18th January Morag Stalker Dan Stalker's War - And a Family Mourns
Morag was born and grew up in Dundee, but after a three year spell living in the United States, spent much of her adult life away from the city, attending and then working at the University of Sussex. She returned to Dundee in 2004 and worked in the administration at the University of St Andrew's before retiring in 2017. She has extensively researched Dan Stalker’s military service in WW1.
Her talk “Dan Stalker’s War – and a Family Mourns” tells his story and the impact on his family. Morag tells the story through both official and personal contemporary correspondence.
1st March Andy Moody Musical Box - The Tank Corps at Amiens 1918
On 8 August 1918, the Medium 'A' Whippet tank called Musical Box took part in the opening phase of the battle of Amiens, tasked with supporting Australian infantry and cooperating with the cavalry. The tank, commanded by Lt Clem Arnold and crewed by driver Willie Carney and gunner Chris Ribbans went on a ten-hour rampage behind German lines, completely unsupported, causing mayhem until it was finally knocked out in the late afternoon. This action has become part of the tank regiment folklore and is rightly celebrated to this day.
In November 2019 Tony Cook and Kevin Jepson started work on a full-scale working replica, building the world's only functioning Whippet tank from scratch using basic hand tools. The speaker joined the team in November 2021 and in July 2024 Musical Box appeared at Bovington ‘Tankfest’ to a rapturous reception, including from decedents of the original crew.
This is the story of early tank development, the evolution of armoured warfare seen through the experience of one tank, three brave men and how that legacy was brought back to life by a small team of enthusiasts.
Andys talk will follow the Branch's AGM.
12th April Evan Mawdsley Russia in WW1
Evan Mawdsley, was Professor of International History at the University of Glasgow. His teaching and research were concerned mainly with 20th century Russian History and also the History of the Second World War.
Evan will present on, and consider why the Eastern Front is so often a neglected subject, despite its obvious importance within the context of The GreT War. He will also look at the links between The Great War, the revolution of 1917, and the Russian Civil War.
Evan’s published work on the era of the First World War includes The Russian Revolution and the Baltic Fleet: War and Politics, February 1917 to April 1918 (1978) and The Russian Civil War (1987). Evan was also involved in the preparation of the multi-volume series 'Russia's Great War and Revolution'.
The War for the Seas: A Maritime History of World War II (2019) and Supremacy at Sea: Task Force 58 and the Central Pacific Victory (2024) are his most recent publications.
31st May Steve Marsdin Defense de Fumer!
Steve is an active member of the WFA and the Great War Group. Married to a Belgian, he travels frequently and extensively in Belgium, the Ardennes and the French areas of the Great War.
Steve talk “Défense de Fumer: How a Company of French Reserves (May Have) Changed the War” looks at the remarkable events near and in the town of Fumay on the River Marne, in August 1914 when events, if they had turned out differently, had the potential to end the Great War shortly after it began. Fascinating in “boys own story” way, the incredible turn of events makes a great Great War story.
12th July Phil Watson Lance -v- lance 1914
- The Last Lance Actions of the Great War
Major Phil Watson (retd) joined the 9/12 Lancers in 1976 and was commissioned from the ranks in 1988. After various staff appointments, he returned to regiment duty to command Headquarters Squadron. He left the 9/12L in 2012 after 35 years-service and was appointed Assistant Regimental Secretary, a mainly welfare role. He is an adult volunteer with Lincolnshire ACF, after completing three years as the commandant for Leicestershire, Northampton, and Rutland. He is also Chair of SSAFA Leicestershire and Rutland. Currently he is completing his master's at Wolverhampton University under Prof Gary Sheffield and Dr Spencer Jones. His main research interest is the regiment's last two mounted lance actions (during the Retreat from Mons). They are examined in his books, The Last Charges, published by the regimental trustees in 2016, and Audregnies: The Flank Guard Action and the First Cavalry Charge of the Great War, published by Helion in 2019.
Phil’s talk 'Le Moncel - Lance verses Lance' On 7 September 1914, the 9th Lancers (2nd Cavalry Brigade) conducted the last lance verses lance charge on the Western Front. It took place at Le Moncel, just outside Paris, on what would become the end of the Retreat and the beginning of the Battle of the Marne. The commanding officer, and two troops of B Squadron charged a squadron from 1st Garde Dragoner. The story was depicted in paintings, which misrepresented the action. Likewise, the regimental history only recorded that which supported the cavalry narrative. The presentation seeks to represent an accurate portrayal from both German and British sources.
The second Scotland and the Great War Conference will take place at Discovery Point, Dundee on Saturday 20th September 2025 from 10.00 to 16.30.
Speakers include Professor Sir Hew Strachan (Co-Patron of the WFA), Professor Peter Doyle and Richard van Emden.
Lunch and access to Discovery Point and the RRS Discovery included.
Further details of cost and lectures will be available soon.
Meanwhile, please put the date in your diary.
Contact Mike Taylor our Branch Chair on wfatayside@gmail.com for latest details.
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15th November Paul Knight The 2nd Battle of Ramadi
Major Paul Knight PhD VR FRHistS is an Army Reserve officer employed in Historical Analysis at the Land Warfare Centre. He served two operational tours in Iraq (2005 and 2007) and a year in between studying Arabic. While serving in Al-Amara in 2005, he became interested in the Mesopotamia Campaign, in particular ‘Townshend’s Regatta’ of 1915 which captured Al-Amara at the end of the most successful advance of the British Army in the First World War. He is the author of The British Army in Mesopotamia and is currently writing a book on the Second Battle of Ramadi, 1917, which he will argue was the most perfectly fought battle of the war.
The Mesopotamia Campaign is usually associated with the disaster of the Siege of Kut or mistaken for part of the Arab Revolt. Like the First Day of the Somme was not the whole of the Western Front, so the Siege of Kut was not the whole of the Mesopotamia Campaign. The remainder of the campaign was marked by manoeuvre and success, no more so than at the Second Battle of Ramadi which was, in the speaker’s opinion, the most perfectly fought battle of the First World War.
Unfortunately, the First Battle of Ramadi was a rare example of a British defeat away from the Siege of Kut. Maude (GOC Allied Forces in Mesopotamia) later called the action "an instance of as clean and business-like a military operation as one could wish to see".
14th December Members Medley & Mince Pies
Our usual end-of-year round up and presentations from members, alongside Xmas nibbles and mince pies!