Welcome to the Kent (North West) branch of the Western Front Association.
We operate two programmes of talks: one takes place at in-person meetings at Petts Wood; the other takes place online via zoom.
Online meetings via zoom: Jan-Dec 2024
Online talks: Zoom meetings normally take place on the second Tuesday of each month (except this July when it's the third Tuesday). They go online at 19:20 for a 19:30 start, 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.
| Feb 13 | 'Kaiser Bill: the Man Behind the Image' by Sue Woolmans |
| Mar 19 | 'The Royal Artillery's Blackest Day' by Dr Spencer Jones |
| Apr 9 | Moved to Jun 11 - 'Ashmead-Bartlett and the ANZAC Legend' |
| May 14 | 'Chasing the Lion: The Great War in East Africa' by Rob Fleming |
| Jun 11 | 'Ashmead-Bartlett, Gallipoli, and the ANZAC Legend' by Dr Chris Pugsley |
| Jul 16 | 'Kitchener: The Man Not the Myth' by Dr Anne Samson |
| Aug 13 | Summer break |
| Sep 10 | 'Allenby's Sepoys: The Indian Army and the EEF in 1918' by Dr Adam Prime |
| Oct 8 | 'Nature and the Great War' by Anne Pedley |
| Nov 12 | 'Special Forces in the Great War' by Dr James Pritchett |
| Dec 10 | 'Princess Mary's Christmas Tins 1914' by Prof Peter Doyle |
In-Person meetings at Petts Wood: Jan-Dec 2024
Where we meet: We meet upstairs at the Royal British Legion Club, Queensway, Petts Wood, Orpington, Kent BR5 1DH. Meetings are held 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.
| Feb 29 | 'Coping with Death in the Trenches' by Dr Peter Hodgkinson |
| Mar 28 | 'Observation Balloons on the Western Front – an "over view" ' by Vernon Creek |
| Apr 29 | 'The Indian War memorial at Neuve Chapel' by Prof Mark Connelly |
| May 30 | 'Not Such a Young Woman's War' by Dr Viv Newman |
| Jun 27 |
'Who Killed Capt Martin? 20th Bde on the First Day of the Somme' by Ross Beadle |
| Jul 25 | 'The First RFC Pilot to Land in France' by John Gilder |
| Aug 29 | Summer break |
| Sep 26 | 'High Wire - The Italian Front in the Great War' by Tom Isitt |
| Oct 31 | 'The Cavalry of the Clouds: A History of the Royal Flying Corps' by Emma Hanna |
| Nov 28 | 'Bourlon Wood, November 1917 - What 185th Bde Did Next' by Fraser Skirrow |
| Dec 26 | Winter Break |
Upcoming Branch Events
ONLINE: 'Princess Mary's Christmas Gift 1914' by Prof Peter Doyle
Caption: Mary's Christmas gift - 'every sailor afloat, every soldier at the front' would receive one. About this talk: In 1914, Princess Mary, the only daughter of King George V, was just 17. Yet with the world war two months old, the young princess was destined to make her mark. She would send a Christmas gift to all those serving in uniform, ‘...
Event Details