Heart of England Branch WFA

04/06/2026

Next meeting is on Wednesday 10th June at 7.30pm
“The Russian Army in World War 1”
Presented by Dr Sofya Anisimova

This talk is an overview on the organization and structure of the Russian Army from the start of the Great War to the revolution, assessing the quality of its performance and its impact on the, often overlooked, Eastern Front.......................................................................
The Branch requests a donation of £5 for the meeting.

This will include one raffle ticket.
Additional raffle tickets will also be available.......................................................................
Non-members of the WFA are most welcome at our meetings.

20/05/2026

Another interesting event for you.

19/05/2026

This looks an interesting talk to attend in Warwick.

A fascinating slice of history. Tickets still available for this Saturday’s talk at the museum
https://bit.ly/WW1LandArmy

08/05/2026

Members’ evening is on Wednesday 13th May and our knowledgeable members will tell us all about the following subjects:

Martin Harrison – “Man O’Milverton”

Clive Dunn – “The Royal Dutch Shell Group in the Great War”

Paul Jaques and Dave Vaux - "’By God they can fight’ - the story of two officers of the 1/8th Royal Warwickshire Regiment killed on
the first day of the Battle of the Somme"

All welcome.

31/03/2026

Join us next week, Wednesday 8th April as we find out about the story of a Territorial battalion from mobilisation to its virtual destruction on the Somme, despite never taking part in a major engagement; and some of the myths and realities around that.

“A Battalion on the Somme (1/1st Bucks at Pozières and Thièpval)”

All welcome. £5 donation to include raffle ticket. Starts 7.30pm just turn up.

13/03/2026

‘Appointed as cipher officer on GHQ Mediterranean Force only suggested to me Thursday 8pm, confirmed 1 pm next day with orders to be ready to leave England 5 pm Saturday 13 March.’

111 years ago today, Captain Orlo Williams had 48 hours to upend his life. He bought his kit at Harrods, dined with his wife at the Carlton, and by Saturday evening was on a train to Dover. That same morning, General Sir Ian Hamilton had left Charing Cross station at 10.30am with a hastily assembled staff and orders from Kitchener still fresh in his pocket.

Orlo Williams, Inside GHQ (ed. Rhys Crawley, Stephen Chambers, Ashleigh Brown)

https://littlegully.com/books/inside-ghq-the-gallipoli-diary-of-captain-orlo-williams



Image: General Sir Ian Hamilton at Charing Cross station, London, departing for Gallipoli, 13 March 1915. (Simpson-Baikie Collection, Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, King's College London)

06/03/2026

Join us next week for our March lecture. All welcome no need to book - just turn up.

How the Welfare State developed during World War I. This talk explores the impact of the First World War on Britain’s burgeoning welfare state. While battles raged far from British shores, those at home still needed to be cared for: women, children, older people and, of course, returning servicemen. As the war increasingly impacted on ‘everyday life’, and as men were increasingly compelled to take up armed service or war work, expectations of what the state could and should provide by way of ‘welfare’ support shifted and changed. This talk will draw upon my research into the home front in the West Midlands to explore how these changes, large and small, played out in cities, towns and villages across the region, and how individuals navigated these changes.

Members and non-members of The Western Front Association are equally welcome. New visitors are guaranteed a friendly atmosphere and a warm welcome from a group of like-minded enthusiasts.

05/02/2026

Join us next week for our February lecture. All welcome no need to book - just turn up.

From 1915 – 1918, scientists were engaged in a gripping arms race to protect their troops against constantly developing chemical agents. Focusing mostly on British protection, this talk will explain the main developments during the war and how thousands of lives were saved by the scientists who developed gas masks, in some cases at the cost of own lives.

Simon Jones has had a lifelong fascination with the First World War and is the author of books on gas warfare and underground warfare. He was formerly curator at the Royal Engineers and King’s Regiment Museums. He has lectured at Liverpool and Lancaster Universities and led battlefield tours to many destinations around the world. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Members and non-members of The Western Front Association are equally welcome. New visitors are guaranteed a friendly atmosphere and a warm welcome from a group of like-minded enthusiasts.

https://www.westernfrontassociation.com/branches/united-kingdom/heart-of-england/

31/01/2026

Another interesting talk lined up at The Lord Leycester. Book your ticket now!

⚔️ March Smart Talk ⚔️

📚 Topic: The Rocky Road to Stalemate: How and why the First World War descended so quickly into trench warfare
💬 Guest Speaker: Ross Beadle
🗓️ Date/Time: Thursday 19th March | 6pm – 8pm
🎟️ Tickets: £30

In late summer 1914, the First World War quickly became a battlefield of trenches, barbed wire, and machine guns. Ross Beadle explores how prior wars, strategy, and human factors shaped the conflict — showing that stalemate was not inevitable.

Ross has lectured on the First World War for 15 years and is regularly invited to speak to specialist societies. His expertise focuses on pre-war planning, the German Schlieffen Plan, and developments in the British Army that led Britain to fight on the continent. Expect an entertaining and insightful lecture.

🎟️ Book tickets here: https://www.lordleycester.com/lord-leycester-events/smart-talks/

29/01/2026

If you are interested in Haig, we have 2 interesting talks on him in our programme for 2026 on 12th August and 9th September. Save the date now! All welcome.

Today marks the anniversary of the death of Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, who died on 29 January 1928 in London.

Hecommanded the British Army when it achieved arguably its greatest victories, those over the Germans on the Western Front during the First World War (1914-18). Despite this success, he remains a controversial figure and for many his leadership was marked by unacceptable losses.

His life and leadership continue to provoke discussion and reflection, embodying both the strategic challenges of the First World War and the enduring complexities of command in modern conflict.

Explore his story and legacy in greater depth on our website https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/douglas-haig