Books & Reviews
Book Review: Naval Eyewitnesses
Book review by Linda Parker Click on the image for the book review
March 28, 2023
Latest News
BMMHS NEWS
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BMMHS Articles
The Shortest War in History
Click above for the full article The Shortest War in History The Anglo-Zanzibar War 1896 An article by Nick Brazil
March 25, 2023
BMMHS Zoom Talks
BMMHS Zoom Talk: The War in Ukraine: Tuesday 2nd April 2023 7:30pm
Tuesday 4th April; 7:30pm Click above for FAQs on BMMHS Zoom Talks What has happened and is happening in Ukraine Chris ParryChris Parry will review the Ukrainian and Russian military campaigns in Ukraine, highlight some of the salient lessons and forecast what the conflict might mean for the future of
March 16, 2023
BMMHS Meeting
BMMHS Village Hall Meeting: The Glider Pilot Regiment: Wednesday 12th April 2023 7:30pm
Wednesday 15th March; 7:30pm Meetings – Tickets, Reservations and Venue Directions BMMHS Meeting Venue Woodcote Village Hall, Reading Road, Woodcote, RG8 0QY The Glider Pilot Regiment – Silently To War Tony BrayIn the dark days of 1940 Britain and the Commonwealth stood very much alone. Most of Europe was enslaved
March 16, 2023
BMMHS Articles
Battlefield Experience from the Forgotten War – Korea 1950-53
Battle Experience from the ‘Forgotten War’; Korea 1950-53 An article by James Goulty Click on the image for the article
March 10, 2023
BMMHS Events
New Events Booked
Exciting new BMMHS talks – put the dates in your calendar 1942: Britain at the Brink – Taylor Downing, Churchill: Master and Commander – Anthony Tucker-Jones, Warsaw Uprising – Alina Nowobilska, To War with the Walkers – Annabel Venning
March 10, 2023
Books & Reviews
Book Review: RAF Squadron Losses
Book review by Geoff Simpson Click on the image for the book review
March 9, 2023
BMMHS Meeting
BMMHS Village Hall Meeting: The Role of the Medic in Modern Warfare
Wednesday 15th March; 7:30pm Meetings – Tickets, Reservations and Venue Directions Woodcote Village Hall, Reading Road, Woodcote, RG8 0QY The Role of the Medic in Modern Warfare by Col David VassalloDavid’s talk will be very much an overview of developments over past and recent conflicts, highlighting key lessons relevant to today –
February 16, 2023
BMMHS Virtual Talks
In June, we ran a Pilot BMMHS Zoom talk to a restricted number of participants to investigate the demand for on-line BMMHS Talks and make sure that we all felt comfortable with the technology. Following the success of the pilot, we have rolled out a programme of BMMHS Zoom Talks starting in August, with 2 talks a month until the end of 2020, and one Zoom talk a month after that when we hope also to resume talks in the Woodcote Village Hall.
Pilot BMMHS Zoom Talks
BMMHS Zoom First Pilot Talk - Airborne Padres of WW2
This afternoon talk took place on Tuesday 23rd June. Jerry Cockeram opened with an update on BMMHS during the lockdown and also the progress of Operation Bookworm.
Then Linda Parker gave an interesting talk on Airborne Padres in the Second World War which was well received by the audience of 27 people. It was nice to see some familiar faces and some new ones too and there was also an interesting Q&A session at the end. The talk went well with only a few minor technical glitches, which we are working to overcome. Feedback from members on the “Zoom” was enthusiastic and appreciative, with most people willing to make a donation or contribution towards the cost of future Zoom talks.
Click above for the BMMHS Zoom Talks Schedule
BMMHS Zoom Second Pilot Talk - Ice Stations to Action Stations
Ice Stations to Action Stations by Linda Parker.
This talk tells the story of the “curious little war” that took place on the Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard 1941-1945. The island of Spitsbergen was the site of confrontation between the allies and Germany as the weather stations both sides attempted to maintain there were strategically important for the course of the war in Europe, Including D day.
The men involved on both sides had been prominent polar explorers in the interwar years, and Alexander ‘Sandy’ Glen in particular used the skills he had acquired in his pre-war exploration of the archipelago in the game of cat and mouse that took place as each side sought to obtain the advantage of obtaining regular weather forecasts and knowledge of Atlantic and Arctic conditions.
Bomber Command Association in Australia Newsletter
BCCA Newsletter Autumn 2020
Click on the Halifax to see PDF contents
EVENT POSTPONED
BMMHS Visit to the Battle of Britain Bunker - Uxbridge
Thursday 13th February 2020
The BMMHS had a successful visit yesterday to the Battle of Britain Bunker the former underground operations room used by No 11 Group Fighter Command RAF during WW2. Fighter aircraft operations were controlled from here throughout the war but most noteably during the Battle of Britain and on D-Day. There is also a new visitors centre opened in March 2018. The tour guide Chris Leworthy was excellent and the day was enjoyed by all. A highly recommended place to visit.
https://battleofbritainbunker.co.uk
BMMHS Meeting Weds 8th April 2020
Woodcote Village Hall Refurbishment
The Main Hall, will be redecorated at the time of this April talk by Gary Sheffield. Gary’s talk will go ahead in the next door Function Room. However this has halved our capacity to 50 people for this one talk and all seats have now been reserved. Apologies to those who had hoped to attend. Normal service in the refurbished Main Hall will resume in May for all future talks.
BMMHS Announces Schools & Colleges Initiative - November 2019
BMMHS is pleased to announce that we have appointed Linda Parker as our Schools Liaison Officer. Linda’s role now includes a focus on establishing links with local schools and colleges with a view to broadening our audiences into a younger generation.
Please if you can provide us with contacts and advice in this area then contact us via info@bmmhs.org
We are now moving into the larger Main Hall, in Woodcote Village Hall.
Our previous talks have been sold out but thanks to the help from both Jenny & the Yoga team, we are now moving into the Larger Main Hall, in Woodcote Village Hall.
In order to secure a seat for future events, please contact us on info@bmmhs.org and we will confirm availability.
Memorial service for 75th anniversary of the loss of Halifax VII, NP681 RCAF that crashed at Newnham Manor Farm, Crowmarsh Gifford.
On Monday 9th September 2019 a memorial service was held in Crowmarsh, close to where the aircraft crashed on the 75th anniversary of the event. The memorial service was attended by personnel from RAF Benson including Group Captain Adam Wardrope DFC and the RAF Chaplain Matt Stevens together with representatives from the Royal British Legion and the local community.
Wing Commander (Ret) Jim Wright DFC, former navigator with the Bomber Command Pathfinder Force and veteran of 44 wartime operations laid a wreath on behalf of the citizens of Crowmarsh and the Bomber Command Association.
HMS Royal Oak Commemorative Services in Wantage
On Monday 14th October 2019, Wantage held Two Services of Remembrance commemorating the first casualties of the Second World War from the town .
BMMHS is delighted to announce that 3 more high quality talks have been confirmed for 2020
BMMHS is delighted to announce that 3 more high quality talks have been confirmed for 2020, on top of those already on the published schedule.
March 11th 2020, historian and researcher specialising in the Cold War, Bill Pyke will give a talk on distinguished airman and Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Slessor – An unsung Cold War Strategist and his role as the architect of British Airborne Nuclear Deterrence.
May 13th 2020, historian and writer, Robin Brodhurst will give a talk on the Battle of the Atlantic – how the allies fought the U Boat threat in WW2.
September 9th 2020, author, broadcaster and aviation historian, Paul Beaver will give a talk on Taranto, the sinking of the Italian fleet in WW2.
Other BMMHS Events are being planned including talks on the Air Transport Auxiliary and the Falklands War.
Watch this space!
Bomber Command Association in Australia Newsletter
BCCA Newsletter Winter 2019
BCAA 71 Spring 2019
Click on Lancaster to see PDF contents
The Wooden World - Life in Nelson's navy - A Talk by Philip K Allan
An excellent talk followed by a book signing by naval author, Philip K Allan, author of the Alexander Clay series. Following a lifetime’s love of the wooden warships of the Napoleonic era, Philip took a packed house through a fascinating presentation of what it was like to live and work in the navies of the day.
Chalke Valley History Festival 24th - 30th June 2019 (Near Salisbury)
Great day out at the Chalke Valley History Festival near Salisbury. Wide range of things to do and see ranging from brewing medieval beer, civil war canon and muskets, Sherman tanks to tapping out Morse code at the Royal Signals museum tent. Lots of interesting talks across hundreds of years of British history.. listened to two fascinating talks on Tedder and the Battle of the River Plate. Definitely worth a visit.. free entry and you only pay for the talks.
BMMHS Visit to D-Day Museum in Portsmouth 23rd May 2019. The first trip organised by BMMHS.
Yesterday saw the first trip organised by BMMHS. An excellent day out to the DDay museum at Portsmouth just a few days before the 75th
anniversary. Much improved and modernised museum with plenty to see and learn about. Gave a real perspective on the scale of the challenge , and the bravery of so many men and woman.
Great place to go for adults and children. Also enough time to stroll along the front in glorious sunshine to see the impressive Naval Memorial and to see the plaque to the Cockleshell Heroes.
Many thanks to Nigel and Linda for organising the day and to Phil for doing the driving.
BMMHS Inagural Meeting: The Real Dad’s Army; The role and training of British Auxiliary Units in World War 2.
Last night saw the first event of the BMMHS, with a fascinating talk by local historian Bill King, assisted by his wife Flora, on how Britain intended to repel a German invasion in 1940 through the use of ‘underground’ resistance fighters.
Click on Unit Badge for meeting details
Bomber Command Association in Australia
BCCA Newsletter Winter 2019
Click on Image to see PDF contents
Happy 98th Birthday Royal Australian Air Force
On 31 March 1921, the RAAF was formed as an independent service from the Army, making it the second-oldest air force in the world.
The RAAF has its origins in the Australian Flying Corps, which served in the Middle East and European theatres during the First World War.
BMMHS Announced at WFA TVP Branch Meeting
Thank you to Barbara Taylor of The Western Front Association for kindly announcing the formation of the British Modern Military History Society to members at the Thames Valley Branch meeting on Thursday 28th March 2019.
