London (East) branch

Welcome to the London (East) Branch of The Western Front Association

We meet on the 3rd Thursday of the month at Walthamstow Cricket and Tennis Club to learn about all things First World War. Members and non-members of The Western Front Association are equally welcome.

Our meeting venue is close to Wood Street Station and has a large, free car park. It is fully accessible. There is a bar which is open before and after the talk and in the interval and new visitors are guaranteed a friendly atmosphere and a warm welcome.

We ask for a £4 donation in cash on the door (free for under 18s) and there is an opportunity to buy tickets for our monthly raffle.

Monthly Talks

Our members enjoy hearing about diverse aspects of the First World War. Despite our name, we do not confine ourselves to learning about the Western Front, we are interested in all the theatres of war 1914-1919 and in the aftermath.

In recent times, members have enjoyed talks on social history, local history, medical developments, the home front, women at war as well as military tactics and developments, the war on the land, the sea and in the air. Walthamstow is a diverse community and this is reflected in our choice of speakers. They have included those who are expert in the contributions made by armies from other parts of the globe. It really was a World War.

Other Activities

Members have enjoyed a number of organised visits such as to the Imperial War Museum and the Great War Huts in Suffolk.

We run an annual visit to the battlefields of France and Belgium which are led by Mark Smith, the Antiques Roadshow’s “Medal Man”, who is a Walthamstow resident and a member of the branch.

We also reach out to the community: we have run two successful “Great War Days” and Chris Hunt, our vice-chair leads walks round local cemeteries uncovering some of the fascinating stories behind WW1 CWGC graves.

WFA members attend the national Western Front Association’s annual Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on 11 November.

The more you know, the more you realise that you don’t know!

We look forward to welcoming you to our branch meetings.