Welcome to the Kent (North West) branch of the Western Front Association.
We operate two programmes of talks: one taking place at in-person meetings at Petts Wood; the other online via zoom.
Online meetings via zoom: Jan-Dec 2023
Online talks: Zoom meetings normally take place on the second Tuesday of each month (except this November and December when it's the third Tuesday), going online at 19:20 for a 19:30 start and ending about 75 minutes later. Participating is quick and easy. All you need is a computer, or a tablet, or a smart phone. Simply email us - wfa.nwkent@gmail.com - and we'll send the links and passcodes needed to attend. You will also be automatically added to the NW Kent mailing list to keep you updated about future zoom events.
| Jan 10 | 'The Myths of Audregnies' by Phil Watson |
| Feb 14 | 'Peril in Paradise: Asia and the Pacific during the Great War' by Rob Fleming |
| Mar 14 | 'Germans on the Run: From Tsingtao to Skipton' by Anne Buckley |
| Apr 11 | 'Contacting the Dead: Spiritualism and the Great War' by Suzie Grogan |
| May 9 | 'Ludendorff Offensives (Mar-Jul 1918)' by Prof David Stevenson |
| Jun 13 | 'Mountaineers in the Great War' by Anne Pedley |
| Jul 11 | 'Canadian Nurses: The First Contingent' by Dr Andrea McKenzie |
| Aug 8 | Summer break |
| Sep 12 | 'Fire & Ice in the High Alps: The Italian Front & Britain's Role in the Great War in Italy' by Rob Fleming |
| Oct 10 | 'Conscientious Objectors' by Prof Lois Bibbings |
| Nov 21 | 'Morris Meredith Williams, an Artist on the Western Front' by Phyllida Shaw |
| Dec 19 | [Christmas special] 'Not so silent nights: the 1914 Christmas Truce' by Prof Mark Connolly |
In-Person meetings at Petts Wood: Jan-Dec 2023
Where we meet: We meet upstairs at the Royal British Legion Club, Queensway, Petts Wood, Orpington, Kent BR5 1DH. Meetings are held on the on the last Thursday of each month (except August and December, when no meeting is held). The club and bar opens at 18:30. We ask people to turn up by 19:20, so the talk can start at 19:30. We do not charge entrance fees but do welcome donations of £5 or more towards our costs.
Getting there: The club is next to Morrison's supermarket and Petts Wood railway station. Parking at the rear of the club is free but you need to type your car registration into the machine (on the left as you enter the club). Not entering your car's registration can lead to a £50 fine. Alternatively, there's easy free parking in adjacent side streets.
| Mar 30 | 'Riding the Zone Rouge' by Tom Isitt |
| Apr 27 | 'Gallipoli chaplains crossing the divide' by Carole Hope |
| May 25 | 'Children in the Great War: what was done to us was wrong’ by Dr Viv Newman |
| Jun 29 | 'Verdun, August 1917: The French hit back' by Christine Holstein |
| Jul 27 | 'Valour or Myth? Great War Air VCs' by John Gilder |
| Aug 31 | Summer break |
| Sep 28 | 'Shell Shock: understanding psychological casualties from the battlefield' by Prof Edgar Jones |
| Oct 26 | 'Filling in the gaps - the London Ambulance Column' by Dr Emily Mayhew |
| Nov 30 | 'Laugh or Fly: Chocks away with the Royal Flying Corps 1914-18' by Peter Hart / Gary Bain |
| Dec 28 | Winter break |
Upcoming Branch Events
See Bulletin, or the Branch Facebook Page or website for forthcoming event details.