Geoff Simpson's article describes the creation and expansion of the Database of The Few, who are the Allied airmen of the Battle of Britain, detailing their biographies and service records. Originating from Kenneth G Wynn's book, the work involved transferring rights and publication efforts with support from the Battle of...
Read MoreA not-for profit society raising funds for military charities
Welcome to the British Modern Military History Society.
We organise monthly talks for anyone interested in military history over the last 200 years from Nelson’s times to the present day.
With top quality talks given by writers, academics, former military personnel, and experts in their field with a wide variety of topics, we are based in Woodcote Village Hall RG8 0QY (near Wallingford) in South Oxfordshire. We can accommodate up to 100 people in pleasant surroundings, offering a warm and welcoming evening out. BMMHS is not a membership society so please feel free to join our talks and for Village Hall Meetings – just pay on the door.
BMMHS NEWS
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Latest BMMHS Publication Now Available on Amazon
Proceeds from the Sale of Articles of War go to Veterans With Dogs
It is with great sadness that Nick Brazil passed away peacefully as we were finalising this book. Nick, a loyal BMMHS supporter and contributor, was very keen that his book Articles of War would help to raise money for Veterans With Dogs.
Click on the book cover to order your copy today
Upcoming Zoom Talks and Village Hall Meetings
Tuesday 2nd June 7:30pm
The German Occupation of the Channel Islands
In this talk James will explore the events leading up to the occupation of the Channel Islands in 1940 after the fall of France, and the soul-searching around the evacuation of part of the populations. Then he will describe the arrival of the German forces, their reception and their everyday life in the islands. He examines the changing relations between occupying forces and island authorities and the massive construction programme of fortifications whereby the islands were incorporated into Hitler’s ‘Atlantic Wall’. He also looks at the British commando raids and the life and privations of the civilian population as the War progressed and food became increasingly scarce for both islanders and occupiers. The talk lasts about an hour.
About the speaker – James Porter
James Porter is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, originally from Guernsey in the Channel Islands. Having retired in 2011 after 41 years service which took him to Northern Ireland, West Germany, Berlin, Norway, Cyprus, Falkland Islands, Belize and sub-Saharan Africa. After 2 years at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst he commanded an infantry platoon, company and battalion, attended the Army Staff College, been an instructor at Sandhurst, and spent 3 years testing and selecting potential army officers, plus 2 tours of duty in the Ministry of Defence. He now divides his time between working as a freelance yacht skipper/instructor and membership of village committees, as well as being Chairman of his local Royal British Legion branch. James also created and runs a Military History Group that meets monthly in Dorchester. Coming from a military family, he is interested in military history all of his life and has led, organised or participated in various battlefield tours and is an associate member of the International Guild of Battlefield Guides.
Zoom talk - Payment and registration
Contact us on [email protected] to register for these Events and for Zoom talks the log-in details will be emailed to you on the morning of each talk. A donation of £5 is requested for each talk to cover things such as speaker costs, licence fees and donation to military charity.
Wednesday 10th June 7:30pm
Woodcote Village Hall, Reading Road, Woodcote, RG8 0QY
The Battle of Singapore
On Sunday 14 February 1942, Lt Gen Percival GOC Malaya Command travelled from is underground headquarters to an abandoned car factory. He was ushered into a meeting room where he met General Yamashita from the Imperial Japanese Army. 70 days previously 30,000 Japanese had landed on the east coast of Malaya and Siam and fought a blistering campaign against 85,000 Indian, Gurkha, Malay, Chinese, British and Australian troops. That afternoon, Percival would agree to surrender. Join Mike Tickner to learn more about the greatest and most humiliating defeat British Army’s history.
About the speaker – Lieutenant Colonel Mike Tickner
Lieutenant Colonel Mike Tickner is a retired Regular Army officer with a long term interest in the British Army in India and particularly the Far East campaigns and the North West Frontier. He regularly gives talks to military and civilian groups, clubs and museums and writes the occasional article. He has led battlefield studies to the India and South-East Asia, most recently to Singapore.
BMMHS Event Registration
Contact us on [email protected] to register for BMMHS Events and for Zoom talks the log-in details will be emailed to you on the morning of each talk.
BMMHS Village Hall Meeting Tickets
Entry cost is just £8, which includes your entry ticket to the talk, a Q & A, and refreshments (beer, wine, soft drinks). We ask for payment in advance. If you are unable to pay in advance there will be a facility to pay by cash or card on the door.
Entrance to village hall talks for students and under 21s is now free of charge.
Latest News
What history can teach Trump about the Strait of Hormuz crisis
As tensions continue to disrupt global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Dr Linda Parker argues that the present crisis cannot be fully understood — or resolved — without examining the centuries-long struggle for control of the Persian Gulf
Read More
Britannia no longer rules the waves
With questions mounting over whether Britain is prepared to support the U.S in the Gulf and defend its own regional interests, Dr Linda Parker argues that the delay in sending HMS Dragon to Cyprus has revealed how far the Royal Navy has drifted from its long tradition of rapid global...
Read More
Why these bleak, rain-lashed islands may matter more than we think to Arctic security
The Aleutians are remote, storm-lashed and often overlooked, but as Russia and China push harder into the Arctic and North Pacific, this chain of islands off Alaska may prove critical to U.S and NATO security, writes Dr Linda Parker
Read MoreWhat you are saying about BMMHS
"It was a lovely evening and fantastic atmosphere in the room. Very happy to come back in 2021 to speak on my (then) new book on MI9 escape and evasion."
"For anyone interested in Military History, the BMMHS is a must. The monthly meetings cover a wide range of topics, with high quality speakers giving thought-provoking talks. In addition, the quality of facility and refreshments is exceptional, and the audience interesting and welcoming. Highly recommended."
“Just wanted to say how impressed I was by the talk last night and indeed by the meeting itself – the first I’ve been able to attend. An excellent speaker and a well organised meeting!”
"…. We’re very impressed with the line-up of talks arranged for the next year and will endeavour to attend as many as possible ….
We found the ‘Arnhem’ talk most interesting – a very different ‘take’ on the topic from the usual battle on the ground analysis.
Congratulations to you, Nigel, Linda and the team, you’re doing a great job."
"If I may say so, the BMMHS's first few months have been most impressive and a testament to the hard work and enthusiasm the four of you have put in. Everything on Wednesday went well, turnout, seating, notice-boards, drinks and especially the food!
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"…I would like to thank you and your team for another great evening. The talk was brilliant… looking forward to the next one…"
"MANY THANKS for Wednesday night most enjoyable, met some nice chaps, have new dates on the calendar, looking forward to the next talk"
"As with the first BMMHS meeting I attended.... I really enjoyed last night’s presentation. You and your pals have done a great job in getting the BMMHS set up and running smoothly & efficiently, including an excellent website plus arranging for some really interesting presenters and subjects every month."
"A most amazing lecture. To say it was interesting is understating it - it was mind-blowing to think of the courage of those women, who agreed to be SOE agents, despite knowing what awaited them if they were found out. It was fascinating to hear what training they went through, and to learn what some of them did and how they ended up.
Many thanks for another brilliant lecture"
“ If you are like me, and you enjoy the study of a wide range of military history topics, with a bit if a twist, then BMMHS will be right up your street. With its informative panel of expert speakers and on occasion quirky topics, there is something for everyone interested in learning more of their military past. I can thoroughly recommend the BMMHS zoom talk experience. You won’t be disappointed!”
Village Hall FAQs
Venue Address
Woodcote Village Hall
Reading Road
South Oxfordshire
RG8 0QY
Glimpses of War
A compilation of military stories and eyewitness accounts to raise funds for Blind Veterans UK.
Click above to order your copies
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