Herts & Beds Branch
NEWSLETTER July 2009
NEXT MEETING: FRIDAY 10 JULY
NOTE DIFFERENT VENUE - SEE BELOW
Peter Hart - The V Beach Landing, Gallipoli, 25 April 1915
The landing at V Beach was one of the most desperate operations ever carried out by the British Army. Storming ashore from open boats and the converted merchantman River Clyde they faced the Turks dug in all around them in a natural amphitheatre. The heroism demonstrated on the waves stained red with blood and in the attack next day on the old fort above the beach resulted in multiple Victoria Crosses. It is a tale of heroism that has never been forgotten. But it is also a tale of Turkish heroism: outnumbered ten to one and armed, despite British reports, only with rifles and outmoded Nordenfelts they fought almost to the last man before at last, after almost a day and a half, the British won the day. But the delays would prove fatal to any faint chances of success in the Gallipoli landings......
Peter is the Oral Historian at the Imperial War Museum, and has given us excellent talks in recent years on the RFC, Gallipoli, the Battle of Jutland, and the Mesopotamia campaign. Peter has been at the IWM's sound archive since 1981 specialising in interviewing veterans of both world wars. His books include Defeat at Gallipoli (1994), Tumult in the Clouds (1997), Passchendaele (2000), Jutland 1916 (2003) and The Somme (2005).
(Note - this replaces Dr Chris Martin's talk on The British Ship Building Programme 1904-1916. We hope he will visit next year)
JUNE MEETING REPORT
Vanda Wilcox obtained her doctorate at Oxford before teaching at the American University in Rome. She gave us a remarkable insight into the Italian campaign which started in April 1915, and involved British forces for the last twelve months of the war. In particular she drew of the memoirs of Pte Harry Lamin, published as "Letter From the Trenches." From a letter home was taken the title of this talk: The country is alright, but I don't reckon much to the people. British troops first went there as a result of the Battle of Caporetto, a disaster for the Italians, although by the time the army got there the crisis had passed.
For British soldiers there could hardly have been a greater contrast between the Western Front landscape and the hills and mountains of their new location. A major problem was access and supply. By the time the war ended over three thousand kilometres of roads were built and many bridges, so engineers were in great demand. Great use was made of mules and horses. Another form of transport was cable car, for carrying supplies, ammunition and the wounded. Communications were often by carrier pigeon, and it was made a military offence to shoot any pigeon!
The Italians had obtained good artillery from Krupps before the war, but getting heavy guns into position was very difficult, while spotting targets and assessing accuracy was hindered by mountain weather. Both the Austrians and the Italians had constructed substantial forts before the war, and judging by Dr Wilcox's photos the former had rather better ones.
Because "digging in" was hardly an option, trench systems were generally poor, and great reliance was placed on wire. The conditions for the troops were often very poor, their poor quality clothing not being suitable for severe weather. Water supply was another problem, requiring extensive systems of pipes and pumps. British soldiers found that the food was not to their taste: the bread was poor, while potatoes and butter were in short supply, and the availability of olive oil was hardly a compensation! The only bright spots were plentiful fruit, wine and chocolate.
It is often forgotten that the Italian dead numbered half a million, about one third being their own prisoners in Austrian captivity who suffered terrible privations because of their own government's refusal to send supplies into Austria. Another factor that produced poor morale in the Italian army was the belief of their high command that summary execution for military offences, was justified and even desirable. It seems probable that well over a thousand Italian soldiers were executed, with or without a trial.
An excellent talk on a campaign that left deep scars in Italian society that led directly to the fascist era.
NEWSLETTER QUIZ
Answer to quiz 195: Lt-Gen Sir John Monash. Eight correct answers in and Peter Lang's name came out so he sets quiz question no. 196: What was the name and rank of the first man to command a tank in battle?
JULY MEETING VENUE
As the Old Library is not available, our 10 July meeting will take place in the new Sports Hall at St. George's School. Please use the Sun Lane entrance, just round the corner from Carlton Road. The new hall is located behind the main building complex, with its own car park. Sign boards will be provided. We will be in room SP101 on the first floor, opposite the head of the stairs.
FROMELLES
Report on a visit by Peter Lang
On a recent holiday to Northern France, I took the opportunity to visit Fromelles. I wanted to see the area where the dead from 19 / 20 July 1916 battle were being exhumed. The soldiers were from the 61st division and the Australian 5th. The site is quite easy to find on the main road through the village towards the battlefield. To see anything at the site, it was necessary to find a path behind the church and a café (not signposted). This leads to the rear of the area which is surrounded by high fences. A small viewing window is provided with adjacent information boards. The actual body retrieval is carried out in daylight hours, the work area being totally covered with an inflatable tent device. The "rumour" at the time was that about 30 bodies had so far been exhumed. I also visited a site on the opposite side of the road that is being prepared as the new cemetery. In all a very interesting visit.
There is, in my opinion, one of the best WW1 museums in the town. We were lucky to see this as we had read that the museum was closed during July & August. While visiting the café alongside the church, the lady owner got into conversation with my wife about our visit to Fromelles. She asked if we had visited the museum and we of course, said it was closed so she immediately phoned a man who was one of a group involved with the museum. He was having his tea so she said he would meet us in 20 mins at the Mairie which holds the museum. He was a really good guide and we had a great private visit. It goes to show how obliging French people are contrary to the usual view some British people have of them.
I had the very good Battlefield Europe Fromelles Guide by Peter Pederson. I did one of the walks in the book, about 5 miles. The ground of the battle is very flat so all the action angles can be viewed from any vantage point. It was a lovely warm day and a great walk. Despite the time of year, normally precluding battlefield finds, I did spot a German "egg grenade" with its detonator missing which I left well alone! There are also a large amount of bunkers in this area. A great day out.
(Ed. Many thanks to Peter for this - just the sort of thing we want in the newsletter. Anybody else who wants to contribute a WW1 related visit is welcome).
MEMBERS' EVENING
This will be our September meeting, as usual, and if you have a topic on which you would like to give a short talk (15 to 20 mins), please contact the secretary. We need one more speaker.
BOOKS
I have a number of books I wish to dispose of and will bring them to the next meeting. Most are WW1 & 2 but there are some others.
JUNE WALL APPEAL
The final total was £186 and with branch funds we made this up to £200 so Macmillan Cancer Support and Water Aid each received £100. June's son Steve (our branch president) sends his thanks for this tribute.
BRANCH DIARY
11 Sept: AGM & Members' Evening
16 Oct: Bryn Hammond - The 501-piece Jigsaw: Tanks in the all arms battle
13 Nov: Matt Brosnan - Hall of Remembrance
11 Dec: Mark Honigsbaum - Living With Enza: The Forgotten Story of Britain and the Great Flu Pandemic of 1918.
Venue: The Old Library, St George's School, Carlton Road, Harpenden, AL5 4TD. Doors open 7.30pm, 8.00pm start. Requested donation min. £3.00. Tea/coffee/biscuits.
