Beware! Balloons over Birmingham by Steve Richards explores the vital but hazardous role of RAF Balloon Command during the Second World War. Barrage balloons protected Birmingham from low-flying German aircraft, but their tethering cables also posed a deadly threat to friendly aircraft. The article recounts the tragic loss of an...
Read MoreA not-for profit society raising funds for military charities
Welcome to the British Modern Military History Society.
We organise monthly talks for anyone interested in military history over the last 200 years from Nelson’s times to the present day.
With top quality talks given by writers, academics, former military personnel, and experts in their field with a wide variety of topics, we are based in Woodcote Village Hall RG8 0QY (near Wallingford) in South Oxfordshire. We can accommodate up to 100 people in pleasant surroundings, offering a warm and welcoming evening out. BMMHS is not a membership society so please feel free to join our talks and for Village Hall Meetings – just pay on the door.
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Upcoming Zoom Talks and Village Hall Meetings
Tuesday 3rd November 7:30pm
The Mulberry Harbours of D-Day
The Normandy beaches in June 1944 witnessed the greatest amphibious operation of all time – Operation OVERLORD. Dangerous and difficult though it was to successfully land and breach Hitler’s vaunted ‘Atlantic Wall’, reinforcement and re-supply of the landing forces posed as big a problem. Given that ports were vital to guarantee disembarking sufficient quantities of men, munitions, fuel and supplies, and given that capturing intact enemy-held ports was unlikely for weeks, the D-Day planners decided to build prefabricated breakwaters, harbours and floating roadways. These were built in secrecy around the UK and then towed across to Normandy to form two harbours the size of Dover. The component parts were ingenious, and the project represents one of the most remarkable engineering feats of all time. This talk will outline the political and military background to OVERLORD and the naval and military plans for D-Day. James will describe the concept of the MULBERRY artificial harbour before examining each part in some detail.
About the speaker – James Porter
James Porter is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, originally from Guernsey in the Channel Islands. Having retired in 2011 after 41 years service which took him to Northern Ireland, West Germany, Berlin, Norway, Cyprus, Falkland Islands, Belize and sub-Saharan Africa. After 2 years at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst he commanded an infantry platoon, company and battalion, attended the Army Staff College, been an instructor at Sandhurst, and spent 3 years testing and selecting potential army officers, plus 2 tours of duty in the Ministry of Defence. He now divides his time between working as a freelance yacht skipper/instructor and membership of village committees, as well as being Chairman of his local Royal British Legion branch. James also created and runs a Military History Group that meets monthly in Dorchester. Coming from a military family, he is interested in military history all of his life and has led, organised or participated in various battlefield tours and is an associate member of the International Guild of Battlefield Guides.
Zoom talk - Payment and registration
Contact us on info@bmmhs.org to register for these Events and for Zoom talks the log-in details will be emailed to you on the morning of each talk. A donation of £5 is requested for each talk to cover things such as speaker costs, licence fees and donation to military charity.
Wednesday 11th November 7:30pm
Woodcote Village Hall, Reading Road, Woodcote, RG8 0QY
Buccaneer and Tornado operations in Op GRANBY
“The Banana Jet goes to war – Buccaneer and Tornado LGB operations during Op GRANBY”
About the Speaker – Chris Finn
GROUP CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER FINN MPhil FRAeS FHEA RAF (Retd)
Christopher Finn joined the RAF in 1972 as a navigator. He flew predominantly the Buccaneer and was an electronic warfare, weapons and tactics specialist. During Operation GRANBY he was, as a newly promoted Wg Cdr, the UK’s “SO1 Bucc” in the Coalition Air HQ in Riyadh. His final flying tour was as the Officer Commanding the Navigator and Airman Aircrew School. A graduate of the Joint Services’ Defence College he gained an MPhil in International Relations at Cambridge University in 1999 and went on to be the Director of Defence Studies (RAF). From his retirement in 2005 to 2015 he was a Senior Lecturer in Air Power Studies at the RAF College Cranwell. Chris is an Accredited Battlefield Guide, specialising in airpower and combined operations. He lectures extensively on RAF and airpower history, but can turn his hand to most military history subjects, and is also a volunteer guide at the BBMF and with the CWGC.
BMMHS Event Registration
Contact us on info@bmmhs.org to register for BMMHS Events and for Zoom talks the log-in details will be emailed to you on the morning of each talk.
BMMHS Village Hall Meeting Tickets
Entry cost is just £8, which includes your entry ticket to the talk, a Q & A, and refreshments (beer, wine, soft drinks). We ask for payment in advance. If you are unable to pay in advance there will be a facility to pay by cash or card on the door.
Entrance to village hall talks for students and under 21s is now free of charge.
Latest News
New Article – Three Artists who depicted the Few
Geoff Simpson's article profiles three prolific artists who captured the essence of the Few during the Battle of Britain. Cuthbert Orde, leveraging his First World War experience, became renowned for his charcoal and chalk portraits of fighter pilots. He uniquely documented over 160 airmen, earning affectionate nicknames from his subjects....
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Battle of the Arctic: The Maritime Epic of World War Two
Historian Hugh Sebag-Montefiore’s Battle of the Arctic: The Maritime Epic of World War Two is published in paperback on 5 November (£12.99, William Collins). This compelling account of the Arctic convoys highlights the extraordinary courage and endurance of Allied sailors facing brutal weather, relentless German attacks, and unimaginable hardship in...
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New Article – The Rationale Behind The Blitz
Steve Richards' article explores the rationale behind the Blitz during WWII, detailing how the term likely arose during intense German raids over London in September 1940. The Luftwaffe's strategy evolved from targeting airfields to focusing on urban centers, with the aim of demoralizing the British public and disrupting industrial production....
Read MoreWhat you are saying about BMMHS
"It was a lovely evening and fantastic atmosphere in the room. Very happy to come back in 2021 to speak on my (then) new book on MI9 escape and evasion."
"For anyone interested in Military History, the BMMHS is a must. The monthly meetings cover a wide range of topics, with high quality speakers giving thought-provoking talks. In addition, the quality of facility and refreshments is exceptional, and the audience interesting and welcoming. Highly recommended."
“Just wanted to say how impressed I was by the talk last night and indeed by the meeting itself – the first I’ve been able to attend. An excellent speaker and a well organised meeting!”
"…. We’re very impressed with the line-up of talks arranged for the next year and will endeavour to attend as many as possible ….
We found the ‘Arnhem’ talk most interesting – a very different ‘take’ on the topic from the usual battle on the ground analysis.
Congratulations to you, Nigel, Linda and the team, you’re doing a great job."
"If I may say so, the BMMHS's first few months have been most impressive and a testament to the hard work and enthusiasm the four of you have put in. Everything on Wednesday went well, turnout, seating, notice-boards, drinks and especially the food!
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"…I would like to thank you and your team for another great evening. The talk was brilliant… looking forward to the next one…"
"MANY THANKS for Wednesday night most enjoyable, met some nice chaps, have new dates on the calendar, looking forward to the next talk"
"As with the first BMMHS meeting I attended.... I really enjoyed last night’s presentation. You and your pals have done a great job in getting the BMMHS set up and running smoothly & efficiently, including an excellent website plus arranging for some really interesting presenters and subjects every month."
"A most amazing lecture. To say it was interesting is understating it - it was mind-blowing to think of the courage of those women, who agreed to be SOE agents, despite knowing what awaited them if they were found out. It was fascinating to hear what training they went through, and to learn what some of them did and how they ended up.
Many thanks for another brilliant lecture"
“ If you are like me, and you enjoy the study of a wide range of military history topics, with a bit if a twist, then BMMHS will be right up your street. With its informative panel of expert speakers and on occasion quirky topics, there is something for everyone interested in learning more of their military past. I can thoroughly recommend the BMMHS zoom talk experience. You won’t be disappointed!”
Village Hall FAQs
Venue Address
Woodcote Village Hall
Reading Road
South Oxfordshire
RG8 0QY
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