The Bradford WW1 Group meets on the 4th Wednesday morning of each month, from 10.00am to 12 noon on the 2nd floor of the Mechanics Institute, 76 Kirkgate, We are a convivial and friendly group and you will be made very welcome indeed. Membership is not required, all we ask is for a small admission fee to cover our meeting expenses. Our wide and varied programme of speakers cover a wide range of topics related to WW1.
2025 Programme
22 Jan – Sarah Heseltine: Auxiliary Hospital 222: L’Hospital Britannique
In 1914, members of the British colony in Menton on the French Riviera were to establish and run one of the largest and best equipped war-time hospitals in the beautiful Imperial Palace hotel: surely a Riviera Respite? The hospital which provided over 400 beds for sick and injured soldiers, was staffed almost entirely with British doctors, nurses and VADs, who travelled to France under the auspices of the British Committee of the French Red Cross. Sarah lived in Menton for many years, in the former Imperial Palace which has now been converted into apartments. She became fascinated by the hospital, and the people who served there, and has been researching their stories ever since.
26 Feb – Graham Roberts: Harrogate War Memorial
The Grade 2 listed Harrogate War Memorial stands in a commanding position on Prospect Square, Parliament Street – opposite Betty’s. It was unveiled in September 1923 by the Earl of Harewood in the presence of 10,000 people. Graham has research the history of its construction and all 1163 names on the bronze plaques from which he has assembled some heroic but poignant stories for us
26 Mar – Rob Voakes: Film in WW1, Part 2
After the war documentary and narrative films served to reflect and shape the collective memory of the war across the range of war-film genre: combat, propaganda, antiwar,gender-focused, home front films, musicals, comedies and films focusing on the life of war veterans. From newsreel to block-buster, how do we assess these films today?
30Apr – Nick Hooper: February 1917: a bad month for Bradford
On 27 February 1917 the Bradford Pals were ordered to advance to Rossignol Wood which intelligence suggested had been abandoned by the Germans in their retreat to the Hindenberg Line. The reports were incorrect. Owl Trench Cemetery, opposite the wood, now contains over 70 Pals who were killed in the advance. Did some Pals “put up their hands” ? Nick will look again at the incident.
(Note: this date is a week later than usual to avoid the Easter Holiday week)
21 May – Colin Chapman: Lusitania: Background, Outcomes and Consequences
This marine disaster, which many claim to have altered the course of WW1, generated unprecedented riots in Brotain and accelerated civilian internment. The sinking and its outcomes will be described by Colin 110 years after the sinking in May 1915
25 Jun – Martyn James: The Imperial Camel Corps Brigade
The Imperial Camel Corps was raised in 1916 by the British Army’s Egyptian Expeditionary Force initially for patrol work. They progressed to a more active combat role and were engaged in the Senusse Campaign, the Sinai and Palestine Campaign and the Arab Revolt. Their story is little – known and Martyn’s interest arose after discovering that his grandmothers brother (a hotel owner in |Tasmania post-war) had served with them
23 Jul – Ronnie Walsh: Victorias Last VC: the story of Charles Burley Ward
Ronnie brings us a local tale of long military service. Born into poverty in Hunslet, the story of Charles Burley Ward begins during the second Boer War. His investiture at Windsor Castle was the lat to be performed by Queen Victoria. He served again in WW1 and saw service in France in the last few months of the war
20 Aug Members’ Morning: Bring and Tell
This is an opportunity for Group members and friends to bring badges, artifacts, documents, books, family photos and stories to show the group, to be discussed and ‘chewed-over’ and even for identification. An informal and often fun session
(Note: this date is a week earlier than usual to avoid Bank Holiday week
24 Sept – Alastair Francis: “Aussie” Magazine and the Australian Corps in 1918 – 1919
The Australian troops serving in France produced a trench magazine. The content ranged from glossaries of slang to unexpected topics such as articles on Australian poets. The “Aussiosites” column of humorous stories from members of the Corps, cartoons and reviews of divisional follies shows. The third edition had a circulation of 100,000 copies and the paper provides a unique window into the world of the Australian soldier in France in 1918 and the post-Armistice problems of demob and return to Australia. The talk also looks at the careers of some of the magazine’s journalists and artists.
22 Oct – Frazer Skirrow: Bourlon Wood, November 1917 – What the 185 Brigade did next.
At Havrincourt on 20 November 1917, 185 Brigade of the 62nd West Riding Division carried out a highly successful attack. Called back into action a few days later the Brigade found itself in an unplanned and confused engagement with an enemy rapidly recovering from the shock of the assualt. How did the officers and men of 185 apply theit tactical skills to this situation and what can be learned from the fight at Bourlon Woob?
26 Nov: – TBC Louise Provan: The adventures of “Dunsterforce” in Trans Caucasia in 1918
Louise Provan joins us to talk about Dunsterforce – a “mad cap boy’s own adventure” across Persia during the First World War described by Peter Hart as “jolly japes in the Causus”!
17 Dec Members’ Morning: Bring and Tell
This is an opportunity for Group members and friends to bring badges, artifacts, documents, books, family photos and stories to show the group, to be discussed and ‘chewed-over’ and even for identification. An informal and often fun session