Caption: Tourists on the Western Front c. 1920
About this talk: Unlike Ypres, which although devastated was close to the channel ports and had its transport links rapidly re-established, visiting the Somme was a far more challenging prospect in the years immediately following the war. Nearly fifty miles across from Amiens to St Quentin and close to thirty miles long from Ayette to the Somme river crossings, this vast devastated space was restored only slowly. Visiting the Somme district was therefore both a difficult and sobering experience fully bringing home the destruction caused by the war and the immense challenge of reconstruction.
About the speaker: A popular and lively speaker, Mark Connelly (pictured) is Emeritus Professor of Modern British History at the University of Kent. He works closely with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and runs a joint seminar series with the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ieper. His publications include The Great War: memory and ritual; The British Army and the First World War (with Ian Beckett and Timothy Bowman) and Postcards from the Western Front: pilgrims, veterans and tourists after the Great War. In 2024 he founded Connelly Contours leading London history walks (including one dedicated to the capital's First World War memorials) and guided walks of the battlefields in France and Belgium. For more information see: connellycontours.co.uk
Where we meet: We meet at the Royal British Legion Club, Queensway, Petts Wood, Orpington, Kent BR5 1DH. Meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month (except June, July, August and December). Talks start at 19:30, with the doors (and the bar) opening at 18:30. No entrance fees but we do welcome donations of £5 or more towards our costs.
How to get there: The club is next to Morrison's supermarket and Petts Wood railway station (trains from Charing Cross, Cannon Street, and Victoria). Parking at the rear of the club is free but you need to enter your car registration into the machine (on the left as you enter the club). Failure to enter your registration can lead to a £50 fine. There's easy free parking in adjacent side streets.