Christina Holstein will give a presentation on Lieutenant-Colonel Emile Driant.
Born in 1855, Emile was the first high-ranking casualty of the Battle of Verdun. Educated at a military academy he was an officer at the age of 22. He 1906 he resigned his commission, for reason Christina Holstein is certain to explain. He became a journalist and got into politics. With the outbreak of war in 1914 Driant was recalled to the Army as a Captain.
Christina is a long-time resident of Luxembourg and knows the French part of the Western French very well; she has written four notable books on the Battle of Verdun, often conducts tours and has acted as a consultant and historian to numerous BBC productions.
We meet at the Royal British Legion Club, Queensway, Petts Wood, Orpington, Kent BR5 1DH at 7.30pm.