CHESTERFIELD WFA Newsletter and Magazine issue 60 Co- Patrons -Sir Hew Strachan & Prof. Peter Simkins President - Professor Gary Sheffield MA PhD Welcome to Issue 60 - the FRHistS FRSA November 2020 Newsletter and Vice -Presidents Magazine of Chesterfield WFA. Andre Colliot In view of the current public health Professor John Bourne BA PhD FRHistS pandemic engulfing the globe, your The Burgomaster of Ypres committee took the prudent The Mayor of Albert decision, before the introduction of Government legislation, to cancel until Lt-Col Graham Parker OBE further notice our monthly meetings. Christopher Pugsley FRHistS Lord Richard Dannat GCB CBE MC DL Meetings and other activities will be Roger Lee PhD jssc restarted as and when the authorities Dr Jack Sheldon deem it safe for us to do so. Branch contacts In the interim this Newsletter / Magazine will Tony Bolton continue (Chairman) [email protected] We would urge all our members to adopt all the Mark Macartney (Deputy Chairman) government`s regulations that way we can keep safe and [email protected] hopefully this crisis will be controlled, the virus defeated,and a Jane Lovatt (Treasurer) degree of normality restored. Grant Cullen (Secretary) [email protected] Stay safe everybody – we are all – in the meantime – Facebook `Confined to Barracks` http://www.facebook.com/groups/1576626576040 82/ Grant Cullen – Branch Secretary - 1 - Western Front Association Chesterfield Branch – Meetings 2020 Meetings start at 7.30pm and take place at the Labour Club, Unity House, Saltergate, Chesterfield S40 1NF January 7th . AGM and Members Night – presentations by Jane Ainsworth, Ed Fordham, Judith Reece, Edwin Astill and Alan Atkinson February 4th Graham Kemp `The Impact of the economic blockage of Germany AFTER the armistice and how it led to WW2` March 3rd Peter Hart Après la Guerre Post-war blues, demobilisation and a home fit for very few. April 7th Andy Rawson Tea Pots to Tin Lids…how the factory which inspired his research (Dixons) switched from making tea services for hotels and cruise ships to making Brodie helmets in the Great War. CANCELLED May Nick Baker . The British Army has always fought a long battle with 5th the debilitations cause to its soldier’s efficiency through venereal disease, a combination of behavioural change and civilian interference resulted in an ‘epidemic’ of VD which threatened military effectiveness.CANCELLED June 2nd Rob Thompson 'The Gun Machine: A Case Study of the Industrialisation of Battle during the Flanders Campaign, 1917.CANCELLED July 6th Virtual Meeting….On Line. Tony Davies entitled `The Knutsford Lads Who Never Came Home`. Jointly with Lincoln and North Lincs WFA .Fullest details of how to participate elsewhere in this newsletter August 5th Virtual Meeting – On Line . Beth Griffiths ` The Experience of the Disabled Soldiers Returning After WWI`. Details of how to join in this meeting elsewhere in this Newsletter. Starts at 7pm September John Taylor. ‘A Prelude to War’ (An Archduke’s Visit) – a classic and true 1st tale of `what if` ? Cancelled October Virtual Meeting – On Line Peter Harris Tanks in the 100 Days. 6th Peter will present some of his researches for his Wolverhampton MA course. Details of how to join in this `meeting` elsewhere in this newsletter. Starts 7pm. November 26th Virtual Meeting Brian Riley. Lincolnshire Aviation in World War One Details elsewhere in the magazine December John Beech 'Notts Battery RHA - Nottinghamshire Forgotten Gunners' 1st Cancelled - 2 - Issue 60 – list of contents 2 Meetings and Speakers Calendar 3 Contents Page + WFA Virtual Meeting details 4 Secretary`s Scribbles 5 - 9 Branded Goods Update 10 – 11 Garrison Library 12 – 15 Remembrance 15 – 20 How Germany Remembers the World Wars 21 – 38 The Illusory Threat - Aliens in Britain in WW1 – part 4 DECEMBER 2020 WFA Webinar (Planned Presentations) WFA ZOOM MEETINGS For December, but please keep an eye on the Website as sometimes additions are added during the month Follow these links for registering (please note dates and times, as this is to accommodate viewers) 7TH DECEMBER ; A Horrid Nightmare: 28th Division and the Battle for the Hohenzollern Redoubt by Dr Spencer Jones http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/events/online-a-horrid-nightmare- 28th-division-and-the-battle-for-the-hohenzollern-redoubt-september-october-1915/ 14th December ; The Chinese Labour Corps on the Western Front by Peng Wenlan http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/events/online-the-chinese-labour-corps-on-the- western-front/ 17th December ; Talbot House, beyond the Great War by Simon Louagie, Talbot House Manager http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/events/online-talbot-house-beyond-the-great- war/ 21st December ; Just Another Day on the Somme: the attack by 53 Brigade on Delville Wood http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/events/online-just-another-day-on-the-somme-the- attack-by-53-brigade-on-delville-wood/ Mark Macartney | Branded Goods Trustee | The Western Front Association - 3 - Secretary`s Scribbles Welcome to issue 60 of the WFA Chesterfield Branch Newsletter and Magazine. We are very pleased to announce our next on-line branch presentation evening, which will be held once again in conjunction with Lincoln WFA branch. The speaker is Brian Riley and he will talk about 'Lincolnshire Aviation in WW1' - Brian is something of an expert in the world of aviation and this should prove to be a great event. The talk will take place tonight Thursday November 26th at 7pm and event registration is open to everyone, the more the merrier! To register for this FREE event please click this link https://my.demio.com/ref/sTs3L2VM4VAuF9Z7 Don't worry if you can't watch it LIVE, as everyone who registers for the talk will get a recording sent to them to watch at their leisure. It is my sad duty to report the passing of one of our members, Mr Harlan Senior of North Anston, Sheffield. Although age (he was 90) and infirmity meant he didn`t get to meetings, he was always interested and looked forward to getting this newsletter. I have passed on the Branch`s condolences to Christina, his widow. I had hoped to be able to arrange speakers for next year but chances of being able to meet again, in the flesh` as it were, looks a forlorn hope….maybe second half 2021…..only time and circumstance – and an effective vaccine – will tell. We hope to be able to continue to offer `Virtual Meetings` to take the place of `real` meetings until such times as we can meet again. Elsewhere in this Newsletter you will see a new feature `Garrison Library`. The idea for this came from a member who donated – and not for the first time –a batch of papers on Great War topics. I have access to these and many other papers in pdf format to which I add to regularly. These are now available to members – drop me a line and I will send a pdf copy by e mail. Best wishes for the Christmas Season, make the best of what you can in the current circumstances. Take care, Grant Cullen – Branch Secretary 07824628638 [email protected] Any opinions expressed in this Newsletter /Magazine are not necessarily those of the Western Front Association, Chesterfield Branch, in particular, or the Western Front Association in general BRANDED GOODS NEWS WFA 2021 Calendars The Western Front Association's 2021 calendar is still available. - 4 - Once again it features images of the First World War battlefields taken by a number of photographers who have kindly donated their work. The scenes depict points of interest in France and Belgium (and, incidentally, Italy) some of which are well known but others 'off the beaten track'. This year's calendar has a 'Somme' theme. As well as providing superb images of a dozen views of the First World War battlefields, the calendar provides detailed commentary to each image helping to set the scene in context. This is a high-quality product which, every year, receives excellent feedback. The sales of the calendar also assist the WFA to continue its work. The Western Front Association's 2021 calendar is available via the WFA e-shop >>> https://bit.ly/35w53RW Below: April, May and June's images being: Le cimetière allemand de Mongoutte (Alsace); The view from the Hawthorn Crater towards Beaumont Hamel British Cemetery (Somme) and Etaples Military Cemetery. (Photos shown here by Gwyneth Roberts, Andrew Holmes and Lucy Betteridge-Dyson - we are grateful to these and the others who have kindly donated their work). WFA 40th Anniversary Coaster To celebrate the WFA's 40th anniversary, The WFA have produced a 'special edition' coaster. The coasters are 4" in diameter and made of handcrafted slate. They are individually polished, screen printed by hand and backed by a baize to avoid damage to surfaces. These are selling so well that Mark Macartney (The Branded Goods Trustee) has said that he has had to re-order numerous times so. If you would like a new 'WFA' Anniversary Coaster, please order through Website or ring Sarah at Head Office, http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/shop/wfa-branded-items/special-edition-wfa-coaster/ Mark also tells us that once they are gone, they are gone,so don’t hesitate in ordering now, as with them being specific for the 40th Anniversary 11th November 2020, the Anniversary year is actually 11th November 2020 -11th November 2021. - 5 - WFA Mousemats The mousemat which is currently selling so well that Mark tells us that he has just ordered the 4th batch of 100,. If you would like a 'WFA' mousemat, please order through Website or ring Sarah at Head Office, http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/shop/wfa-branded-items/wfa-mousemat/