For the third year, visitors to the Western Front now have the opportunity to supplement their tour with a lecture given by experts within sight of the front line.
The Lunch Time Lectures will begin at 1pm local time and will be held in the study area close to Avril William's museum in the village of Auchonvillers.
Lectures will last about an hour and most will be followed by a guided battlefield tour. The series will cover a wide range of topics, relating to the Great War and are intended to suit all those interested in the war on the western Front. There will be an opportunity to speak to the presenters after the presentations.
Cost will be 10 Euros per person (unless noted below), which includes an aperitif.
Lunch and refreshments are available on site and there is ample parking.
| Date | Subject | Presenter |
| Saturday, 7th April | "Horsemen in No Man's Land: British Cavalry and Trench Warfare 1914-1918" | Dr. David Kenyon |
| Saturday, 12th May | "The Platoon: An Infantryman on the Western Front , 1916-18" | Andrew Robertshaw and Steve Roberts |
| Sunday, 13th May | Conducted driving tour of sites associated with the film , "The Platoon". Price 10 Euros per head. Starts in Auchonvillers at 10a.m. and ends at 1p.m. Transport can be booked with return to Auchonvillers at additional cost. | Andrew Robertshaw and Steve Roberts |
| Saturday, 9th June | "Gommecourt" | Bill MacCormick |
| Saturday, 30th June | "Somme Success: the Royal Flying Corps and the Battle of the Somme, 1916" | Peter Hart | Saturday, 30th June | SPECIAL: Walking tour of sites associated with the film , "The Somme" Starts in Auchonvillers at 09.30 and ends at 12.00. |
Andrew Robertshaw and Steve Roberts |
| Saturday, 30th June | Evening showing of "The Somme 1916" | Andrew Robertshaw, Steve Roberts and David Kenyon |
| Sunday, 1st July | SPECIAL: Ceremony in the Sunken Lane, Beaumont Hamel |
Andrew Robertshaw and Steve Roberts |
| Sunday, 1st July | SPECIAL: Conducted driving tour of sites associated with "The Somme". Price 15 Euros per head. Starts in Auchonvillers at 10.00 and ends at 12.30. Transport can be booked with return to Auchonvillers at additional cost. |
Andrew Robertshaw and Steve Roberts |
| Saturday, 15th September | "Talbot House - A Home From Home" (Musical Performance) | Peter Gill |
| Saturday, 13th October | "In A Familiar Foreign Land: The Experience of Front Line Medical Officer on the Somme 1918" | Ian Passingham |
| Saturday, 10th November | "Two Battles of Beaumont Hamel, 1916" | Derek Bird |
Further speakers and topics will be announced here as they are confirmed.
To reserve your seats at any of the presentations, click on the button below:
Earlier presentations:
| Michael St Maur Sheil -- "The Unknown Western Front- from the Somme to the Vosges" Attended by 10 very brave people, who defied the arctic weather conditions to attend this very informative first talk of the year. The photos were extremely interesting showing some of the places that are rarely visited. Hidden in the trees, trenches that remain virtually intact. Well done Michael for braving the cold to bring us this fascinating insight. |
| Jack Sheldon - "The German Army at Beaumont Hamel 1914-1916" The second of the talks at Ocean Villas. Attended by the Suffolk WFA and others, this popular talk was about the Germans and the background to their success in holding up the initial attack on the Somme on the 1st July 1916. Jack's unique research in the German archives has resulted in some excellent recent books in addition to this very interesting illustrated presentation. |
| Martin Middlebrook - "The Battle of the Somme" Appropriately, this presentation took place on 1st July. The audience were treated to an excellent account by the respected author whose ground-breaking book was responsible for so much of today's interest in the battle.
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| Bill McCormick - "Gommecourt" This fascinating presentation was a summary of the diversionary operation which coincided with the opening of the Battle of the Somme. It was followed by a well-planned guided tour of many of the key sites which were further explained and put into the context of the battle as a whole.
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| Major & Mrs Holt "Major & Mrs Holt talking to a fascinated group at the Thiepval Memorial during a guided tour from Avril's in August, 2010".
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For further information and to contact Avril Williams:
From within France: 03.22.76.23.66 Email: avwilliams@nordnet.fr |
In Frankreich: 03 22 76 23 66
E-Mail: avwilliams@nordnet.fr |
De l'intérieur de la France: 03.22.76.23.66 Courrier électronique: avwilliams@nordnet.fr
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