A 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.

Next BMMHS Event

Tuesday 2nd April 7:30pm

Stanford Tuck - From the Battle of Britain to the Great Escape

BMMHS Zoom Talk

Tuck's Luck
From the Battle of Britain to the Great Escape 
Stanford Tuck was the great hero of the RAF, one of the highest scoring aces until it came to an abrupt halt when he was captured and taken prisoner in the notorious Stalag Luft III. He eventually escaped and ended up with the advancing Russian Army.   This talk is based on the new biography of Tuck which examines the many myths surrounding him.
 
About the Speaker Dr Helen Doe
Helen Doe is a historian, author and speaker with a particular love of maritime and aviation subjects. She has written a range of books and her latest is Stanford Tuck: The Hero of the Battle of Britain is her second RAF biography. She is now working on the official bicentenary history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. 
A popular speaker, Helen has spoken at several literary festivals, is a regular guest on cruise ships and has appeared regularly on tv and radio. 
Stanford Tuck
One of the Italian B.R. 20 bombers shot down by 257 Squadron in the Armistice Day battle, 1940. (Photo: IWM)
Stanford Tuck
A photograph, much used in wartime propaganda, of a Spitfire formation led by Tuck in the nearest machine. This "copybook" formation continues with Brian Kingcombe, George Proudman, Gordon Olive, Nicky Nicholas and Sergeant McPherson (Photo: Charles E. Brown)
Stanford Tuck
"the glorious dead-beats" - 257 pilots at Martlesham Heath, 1941. Bob Tuck is in the centre, wearing cap. Tousle-haired officer on his right is his great friend Peter "Cowboy" Blatchford. Source:Fly for Your Life - Larry Forrester)
Combat Stress Charity
Helen's chosen charity for this talk

Zoom talk - Payment and registration

Contact us on info@bmmhs.org 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 April 7:30pm

Meeting

Woodcote Village Hall, Reading Road, Woodcote, RG8 0QY

Creating a British Way of War

Speaker: Professor Andrew Lambert

How a strategist’s ideas were catastrophically ignored in 1914-but shaped Britain’s success in the Second World War and beyond
 
Leading historian Andrew Lambert will describe how, as a lawyer, civilian, and Liberal, Julian Corbett (1854-1922) brought a new level of logic, advocacy, and intellectual precision to the development of strategy.
 
Corbett skilfully integrated classical strategic theory, British history, and emerging trends in technology, geopolitics, and conflict to prepare the British state for war. He emphasised that strategy is a unique national construct, rather than a set of universal principles, and recognised the importance of domestic social reform and the evolving British Commonwealth. Corbett’s concept of a maritime strategy, dominated by the control of global communications and economic war, survived the debacle of 1914-18, when Britain used the German “way of war” at unprecedented cost in lives and resources. It proved critical in the Second World War, shaping Churchill’s conduct of the conflict from the Fall of France to D-Day. And as Prof Lambert will show, Corbett’s ideas continue to influence British thinking.
 
About the speaker – Professor Andrew Lambert
Andrew Lambert is Laughton Professor of Naval History at King’s College, London, and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He is the author of Seapower States.
 
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 on the door.
HMS Dreadnought
Battle of Jutland
Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, Commander in Chief of the Grand Fleet. IWM Q 55499

BMMHS Event Registration 

Contact us on info@bmmhs.org 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. 

For details of how to make an advance payment click here

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Woodcote Village Hall
South Oxfordshire
RG8 0QY

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