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Kut: The Death of an Army.

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Review by Timothy Heck. Kut’s tragedy rings out as “the most abject capitulation in Britain's military history." Given British defeat at Yorktown in 1781 and the 1942 surrender of Singapore, this is quite a claim for a battle on the periphery of the Great War. Led into defeat by General Charles Townshend, British forces, including a large Indian …

General Maude and the Recapture of Kut

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With temperatures ranging from freezing to 130ºF (50ºC) the campaign in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) was undertaken in one of the most inhospitable climates imaginable. Despite being a side-show to the main battles of the First World War in France and Belgium, the Mesopotamian campaign lasted virtually the entire period of the war. A mission had …

6 February 1917 : 2nd Lieut (Res) Leon Alfred O’Meara

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He was the only son of Major Walter O’Meara of 11 Talgrath Rd, West Kensighton, former Barrister and mother Annie Mary (née Mackinnon). Educated at St. Edward’s Oxford. Four years a member of the Officers Training Corps and intended entering Pembroke College, Oxford in the autumn of 1916 to study Engineering. He enlisted the Artists’ Rifle…

Ep. 160 – The 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment in FWW – Nigel Atter

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Historian Nigel Atter talks about his book on the Great War service of the 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment. This is published by Helion. 11 May 2020 : Podcast 160 Nigel Atter, a self-styled ‘independent scholar’ is an active member of the Leicestershire & Rutland branch of The Western Front Association. His interest in the First Wor…

ONLINE Carry On Up the Tigris – The Experiences of British and Indian Troops in Mesopotamia 1914-18 by Alan Wakefield

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ONLINE Zoom Meeting: Carry On Up the Tigris – The Experiences of British and Indian Troops in Mesopotamia 1914-18 by Alan Wakefield Between 1914 and 1918, British and Indian troops fought against the Ottoman Turks in Mesopotamia (now Iraq). After many setbacks, they finally took Baghdad in March 1917. This marked the high point of a long and tragi…

The Road to Sheik Sa’ad

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On the outbreak of war, the 1st Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders were in India but were ordered to move to France, in the Dehra Dun Brigade, Meerut Division of the Indian Corps, under the command of Lieutenant General Sir James Willcocks. Above: Sir James Willcocks and his personal staff in the garden at his headquarters at Merville, France…

Members' Afternoon (1)

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Our annual Members' Afternoon will be held on Sunday, 9th January 2022 - NB this is one week later than usual so that we avoid the New Year period. Again this year, we have a selection of talks which includes: Conscription in the NZEF A Gallipoli Photograph Album RFC (details TBC) The Battle of the Wilsons 1911 - A Monologue in Three Acts Armo…