at a number of EAA and other conferences in recent years. What the field has generally lacked so far, however, is discussion of what Conflict Archaeology can tell us that other studies cannot. This session – abandoning the usual focus on archaeological studies of a particular conflict, period or type of site – seeks instead to open up a wider debate about what archaeological studies of violence are for.

Ours is an explicitly theoretical approach to a subject that is predominately concerned with issues of method. While a concern with method is valid and necessary, what lies behind it is an implicit understanding of why archaeologists should examine sites of past conflict but this is not enunciated in a clear manner. This session will seek to examine how an archaeological interest in conflict can inform us more deeply about this aspect of human behaviour.

We seek contributions that may be grounded in specific projects but which will provide the underlying rationale for them. We also seek more generalising contributions that place Conflict Archaeology in the wider context of archaeology as a regional and global field of activity. In short, we wish to debate the role of Conflict Archaeology in the context an increasingly violent world.

Please submit proposals for 15 minute papers to the EAA website at https://www.klinkhamergroup.com/eaa2017/sessions/contribution and copy it to the session organisers who are also happy to answer preliminary queries:

Philip van Lochem pxv630@student.bham.ac.uk

Christopher King cmk741@student.bham.ac.uk

Proposals need to be submitted no later than 15th March 2017.

PLEASE NOTE that the conference organisers have confirmed that there is no need for those offering papers to pay registration in advance: but it is required that you register with contact details etc.

Philip, Christopher and I look forward to seeing your proposals."

 

Battlefields Trust Fundraising talks Hosted by the Fusiliers Museum in the Officers Mess Royal Fusiliers in HM Tower of London.

British Volunteers in the 1937 battles of the Spanish Civil War Ray Wilkinson
A lecture and sandwich lunch
12.30 - 2.00 pm
Wednesday 29th March 2017
Hosted by
The Fusiliers Museum London in the
Officer's Mess of The Royal
Regiment of Fusiliers
HM Tower of London

During the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939, despite massive establishment resistance to them going, nearly 2,500 men and women left Britain to fight for the Spanish Republic. Most were ordinary working class people, many were deeply socialist, some were even staunch Communists, but all were vehemently anti-fascist.

Ray Wilkinson, Chief Executive of East Anglia Reserve Forces & Cadets Association and an Accredited Member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides, has been fascinated for many years by the activities of the British Volunteers who fought in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. He will talk about those volunteers, why they went to fight in someone else’s war, and their actions in February exactly 80 years ago.

In the context of what’s happening now in the Middle East this talk about a war that involved a clash of ideologies, drawing volunteers, contributors, and journalists to it from all over the world, is highly topical. £20 for members £25 for non members Book here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/SpanishCivilWar-May17

18 April - Military Map Making Dr John Peaty and Mrs Barbara Taylor https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Mapmaking-18-Apr
23 May the Battle of Lincoln 1217 Dr Matthew Bennett https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Lincoln1217
14 June The German Army of 1917 Dr Matthias Strohn https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BattlefieldsTrustGermans1917
11 July - The Battle of Roundway Down 1643 Dr Chris Scott https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BTrust-RoundwayDown
20 September - The Indian Mutiny 1857 Prof John Richardson
October Date & Topic TBC
November - Date TBC Cambrai Charles Messenger

The funds raised, less for the cost of sandwiches and wine got to these tow heritage charities.

 

Via email-
"MANCHESTER MILITARY HISTORY SOCIETY
Our next talk is:

"Bloody April 1917"

Tuesday 11th April 2017 at 7.30pm

Presented by Stuart Hadaway this talk describes how on 9 April 1917 the British Army launched a major offensive at Arras. During the fighting the Royal Flying Corps fought for control of the skies above. The losses they suffered were so heavy that the period became known to British aircrews as ‘Bloody April’.

Stuart Hadaway spent six years as a curator at the Royal Air Force Museum, and moved to the Air Historical Branch (RAF) in 2009, where he is Senior Researcher to the RAF's official historians. His publications include 'Missing Believed Killed' and over 50 articles for various magazines, including 'Britain at War' and 'Military Illustrated', and papers for conferences by the RAFHS and British Commission for Military History, among others.
All are welcome and a lively discussion is guaranteed!

Admission £4 per attendee including tea and coffee."
The Manchester Military History Society

 

Via email-
"Manchester Military History Society talks for the rest of 2017 are as follows-
2017 Programme

May 9th - Frank Plezak - The Battle of Monte Cassino 1944
June 13th – Paddy Griffith Memorial Lecture Nick Mansfield - The British army of the Napoleonic Wars; Class, work and conflict.
July 11th – Ian Daglish Memorial Lecture Colin Foster - Hill 112, Normandy 1944
September 12th Rob Hewett - The battles of Coronel & Falklands 1914
October 10th Stuart Hadaway - 3rd Battle of Gaza 1917
November 14th Ian Sanders - Cambrai 1917
December 12th - Christmas “Party”
All meetings on 2nd Tuesday in the month from 7:30pm

Cost of meetings is £4 with annual Membership available at £36 (two meetings free)

We are always interested to hear about new speakers & topics and we are also able to supply speakers for your group or society: contact details here.

We meet at the East Manchester Historical Games Society HQ, The Old Scout Building Knivton Street Godley Hyde SK14 2PU"
The Manchester Military History Society

 

Here is fairly comprehensive list pf military history symposia in North America -
2017 Military History Conferences & Symposia

 

" Call for Papers: The 9th Modern Conflict Archaeology Conference
Saturday, 21st October 2017
The Department of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Bristol is pleased to announce that our 9th annual Modern Conflict Archaeology Conference will be held on Saturday 21st of October 2017.
This one-day conference is aimed toward postgraduates and early career researchers exploring areas pertaining to 20th and 21st century conflict. The conference will be a forum for critical and theoretical discussion and provide an opportunity for both research presentation and to meet with people working or studying in similar fields. We also welcome members of the public to attend the conference.
By its very nature, Modern Conflict Archaeology and Anthropology recognises the necessity of combining a multitude of disciplines together in order to produce a holistic and multi-vocal understanding of the often complex and ambiguous nature of conflict in the modern-era. The conference will present some of the most recent postgraduate and early career research relating to this ever-expanding subject, and there is a focus on areas of increasing importance for understanding contemporaneous global issues surrounding conflict and warfare.
This field is continually developing and creates increasingly diverse and interdisciplinary fields. Reflecting this we welcome and will consider submissions from all angles, disciplines and topics, including, but not limited to:
• Conflict Archaeology and Anthropology
• Battlefield Archaeology
• Contemporary engagements and re-engagement
• Memorialisation and Remembrance
• Material Culture
• Landscapes and Cultural Geography
• Museum Studies
• Military History
• War and Peace Studies
Proposals should be consistent with the theme – theoretically informed and demonstrate a varied and multidisciplinary approach to the study of modern conflict. Presentations are expected to last no longer than 20 minutes and be accompanied by a visual presentation using Powerpoint or similar. Please visit our website www.mcaconf.com to view abstracts from previous speakers.
Please send a 250-word abstract and a short speaker bio to bristolmcaconf@gmail.com by 5pm Monday 24th July 2017, however any expressions of interest to either present or attend would be appreciated before this date. Successful applicants will be notified by Monday 7th August and the conference programme will be published by Monday 28th August.
Those wishing to attend will need to register for a free ticket using Eventbrite at this link: The 9th Annual Modern Conflict Archaeology Conference, Bristol"
Modern Conflict Archaeology Conference

 

Via email-
"MANCHESTER MILITARY HISTORY SOCIETY

"Coronel 1914 - A Signal Catastrophe"
Tuesday 12th Sep 2017 at 7.30pm

Rob Hewett describes the World War 1 Imperial German Naval victory over the Royal Navy off the coast of central Chile near the city of Coronel.
The Battle of Coronel on 1st November 1914 saw the loss of two British ships and over 1500 men, at the hands of Admiral Von Spee's East Asiatic Squadron; the first British naval defeat in over a hundred years. This talk will review events leading up to the engagement through, amongst other sources, the Admiralty and Royal Navy signal logs of the time. It will give an analysis of the causes of the British defeat and why the outcome was all but certain before a shot was fired.
Admission £4 (includes tea and coffee)"
The Manchester Military History Society

 

Via email-

"Manchester Military History Society
Our next talk is:
"The 3rd Battle of Gaza 1917"
Tuesday 10th October 2017 at 7.30pm

Stuart Hadaway describes The Third Battle of Gaza which was fought on the night of 1/2 November 1917 between British and Ottoman forces during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of #ww1

Stuart Hadaway spent six years as a curator at the Royal Air Force Museum, and moved to the Air Historical Branch (RAF) in 2009, where he is Senior Researcher to the RAF's official historians. His publications include 'Missing Believed Killed' and over 50 articles for various magazines, including 'Britain at War' and 'Military Illustrated', and papers for conferences by the RAFHS and British Commission for Military History, among others.

All are welcome and a lively discussion is guaranteed!

Admission £4 per attendee including tea and coffee."
The Manchester Military History Society

 

Via FB. Various groups are involved-
"Upcoming lectures in the Midlands:
Oct 5th The Drummond Lecture –WWI Dr John Bourne – BMS
Oct 12th Members own short talks, medals & militaria – OMRS
Oct 17th The Glider Pilot Regt – Bob Walters - DRBL
Oct 20th First into Jerusalem – Sam Eadle – WFA
Oct 24th The Easter Rising 1916 – David Seeney – DRBL
Nov 2nd Russia 1917-20 - Martin Harrison & John Scott – BMS
Nov 9th British South Africa Police – Paul Brewster – OMRS
Nov 17th Moonlight Massacre; Passchendaele 1917 – M LoCicero WFA
Nov 24th Military Talk TBC - RRF
Nov 28th South Atlantic 1982 – Gordon Mather - DRBL
Dec 7th Mini talks and members recent acquisitions – BMS
2018
Jan 11th Three short military talks - OMRS
Feb 1st Mini Talks and members recent acquisitions – BMS
Feb 8th The Barrington-Kennett Legacy – Graham Pitchfork – OMRS
Feb 24th Wreck of the Birkenhead 1852 – David Seeney - RRF
Mar 1st On the lines of Communication WWI – Paul Handford – BMS
Mar 8th Defence of Port Stanley & S Georgia 1982 G Healey - OMRS
Apr 5th AGM and 100th Anniversary of the RAF – John Scott – BMS
Apr 28th Waterloo – Mick Atkinson - RRF
Apr 12th Members own short talks on medals & militaria - OMRS
May 3rd Zeebrugge and Ostend Raids 1918 – Phillip Wilson – BMS
May 10th (Army) Gallantry at Sea 1917 – David Seeney – OMRS
May 26th (Army) Gallantry at Sea 1917 – David Seeney - RRF
Jun 7th My Favourite medal research project – Ken Weston – BMS
Jun 14th 100 Years of RAF Nursing – John Scott – OMRS
Jun 30th Bomb Disposal in NI, UK, Germany – Mick Atkinson - RRF
Jul 5th Small talks and members recent acquisitions – BMS
Jul 12th To Many Damned Holes (K-boats) S Lewis – OMRS
Jul 28th Military Research – David Seeney – RRF
Sep 29th Warwickshire Yeo WWI – Phillip Wilson – RRF
Oct 27th Battle of the Somme 1916 – David Seeney – RRF
WFA – Worcestershire & Herefordshire Branch of the Western Front Association. Meetings at Callow End Village Hall Worcestershire WR2 4TA south of Worcestershire along the B4424. The charge is £3 for each meeting starting at 7pm, Tea/Coffee biscuits provided.
www.westernfrontassociation.co.uk
BMS – The Birmingham Medal Society – Meetings at the Holiday Inn Bromsgrove B61 9AB. No charge, drinks and bar meals can be obtained before the meeting. Coffee and tea provided before the meeting 7pm.
birminghammedsoc@btopenworld.com
OMRS – Orders and Medals Research Society – Cotswold Branch. Meetings – Swindon Village hall Cheltenham GL51 9QP. No charge bar open before the meeting at 7pm. www.qcmilitaria.com/cotswold.htm
DRBL – Dilwyn Royal British Legion – Meetings at The Crown Inn Dilwyn Herefordshire HR4 8HL. Form up 7pm Bar open and buffet provided £3.
RRF - Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum (Royal Warwickshire) St John’s House, Warwick CV34 4NF. Talks start at 2pm, many pubs and Restaurants close to the Museum. www.warwickfusiliers.com
NB:
1. Most evening talks start at about 7.30 but it’s best to arrive early and get a drink and a good seat. At Warwick talks start at 2pm, but you are welcome to tour the Museum before and after the talk. Have a Museum day and also visit the Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum at Jury St Warwick.
2. Free parking at most venues. Except Warwick, Public Car Park at the back of the Museum.
3. Guests are welcome at all meetings.
4. Any Questions please contact David Seeney – 01432 870420
jdsunset@btinternet.com "

 

Via email-
"MANCHESTER MILITARY HISTORY SOCIETY
Our next talk is:

"Cambrai 1917 - The Battle of Lateau Wood"

Tuesday 14th November 2017 at 7.30pm


"At 7 am on November 30th a tremendous bombardment was suddenly opened along the whole British front line. It developed rapidly in intensity and within a short time all communications with the front line were severed...."

The Battle of Cambrai in #WW1 is known famously for the first use of massed tanks, however less known is the fate of those units caught up in the German counter-attack of 30th November 1917.

For one unit, the 6th Battalion Royal West Kents, ended the day with its strength being only one officer and 17 other ranks. This is their story.

Presented in it's 100th anniversary year by Ian Sanders.

All are welcome and a lively discussion is guaranteed!

Admission £4 per attendee including tea and coffee."
The Manchester Military History Society

 

Via email-
" MANCHESTER MILITARY HISTORY SOCIETY

"The Christmas Special"

Tuesday 12th December 2017 at 7.30pm

It's our annual Christmas Special on Tuesday 12th December 2017 at 7.30pm

It's different from our normal format and includes food and a number of short pieces.

Please note : If you want to present anything we need to know your ideas by 30th Nov otherwise we may not be able fit them in on the night.

Previous years have included:

• Pigeons in WW2
• Military Inventions which didn't actually get produced
• The Truck as hero
• "Military Eccentric of the year" ...
• "A bit of a Spitfire" (... featuring a bit of a Spitfire!)
• A book auction
• A surprise Quiz

All are welcome and a lively discussion is guaranteed!

Admission £4 per attendee including food."
The Manchester Military History Society

 

This looks interesting.
"Sharks in the Channel and Lions on the Loose: Rumour and the Second World War by Professor Jo Fox
Belligerent nations during the Second World War went to considerable lengths to trace, document, and contain rumours. Propaganda campaigns were launched, elaborate mechanisms for recording the spread of rumours established, and rumour-mongers prosecuted and publicly vilified. Rumour-mongering was universally denounced as a pathological, destructive condition that threatened the war effort. This lecture will argue that, on the contrary, rumour is an inherently human behaviour and that studying rumour offers the historian an insight into complex human behaviours, motivations, and mentalities at times of crisis."
Sir Michael Howard Centre Annual Lecture 2018

 

Via email-
"Manchester Military History Society
Our next event is:
"The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich"
Tuesday 9th January 2018 at 7.30pm
Tim Cockitt will be presenting one of his unique talks as our first event of 2018.
Tim will give an account of the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. This will be in the form of a journey through several key locations ... Munich, the birthplace of the 3rd Reich; Nuremberg, the rallying ground of the movement; and Berlin, for the end of the Reich.
All are welcome and a lively discussion is guaranteed!
Admission £4 per attendee including food."
The Manchester Military History Society

 

Sharing this for info. This project aims to record all the sites associated with the UK Home Front in WW1, and eventually make the database available to the public.
Various information workshops are planned across the UK in the next few months, if anyone's interested.
"Home Front Legacy
Dates for our Spring workshops, in partnership with Living Legacies 1914-1918 have now been confirmed.
Book your place via Eventbrite using the links below-
Stirling- 24 March 2018- Book here- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/yac-development-and-first-wo…
Lampeter- 15 April 2018- Book here-https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cba-and-living-legacies-firs…
Belfast- 26 April 2018- Book here-https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cba-and-living-legacies-firs…
#WW1 #FWW #History #Archaeology "