Next Meeting: Friday 9 July
Muirhead Bone: Artist & Patron - Sylvester Bone
Etcher, draughtsman and painter, Muirhead Bone was born in Glasgow in 1876, the son of a journalist. He is best known for his work as an official artist on the Western Front, where he worked quickly in pencil and chalk to produce haunting images. Many of these were printed by the War Office as lithographs on his return home. He produced hundreds of sketches and watercolours of the Western Front, the Grand Fleet in the Firth of Forth, shipbuilding on the Clyde and the war effort in factories the length and breadth of Britain.
Bone's early training as an architect led to a fascination for observing buildings. His special province was the rendering of great masses of buildings under construction or demolition, with all the attendant paraphernalia, in such a manner that out of superficial chaos there emerged a beautiful and ordered design.
Far from being a mere topographer, his images are amongst the most evocative of the war.
Sylvester Bone is Muirhead Bone's second grandson. Born in 1933, he practised as an architect and construction information consultant, retiring in 2001. He is the author of several technical books on construction and in 2009 published Muirhead Bone: Artist and Patron, a biography of his grandfather.
June Meeting Report
Replacing our intended speaker at short notice, we were very pleased to welcome Dr Richard Grayson, whose talk Belfast Boys - How Unionists and Nationalists Fought and Died Together in the First World War could not take place in January because of the snow.
Dr Grayson is Head of Political History at Goldsmith's College, London University. His personal interest in this topic stems from his great uncle, James Powell, came from Lurgan, Co. Armagh, served in the Royal Irish Rifles, and was killed in the Battle of Loos, Sept 1915. It is important to remember that on the outbreak of war, the Irish situation had already become problematic, with "home rule" a real prospect. Many of those opposed to it in the north formed the Ulster Volunteer Force, while the Irish National Volunteers lined up on the other side.
Nowhere was this fracture in society more marked than in West Belfast, and this talk, and Dr Grayson's book of the above title, is based on excellent research into public records and local newspapers. The talk analysed now Protestants and Catholics responded to the call to arms (conscription was never introduced in Ireland.) As is well known, many of the volunteers went into the 36th and 16th divisions, which fought on the Somme in 1916, and at Messines the next year. But there were also forgotten men who served far and wide, in the Mons retreat in 1914, at Gallipoli the next year, in the March 1918 retreat and in the final victory.
An interesting political aspect is that the leaders of the rival political factions supported the war for the same reason: Carson (Unionist) felt that encouraging the UVF to join up would prevent home rule, while Redmond (Nationalist) hoped that supporting the war would bring independence that much quicker afterwards.
Dr Grayson has built up a huge database. From the West Belfast area, he estimates that possibly as many as 12,000 men served in the army, and around 2000 were killed. It seems likely that 60% of the men in the 18-40 age group joined up.
Also considered was controversy over the Easter rising in Dublin, which found many men with divided loyalties, and the problem of remembrance for men (and their families) who had fought for Britain in the war, but then felt compelled to fight against Britain after the Armistice. This is a problem which has persisted until our own time, the bomb attack at Enniskillen on Remembrance Sunday 1987 being a terrible reminder of this. Recent happier developments have enabled a more balanced view to be taken in the nationalist/republican community.
Richard Grayson's book challenges some popular misconceptions of the war, and has been highly praised. It will be published in paperback shortly. Judging by this talk, it deserves to reach a wider audience.
We hope to have Prof Grieves's talk, on rural communities in the war, at a later date.
Newsletter Quiz
Answer to quiz 204: Nurse Edith Cavell. Eight correct entries with Peter Pope the winner, who sets quiz 205: What was the "Black Flight"?
Chairman
When Tony Fleetwood stood down Andrew was willing to be acting chairman. In September we have the AGM, when there is the opportunity for somebody to be elected. Anyone wishing to stand should contact Geoff Cunnington, with the name of a proposer and seconder.
Branch AGM and Members' Evening
The agenda for the former will be in the next newsletter. So far we have just one member who has volunteered to give a short talk, and surely there must be two others who will do so? Please contact Geoff!
WW1 Filming
The Casting Collective supplies extras for feature films and TV and is casting for a major new feature film, shooting in and around London and the south-east, August to November this year. They need lots of young men, ideally with military experience, to play WW1 soldiers. All work is paid and information is available on the website www.castingcollective.co.uk. At this stage they can't divulge too much information about the production, but it will be a major cinema release with a world famous director. All extras will need to be aged 16-45, white, have slim build, look soldierly and have suitable haircuts! Please pass this on to anyone you know who might be interested. Contact is Beth Cleveley: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or ring her on: 020 8962 0099. They are also looking for men and women of any age for this and other productions.
Town Twinning
The new WFA Branch Co-ordinator (David Easton) writes to ask for information. Reconstruction funds were set up after the war to help rebuild the shattered remains of French and Belgian towns. These must have been the first examples of "town twinning". If you know of any in our area, please let the editor know. David hopes to put an item on this topic in the next Bulletin.
Ceremonies
Also from David Easton comes an appeal for information about WW1 related ceremonies or events in Herts and Beds which WFA members might wish to attend. Again, info to the editor please.
Branch Diary
3 September: AGM and Members' Evening
8 October: Women in the War Zone: Hospital Service in WW1 - Anne Powell
12 November: St Eloi: Village of the Craters - Christopher John
10 December: The Austro-Hungarian Conflict in 1914 - Prof. Mark Cornwall
Venue: Room SP101, 1st Floor, Sports Hall, St George's School, Sun Lane, Harpenden, AL5 4EY. Doors open 7.30pm, 8.00pm start. Requested donation min. £3.00. Tea, coffee & biscuits at half time.
Contact
Acting Chairman/Newsletter Editor
