The British Soldier: Training for War explores how WWII British infantry, commandos, and paratroopers were trained in the British Isles. Utilising diverse historical sources, it reveals their preparation through drills, weapon skills, battle schools, and exercises, ultimately building their combat skills, endurance, and confidence for global conflict.
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 7th April 7:30pm
River Kwai Railway – The True Story
The World War II 250 mile Burma-Thailand ‘Death’ Railway was a remarkable engineering feat, but was built with an appalling loss of life.
After a brief summary of the disastrous Malayan Campaign and the fall of Fortress Singapore, the talk covers the urgent need for the railway by the Japanese, its construction, operation, and the partial post-war revival of train services.
Actual events are then contrasted with the fiction of the 1957 acclaimed film ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’, a production both award-winning but also controversial in several respects.
About the speaker – Paul Whittle
Paul’s civilian career was predominantly in the City of London as a senior human resources manager with a leading British bank. In 1999 he was granted his ‘Freedom’ and appointed a Freeman of the City of London.
For 34 years Paul also served in the Royal Corps of Signals, Territorial Army. He took part in many overseas exercises with NATO and attended the TA Command and Staff Course at the Staff College Camberley. He then held two TA Military Secretary appointments, firstly at HQ London District and then at 2 Signal Brigade at Corsham, Wiltshire. For his long and effective service he was awarded the Territorial Decoration (TD) with three subsequent Bars to that decoration. As a retired officer he is Regimental Historian of 31st Signal Regiment (V), whose history he has researched, written and published.
Paul has been a travel lecturer for over twenty years. In the UK he gives up to 100 talks each year, raising funds for charities in Myanmar (Burma), Nepal and elsewhere. He also lectures on cruise ships including Fred Olsen Cruise Lines and P & O Cruises.
His interests are many and varied. He is a keen military historian, and has visited the battlefields of the Crimean War, the American Civil War in Virginia, the Russian Eastern Front and the French Maginot Line defences.
With his interest in heritage transport, Paul is Vice-Chairman of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society. He is a regular visitor to India and is the Society’s principal link withIndian Railways and UNESCO. In late 2018 he was a contributor in the Quest TV documentary series ‘How Trains Changed the World’.
Paul is a member of the National Transport Trust, several UK steam heritage railways and the Wey and Arun Canal Trust. His charitable activities include being President of an Epsom-based community club for the blind and partially sighted.
To date Paul has travelled to over 70 countries including such relatively unknown lands as Eritrea, Armenia, Romania and Montenegro. He has also crossed the Sahara Desert, and journeyed by train from Vladivostok to central Siberia.
He has one grown-up daughter and lives near Woking, Surrey.
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 15th April 7:30pm
Woodcote Village Hall, Reading Road, Woodcote, RG8 0QY
Operation Chastise – the Dambusters’ Raid
It is now over 80 years since the Dambusters’ Raid. It is a story of scientific genius coupled with supreme skill and bravery. The talk will cover the whole operation from concept to conclusion but will, in particular, focus on the raid itself, precisely what the aircrews achieved and what happened to them:
- the background to the raid
- 1943 – the four challenges
- the weapon
- the aircrew
- the aircraft
- the training
- the targets
- the raid plan
- what happened – the three waves, the Dutch coast, on to Germany, the attacks, the return journey
- what was achieved
- the heavy price
- what happened to 617 and the aircrew that took part
- a tribute
About the speaker – Chris Leworthy
After retiring, Chris decided to further his knowledge and develop his interest in Military History, by visiting, reading and, in particular, volunteering at a number of historic sites. After spending some time at the Churchill War Rooms in London, he qualified as a Guide at the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge, from where the defence of London and the South East was directed in 1940, giving regular lectures to visitors to this historic site. Additionally he now delivers a large number of external talks covering key episodes in WW2, including the Battle of Britain, the Dambusters’ Raid, and Operation Jubilee.
He is married, with two adult children, and lives in Berkshire. His other activities include dog walking, gardening, rugby watching, theatre and attempting to avoid reading the news.
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
New Article – Sleeping With The Enemy
During WWII, several British individuals committed treason by collaborating with Nazi Germany. Notable figures include Oswald Mosley, who led the pro-Nazi British Union of Fascists, and John Amery, who recruited for the British Free Corps. Thomas Haller Cooper, influenced by his German heritage, also joined the Corps. Eddie Chapman, a...
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New Article – On The Wings Of Angels
The concept of airlifts began in the early 20th century, with the first operation executed by French forces during World War I to evacuate injured troops. Notable airlifts include the 1928 Kabul Airlift during the Afghan Civil War, the Spanish Army's airlift in 1936, and the India-China Air Ferry from...
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New Zoom Talk Booked for 2027 – The Home Front During The Great War
The talk challenges the tenacious myth that the Great War liberated women, suggesting instead that many were instead preoccupied with mundane, but heroic struggles, to maintain their homes and families on limited budgets. As the conflict wore on and submarine warfare escalated and food shortages became more severe, so did...
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!
"
"…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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