Programme This pamphlet has been produced by the A thematic series of Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne WW1 Commemorative Lectures (HRGS), as part of the First World War by leading WW1 historians Centenary Commemorations. These talks are that will take place across Swale. sponsored by Swale Borough Council. All talks commence at 7.30pm HRGS is a non-profit making organisation, which was set up in 2004 by a group of local Date Subject and Speaker Venue historians. Its purpose is to promote and help 31st ‘Passchendaele from both Avenue preserve the history of our local area. Oct sides’ - by Jerry Cooley Theatre, 2017 and George Antrichan. Sittingbourne HRGS is spearheading local groups and WW1 Centenary individuals, who wish to work together to 30th ‘War above the Trenches’, Sheppey Lecture Series Nov first-hand recollections of Little research those named on our local war 2017 how each side vied for air Theatre memorials from WW1. supremacy - by Peter Hart. If you have any information about local men 23rd ‘The Battle of Jutland’, Newington Feb through German eyes Village Hall who died in the First World War (Sittingbourne 2018 - by Aidan Dodson. and surrounding areas), please help us to tell 27th ‘The West Yorkshire Avenue their stories by contacting us at: Mar Regiment’, follow the men Theatre, The Heritage Hub, Unit 17, The Forum, 2018 through every phase of the Sittingbourne Sittingbourne, ME10 3DL war - by Fraser Skirrow. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. 22nd ‘Food in the Trenches’, Avenue May experience the soldiers’ Theatre, Email us at [email protected] 2018 everyday lives Sittingbourne or visit www.hrgs.co.uk - by Andy Robertshaw. 19th ‘The Life and Times of Avenue The stories of local men who fought during the Jun Edith Cavell’, a British Theatre, First World War, are told via a Digital Roll of 2018 heroine who died in 1915 - Sittingbourne Honour at the above address. Please Tickets £5.00 by Melanie Gibson-Barton. encourage others to pay us a visit, and learn 20th ‘Stories from the Western Alexander about their story. Available at the Heritage Hub Sept Front’, and research into Centre, 2018 the German Archives Faversham in The Forum, Sittingbourne, - by Peter Barton. or online via Eventbrite. 30th ‘The Pilgrims to ’, and Avenue Printed by ‘The Print Room’ Oct the price of war on the Theatre, Swale Borough Council All proceeds will go towards the 2018 city - by Mark Connelly. Sittingbourne Tel: 01795 417416 2018 – 2019 local 20th ‘Faces from the Front’, Phoenix Email: [email protected] Centenary Peace Events. Nov poignant local stories House, 2018 - by the Sittingbourne War Sittingbourne Memorial Project Team. About the Speakers

Jerry Cooley & Peter Hart Dr Aidan Dodson

George Antrichan Peter has been the Oral Aidan is a senior research Local historians Jerry and History Curator at the Sound Fellow at the University of George have a wealth of Archive of the Imperial War Bristol and specialises in the knowledge between them. Both Museum in London, since disparate subjects of Naval are keen military historians and 1981. History and Archaeology. have toured and researched He is the author of 17 books the battlefields from WW1 and He has written extensively on and four hundred articles WW2. topics such as: The , and reviews. Whilst also The British Victory of 1918, having a parallel career with Jutland, Passchendaele, the the UK Ministry of Defence. war in the air in 1918, and Gallipoli.

Fraser Skirrow Andy Robertshaw Melanie Fraser is a former TA officer, Andy is a military historian, Gibson- Barton military historian and author of: curator, author and educator. Melanie, a registered public the ‘Massacre on the Marne’. He previously worked at the speaker, has often been The book records the graphic Imperial War Museum. He is described as ”The best details of the experiences of best known for his television speaker we've had". She will the men of the 2/5th Battalion appearances, in programmes provide a professional, and of the West Yorkshire such as Two Men in a entertaining presentation. Regiment , who were typical of Trench and Time Team. He Although she is English, she those who fought on the was a military advisor on the gives a wide variety of talks Western Front. film War Horse. based on many Belgian themes.

Peter Barton Prof. Mark Connelly Sittingbourne War Peter, who lives in Faversham, Mark works a Professor at the Memorial Project is a British military historian, University of Kent. He was Researchers author and filmmaker, who drawn into History when, as a specialises in . child, he became fascinated A collection of the volunteer by history books. This passion researchers who have been involved in the project, He has published extensively has been taken into adulthood which started in 2012, will on military mining, and conflict and he now combines his deliver this presentation. It archaeology on the Western interest in films, television and will provide an insight into Front. He has also led visual images with his interest the breadth and depth of archaeological excavations that in military history. This is information uncovered about have been featured in reflected in many of his local history and how the several Time Team episodes. publications. First World War impacted on the local community.