• Pension Records

    Pension Records

    As members of The Western Front Association will know, in 2012 the WFA stepped in to save from destruction over six million pension records of men who served in the Great War. Below are various articles...

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  • TrenchMapper (Public)

    TrenchMapper

    This portal enables users to study thousands of trench maps from the First World War. To benefit from the full capabilities of this, members can use the full version in the members area of the website...

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  • Stereoscope

    Stereoscope

    Stereoscopic, or 3D, photography was very popular at the time of the Great War. Use the Filter function to select your area of interest from the thousands of images from the conflict that are available here...

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  • Armistice Day Commemorations 2024: An invitation to members of the WFA to attend at the Cenotaph

    Armistice Day Commemorations 2024: An invitation to members of the WFA to attend at the Cenotaph

    This year, Armistice Day - 11 November - falls on a Monday and, as always, The Western Front Association will be mar...

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  • NEW ONLINE COURSE: The Imperial Forces on the Western Front: A Comprehensive Study

    NEW ONLINE COURSE: The Imperial Forces on the Western Front: A Comprehensive Study

    The Western Front Association is delighted to have partnered with the University of Kent to produce The Imperial For...

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  • Bookings for Lunch at The Admiralty Pub 11th November now being taken

    Bookings for Lunch at The Admiralty Pub 11th November now being taken

    Please book your lunch for the 11th November via the WFA shop.  Lunch at The Admiralty Pub, Trafalgar Square (altern...

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  • We are delighted to support this Wilfred Owen Association event on 12th October in St Pancras Church, London

    We are delighted to support this Wilfred Owen Association event on 12th October in St Pancras Church, London

    Samuel West will read the poetry and letters of Wilfred Owen. (c) The Wilfred Owen AssociationDetails > 'The Poet...

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  • Museum of 'Battlefield Crosses' opens in Cheltenham

    Museum of 'Battlefield Crosses' opens in Cheltenham

    The UK’s only dedicated museum of WW1 'Battlefield Crosses' made by comrades of the dead has opened, according to a r...

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  • I Was There!: New chapter of videos commences: 'Winter and Neuve Chapelle, January 1 - March 13 1915'

    I Was There!: New chapter of videos commences: 'Winter and Neuve Chapelle, January 1 - March 13 1915'

    Those members following our 'I Was There!' series will be pleased to know we've now started on a 'new year' - that of...

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  • The Western Front Association's 2025 Calendar

    The Western Front Association's 2025 Calendar

    We are delighted to announce that the 2025 Calendar from The Western Front Association is now available. As ever, thi...

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  • Obituary: Major Tonie Holt, 1930 – 2024

    Obituary: Major Tonie Holt, 1930 – 2024

    Major Tonie Holt, 1930 – 2024 as featured on his LinkedIn pages It is with deep sadness that we announce that Major...

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Benefits of Membership

The Western Front Association was formed in 1980 with the purpose of furthering interest in the history of the First World War of 1914-1918. We also aim to perpetuate the memory, courage and comradeship of all those who served, on all sides, across all theatres and fronts, on land, at sea and in the air and at home, during the Great War. The Western Front Association is non-political and does not seek to glorify war. For a modest annual subscription, our members receive a wide range of benefits including our regular, high-quality publications Stand To! and Bulletin six times a year, access to the Stand To! archive, Gun Fire Archive, Military Factsheets and Pension Records database. In particular, belonging to The Western Front Association provides you with the opportunity of meeting like-minded people to learn, share, explore and exchange information and knowledge of the First World War in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

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Join The WFA

Our aims are 'Remembrance and Sharing the History of the Great War'. You get 6 magazines per year. Currently there is a 3 extra months Free offer - ask office for details. For more information on how to join and what membership options are available, please click the button below.

Click here to join

For all enquiries, please contact the office:
+44 (0) 207 118 1914

  • A Medical Officer on the Western Front by Steve Roberts

    A Medical Officer on the Western Front by Steve Roberts

    16 Oct 2024 19:45 Surrey

    A Medical Officer on the Western Front by Steve Roberts Military Historian and Battlefield Guide Steve Roberts will g...

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  • 'The Great War on the Silent Screen' with Andy Moody

    'The Great War on the Silent Screen' with Andy Moody

    17 Oct 2024 19:30 London (East)

    In the decade following the end of the Great War, cinema audiences boomed and movies were by far the most popular sou...

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  • ‘Artillery -Advances in Technology and Tactics’ by Tim Kidwell

    ‘Artillery -Advances in Technology and Tactics’ by Tim Kidwell

    18 Oct 2024 19:30 Worcestershire & Herefordshire

    At the start of the First World War, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF)’s artillery was trained and equipped to...

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  • CONFERENCE:  ‘A Great War Miscellany’

    CONFERENCE: ‘A Great War Miscellany’

    19 Oct 2024 09:30 Milton Keynes

    After the success of their previous seminar, an exciting full-day seminar is again being held by the Milton Keynes br...

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  • " Hope and Glory Men, the Canadian. The Tunneler and the Politician. "

    " Hope and Glory Men, the Canadian. The Tunneler and the Politician. "

    19 Oct 2024 14:00 Birmingham

       Chris John " Hope and Glory Men, the Canadian. The Tunneler and the Politician. "   A look at the lives of three c...

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  • '48th (South Midlands) Division in Western France & Italy' - A talk by Derek Plews

    '48th (South Midlands) Division in Western France & Italy' - A talk by Derek Plews

    19 Oct 2024 14:30 Ox & Bucks

    Derek's talk takes us to the Western Front and then Italy in the footsteps of the 48th (South Midlands) Division. Thi...

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  • 'Faithful and True: Lt-Col Edwin Richardson and the British War Dog School' Luci Gosling.

    'Faithful and True: Lt-Col Edwin Richardson and the British War Dog School' Luci Gosling.

    21 Oct 2024 20:00 Southend on Sea

    A look at the role of dogs during the Great War with particular emphasis on the pioneering work of EH Richardson and...

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  • 'The RN Air Service in the First World War' with Phil Tomaselli

    'The RN Air Service in the First World War' with Phil Tomaselli

    25 Oct 2024 19:30 Devon and Cornwall

    Phil Tomaselli will be talking about the early RNAS pioneers who flew off ships, developed the first proper bombers,...

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  • 2024 Remembrance Day Seminar, Sydney

    2024 Remembrance Day Seminar, Sydney

    26 Oct 2024 10:00 New South Wales

    The identities and wartime experiences of Australian Army Nursing Service members during the Great War, with talks by...

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  • The Men who sailed on the Australind

    The Men who sailed on the Australind

    31 Oct 2024 20:00 Thames Valley

    Michael Orr - The Men who sailed on the Australind On 26 October 1914 728 men of the 1st Battalion 28th London Regime...

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  • Football and War: The Army FA Archive

    Football and War: The Army FA Archive

    16 Oct 2024 18:30

    Join a panel of experts at the National Army Museum as they discuss the Army Football Association Archive and the fas...

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  • ONLINE: More than just Gallipoli

    ONLINE: More than just Gallipoli

    21 Oct 2024 20:00

    The presentation will be live and online.  This talk by Stuart Hadaway covers three different naval operations (inclu...

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  • ONLINE: ‘Gallipoli and the Royal Munster Fusiliers - lived experiences and local consequences’ with Tom Martin

    ONLINE: ‘Gallipoli and the Royal Munster Fusiliers - lived experiences and local consequences’ with Tom Martin

    22 Oct 2024 19:30

    This is an online event. Tom Martin is a self-employed Financial, Business Consultant and Trainer, working primarily...

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  • The Lasting Legacy of the Lewes First World War Green Huts

    The Lasting Legacy of the Lewes First World War Green Huts

    26 Oct 2024 11:00

    This October, the people of Lewes will once again pay tribute to the history of the WW1 Lewes Green Huts. These huts...

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  • Gallipoli Association Annual Conference & Dinner 2024

    Gallipoli Association Annual Conference & Dinner 2024

    02 Nov 2024 10:00

    The Gallipoli Association 2024 Annual Conference will again take place at the prestigious RAF Club, 128 Piccadilly, L...

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  • ONLINE: Revisiting the Ludendorff Offensives, March-July 1918

    ONLINE: Revisiting the Ludendorff Offensives, March-July 1918

    04 Nov 2024 20:00

    The presentation will be live and online.  This talk by Professor Stevenson will re-examine the five offensives launc...

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  • Vimy Ridge - Remembrance Day Commemoration - 10th November 2024

    Vimy Ridge - Remembrance Day Commemoration - 10th November 2024

    10 Nov 2024 11:00

    The Government of Canada will be holding an act of remembrance at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, on Sunday 10th...

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  • Passchendaele Remembrance Ceremony and Torchlight Procession

    Passchendaele Remembrance Ceremony and Torchlight Procession

    10 Nov 2024 18:30

    On the 10th November 1917, the village of Passchendaele was taken by troops of the Canadian Corps and this marked the...

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  • Ypres Poppy Parade and Remembrance Ceremony

    Ypres Poppy Parade and Remembrance Ceremony

    11 Nov 2024 08:45

    The annual Remembrance ceremony in Ypres this year will commemorate the 106th Anniversary of the Armistice. There wil...

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  • The WFA Commemoration Event at the Cenotaph 2024

    The WFA Commemoration Event at the Cenotaph 2024

    11 Nov 2024 10:00

    Members are welcome to join us at the Cenotaph and Guards Chapel on 11 November. This is a Western Front Association...

    Event Details
Arthur Heptinstall was born in Batley, Yorkshire in 1878 His parents were James (a joiner) and Ann Heptinstall. Arthur was the seventh of their children born between 1864 and 1878.  Arthur enlisted in Bradford on 10 November 1899, joining 2nd Bn Royal Scots (Infantry). He was 21. He served in South Africa from 1900 to 1902 and in India from 1902 to 19...

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15 October 1914 : Pte Arthur William Heptinstall
Pension Records

Pension Records

As members of The Western Front Association will know, in 2012 the WFA stepped in to save from destruction over six million pension records of men who served in the Great War. Below are various art...

READ MORE
The Latest WWI Podcast

The Latest WWI Podcast

The Western Front Association's podcasts 'Mentioned in Dispatches' with Dr Tom Thorpe are an eclectic mix of relaxed discussions with all kinds of contributors: experts in their particular fields,...

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World War I Book Reviews

World War I Book Reviews

First World War book reviews by academics, amateur historians, Western Front Association members and keen readers. 

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World War I Articles

World War I Articles

Articles on every aspect of the First World War written by experts in their field. Some are were first published in Stand To! or Bulletin, others have been researched and written for the web. If yo...

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