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TALKS
In the past few years we've been delighted to have a variety of talks on military history, both local and further afield. These talks take place downstairs in a small room to the left hand side of the main hall.
Talks in 2024
10:45am-11:45pm - Rory Pratt - Armoured Warfare during the Spanish Civil War
Rory Pratt is a long time member of the Spanish Civil War living history group La Columna as well as being a keen wargamer of the period. He will be giving a talk in conjunction with a participation game that will be running throughout the day. The talk will centre on armoured warfare during the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939, the equipment used by the factions during the conflict, as well as the lessons learnt and missed by the nations supporting them. Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany as well as the Soviet Union were actively involved in the war so this talk will appeal to anyone interested in tank warfare in the Second World War as well as those interested in the Spanish Civil War itself.
12pm-1pm - John Wilson - Gallipoli 1915 - A Campaign Doomed to Failure or a Campaign Almost Won?
John Wilson is a well respected historian, he has published extensively through Gosling Press, a small publisher specialising in books about the First World War.
The Gallipoli campaign of 1915-16 was an Allied attempt to shorten the war by eliminating Turkey, creating a Balkan alliance against the Central Powers, and securing a sea route to Russia. It has since become the basis of a number of myths and half-truths, the massed machine guns covering the beaches. The incompetence of the navy in landing the Australians in the wrong place and how on the heights of Sari Bair we almost won the peninsula.
Without a doubt Gallipoli was the scene of great bravery, horrendous privations, bad command decisions and missed opportunities. Given the small geographic area that the campaign took place in, it’s a good way to get to grips with some of the issue of the early part of the first World War. The talk will give a good overview of the campaign as well as bust a number of myths. It will also include a number of first hand accounts so that people really understand what life on the peninsula was like.
1:15pm-2:15pm - Sean and Lorrain McCartney The Newcastle Garrison Living History group - The Percy family and the Civil Wars
Sean and Lorrain McCartney are time served historical reenactors, concentrating on the period of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms (1639-1651). They are founding members of Newcastle Garrison Living History Group and take the field as members of the Earl of Loudoun’s Regiment of Foote.
In 2019 Newcastle Garrison were asked to provide a living history display at Alnwick Castle, seat of the Percy family. Upon looking into the Percy’s involvement in the Civil Wars of the 17th Century, something they knew very little about at the time, they discovered a true tale of a family split by differing allegiances.
Talks in 2023
11am - Shock Troops or Cannon-Fodder - The International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War
Alex Clifford is a local historian who has studied at the universities of Leeds, Munich and Northumbria. His expertise is on Europe in the interwar period and he has made a particular study of the Spanish Civil War. His publications include The People’s Army in the Spanish Civil War: A Military History of the Republic and International Brigades 1936-1939, Fighting for Spain: The International Brigades in the Civil War 1936-1939 and Hindenburg, Ludendorff and Hitler: Germany's Generals and the Rise of the Nazis.
1pm - A History of the Anglo-Scottish Border
John Sadler is a well known Military historian and lecturer with a special interest in the Anglo-Scottish Border conflicts. He combines writing with lecturing in History at Newcastle University and working as a battlefield tour guide, living history interpreter, and heritage consultant. He is a keen re-enactor and a long time member of the Sealed Knot Society, as well as the author of more than 40 books with his latest - The Hot Trod: A History of the Anglo-Scottish Border; examining the Anglo-Scottish border from Roman times to today.
Talks in 2022
11am - The Teesside International Brigade Memorial
The Teesside International Brigade Memorial is a wooden plaque produced in 1939 to commemorate ten local International Brigade volunteers who gave their lives during the Spanish Civil War. The memorial is currently held by Middlesbrough Town Hall. The talk will tell the remarkable story of the memorial's production, loss, discovery and rededication. You will also hear about the 10 men named on the memorial and those associated with its production and commemoration
1pm - Otto Estensen: International Brigade Volunteer
Otto Estensen was born in Thornaby-on-Tees, the eldest of five children, and like his father he went to sea, serving in the Merchant Navy. Otto and his closest Friend Tommy Chilvers volunteered for the International Brigade, serving together in the XV International Brigade Anti-Tank battery. This is their story, what they did during the Spanish Civil War and their subsequent service in the Second World War. As Otto is named on the Stockton International Brigade memorial we will also look at how they are remembered.
Talks in 2019
Civil Insolvencies
The Battlefields Trust are pleased to announce the launch of the publication Civil Insolences; poetry by Bob Beagrie. Civil Insolences explores the events and characters involved in the lead up, conflict and aftermath of the Battle of Guisborough (16th January 1643).
To accompany this, Phil Philo (Chair of the Battlefields Trust) will give a talk on the Battle of Guisborough, while the Battlefields Trust's Model maker in residence, Mark Hornsby, will also be revealing his latest model for the Battle of Guisborough downstairs in the main hall.
Ready to Bleed
Arran Johnston (Director of the Scottish Battlefields Trust) will be attending Battleground to speak on both the armies of the Scottish Covenant and the Battle of Newburn Ford. He will be promoting his latest publication, Ready to Bleed: The Armies of the Scottish Covenant (1639-47) which describes the formation of the Covenant army, its campaigns, strengths and weaknesses, and will be released in December. He will also have copies of Essential Agony: The Battle of Dunbar available to purchase (available through Helion here: https://www.helion.co.uk/essential-agony-the-battle-of-dunbar-1650.html
Useful Links
Battlefields Trust website: http://www.battlefieldstrust.com/
Scottish Battlefields Trust: http://www.scottishbattlefields.org/