Chairman's Message

December 2023

Dear BMMHS Supporter

As the years pass by time seems to shoot by quicker and quicker, and already we are approaching the 2023 festive season.

2023
For BMMHS, we have delivered 21 Zoom and Live Meetings to our supporters across the globe, raising monies for over 15 military charities in the process.   The talks have once again covered as wide a range of topics on modern military history as you will find anywhere from Nelson and Trafalgar and Lawrence of Arabia to the Battle of the Bulge, Churchill and our final talk for the year on the Cuban Missile Crisis.   The quality of our speakers continues to widen and to include well known authors and historians such as Guy Walters, Anthony Tucker Jones and Taylor Downing amongst others.

Our audiences generally speaking have held up well especially for the Zoom talks and it has been good to see plenty of new names and faces.   We would like to see younger people (under 50!) coming along too, so please do encourage your family and friends.   Without enough attendees for both live and Zoom talks it makes it more difficult financially to continue holding prices as our costs go up in all areas. 

I know many of you are on Facebook and follow our two FB sites, British Modern Military History Society and Glimpses of the Falklands War.   Both sites are very active and have daily posts which you would find interesting and informative. Do have a look and contribute posts too.

2024 Programme
We have a strong programme already in place for much of 2024 with only a few gaps still to fill.   Amongst many, Helen Fry will return to talk on her new book Women in Intelligence in June, while we are delighted Keith Mills, who lead the Royal Marines’ defence of South Georgia in 1982, will be giving his talk in July on his first hand experiences of 40 years ago.  Other topics include Stalingrad, the Warsaw Uprising, the Dieppe raid and the First Gulf War Campaign.

We have also decided to keep both Zoom and live meetings going throughout 2024, but with one change.   We shall have a break from all talks in August and September so as to give the BMMHS team (and maybe our supporters too) a break.
 
Glimpses of War Book Series
Sales of our Glimpses of War series of books continue to raise considerable sums for our chosen charity Blind Veterans UK.  All 3 books are available in various formats on Amazon.  We are also delighted that the second delivery of Glimpses of the Falklands War will be arriving (by boat) at the Falklands Island Museum in Stanley any day now.   

Why not order copies as Christmas gifts for friends, family or even yourself?   Everyone likes a good book to read during those quieter periods of the festive period.
 
BMMHS Executive Committee
It is approaching five years since the concept of BMMHS came about and in that time we have, despite the best attempt of COVID and lockdown to stop us we held over 75 zoom and live talks, published  3 books and raised thousands of pounds for military charities.   However, it is a huge amount of work, much behind the scenes, organising speakers, keeping the website updates, managing FB pages and generally advertising what we do. 

Due to personal reasons I shall be taking a lower key role as chairman leaving much of the day-to-day effort to the other committee members.  I am therefore delighted to advise that Andy Heiron will be joining the committee in the New Year, and will have an increasing profile in BMMHS.

However, we are still looking for other people to join the BMMHS committee in whatever capacity.  If you would like to get involved, do contact us on info@bmmhs.org
 
We would welcome any feedback from you on what you would like to see from BMMHS.   That may be topics or speakers you would like to hear or would recommend or may have contacts with, trips or events you would be interested in and any other aspect you feel we could do better or should consider.

It is almost the first anniversary of the unexpected and premature death of our friend and colleague Robin Brodhurst.   Robin was a great supporter of BMMHS and as well as giving talks, was a great adviser and sounding board for us all.   He was also perhaps the most knowledgeable and charismatic historian most of us have ever met.   Robin, you are still fondly remembered and missed by us all.
 
And finally, it leaves me on behalf of all at BMMHS to wish you and your families and friends, an enjoyable, happy and healthy festive season and year ahead.  We look forward to seeing you in 2024 for more history talks.

 

Andy Cockeram, Chairman

Glimpses of the Falklands War - Reviews

‘The Task Force’s victory in the Falkland Islands gave freedom back to the Islanders, releasing a vibrant energy to develop their lives. This fascinating compendium is another triumph in the “Glimpses” series!’              

Major General Dair Farrar-Hockley MC, 2 Para in the Falklands

Dair Farrar-Hockley
Major-General Dair Farrar-Hockley MC

Some of the reviews on Amazon:-
5.0 out of 5 stars Really well put together experiences of the wider impact of the War.
This is an extremely absorbing compendium of snippets of personal accounts from and around the Falklands War. It reflects on the wider ripples which spread out from and during the war- bringing in those who were behind the scenes, those in the Islands, those who fought on both sides and the ongoing legacy of how future generations in the islands recall and reflect on how momentous it was-and has been- in their lives. A thoroughly good read and a very valuable addition to the library of accounts of the Falklands War. Compelling.

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply a great read.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this excellent book.
The concept of bringing together so many personal experiences is be admired.
Many new and interesting facets of this war are brought to the fore.
I would say that it is essential reading, that gives the reader an excellent overview of The Falklands War.

5.0 out of 5 stars We did our Duty.
Have just finished reading. A poignant, informative and interesting read through the Falklands War 1982.
Full of personnel accounts from every aspect of the battles fought, the aftermath, clean up, homecoming through to the years after and much much more. Worth every penny. A Falklands War Veteran.

‘Glimpses of the Falklands War’ provides an excellent insight into how individuals react and adapt to the challenges and shocks of a closely fought war, without air superiority, against a determined, professional and powerful enemy (especially in the air), thousands of miles away. The lessons from this war and its mass casualty situations remain as relevant now as forty years ago, indeed even more so. The book is a glimpse of today.

I highly recommend ‘Glimpses of the Falklands War’ to you, and the others in this series.

David Vassallo, Lt. Col RAMC, Chairman, Friends of Millbank

‘COVID inspired books for military charity'

A compilation of military stories and eyewitness account to raise funds for Blind Veterans UK
 
The BMMHS Glimpses of War books are available on Amazon as both paperback and  Kindle versions.

Click above for the BMMHS Events and Zoom Talks Schedule

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bmmhs
Registered charity in England and Wales (216227) and in Scotland (SC039411). A percentage of royalties will be donated to Blind Veterans UK.
 

Copyright © 2024 bmmhs.org – All Rights Reserved

Images © IWM & NAM