Welcome to the International Guild of Battlefield Guides

Unfortunately, owing to the Covid 19 restrictions  likely to be in place, the event has been rearranged as a virtual golf tournament as social distancing cannot be guaranteed at the John O'Gaunt course. The "Covid 19" tournament will take place on 14th August and will now be played by Members at their local courses with scores being sent into the tournament organiser. Further details from Graeme Cooper.

In 873 Mercia, the largest Anglo-Saxon kingdom, fell from history. This recce will walk the ground seeking evidence of battle, locating warriors burials and determining how the Vikings achieved victory. The recce will end, COVID measures permitting, with a pub lunch in Repton.

To seize this opportunity to re-sharpen your guiding sword arm and renew friendships.

Meeting point Repton Church

Contact David Harvey for further information

This is an online Assignment 1 Validation Event. The Guild Member candidate’s presentation will be The Battle of Ortona, December 1943.

All Guild members are welcome to join the audience, particularly those who have been accepted on the Accreditation Programme but have not yet seen a live validation, and those who have yet to begin the process.

Members - to register your interest in joining the audience, click here

Note that you must register for both assignment and feedback sessions separately in order to see the process through and hear the outcome of the assignment. Please also read the Demio Audience Brief for Assignment 1s which you will find on the registration page.

There is limited audience capacity, so first come, first served!

If you are not a Guild Member but are thinking about joining and would like to see an Assignment 1, please apply to the Validation Secretary for access.

This is an online Assignment 1 Validation Event. The Guild Member candidate’s presentation will be Objective Hillman: 1st Battalion The Suffolk Regiment, D-Day and the race to Caen.

All Guild members are welcome to join the audience, particularly those who have been accepted on the Accreditation Programme but have not yet seen a live validation, and those who have yet to begin the process.

Members - to register your interest in joining the audience, click here

Note that you must register for both assignment and feedback sessions separately in order to see the process through and hear the outcome of the assignment. Please also read the Demio Audience Brief for Assignment 1s which you will find on the registration page.

There is limited audience capacity, so first come, first served!

If you are not a Guild Member but are thinking about joining and would like to see an Assignment 1, please apply to the Validation Secretary for access.

There is limited audience capacity, so first come, first served!

The Ridgewell Roam - A day out walking  in East Anglia.

If you are an East Anglian based member of the GBG and you are desperate to get out and soak up some history, why not come along to Ridgewell Airfield in Essex.  Mike Peters and Paul Bingley have organised a great day out on 11 September 2020.

The day will include a guided walk around what was the only USAAF Heavy Bomber field in Essex, access to the Museum, and an outdoor Picnic lunch.  A great opportunity to catch up with your fellow members.

More detailed information on the itinerary and COVID measures will follow, if you wish to attend please email Mike Peters

Due to numbers, this recce has been cancelled this year. The recce would have covered the Four Battles which decided the fate of fledgling democracy in the Greco-Persian War of 480BC. The recce follows the route of the Persian invasion, beginning on the Island of Skiathos before crossing the Straits of Artemisium to Thermopylae. The next day's touring takes in the battles of Plataea and Salamis before returning via Athens airport.

It is hoped that this recce can be rearranged in the future when travel restrictions and numbers permit. For details and more information please contact David Harvey.

A ‘traditional’ Guild weekend with a quiz, a wide range of subject matter (not just nautical, although Portsmouth is billed as "the home of the Royal Navy"!) and sites, and plenty of opportunity to socialise. Travel during the event will be self-drive. Some walking is involved, none of it strenuous! A number of themes and topics will be outlined for possible inclusion into UK tours or preliminary to trips to France by Tim Stoneman and others.

Due to current and expected conditions under the COVID 19 pandemic, this event has unfortunately been postponed to a date to be decided (hopefully 2021).

A five-day recce to the Somme. An opportunity to recce the Somme Battlefield learning from members and stand leads John Cotterill & Paul Oldfield.

(Updated 9th July) As things stand with travel and other requirements under the Covid 19 pandemic requirements, this event is expected to take place unless there is a resumption of higher level restrictions.

A summary of the itinerary is attached.

Come and join us at our annual Christmas lunch. Meet old friends and make new ones. Swap tales of the year's guiding adventures and make plans for the coming campaign season at this extremely popular social gathering open to all members. For further information please contact Andy Thompson via email at andy.ewt@gmail.com.

This recce is being planned to take place in Spring / Early Summer 2021. Dates still be advised  (1 Jan date showing merely to reflect year as the web software requires precise dates!).

Contact Simon Worrall to register your interest

We are finalising the venue which is, as you can imagine, a little more challenging whilst no one quite knows how the Covid 19 restrictions might still be affecting the hospitality industry in January next year.

(Image is our 2018 Annual Conference dinner in Mons, Belgium)

This Recce had been scheduled to take place in April 2020 but was postponed as Europe went into Covid 19 lock-down which prevented all but non-essential travel. The recce has now been rescheduled to 15th to 20th March 2021.

Please contact the organiser if you are interested in going if you were not down to go on the original recce dates as there may be spaces available.

This 6 day Guild Recce visits the battlefield of Bussaco where Wellington’s strategic genius saw the demise of Massena. We walk Wellington’s early battle sites of Rolica and Vimeiro and contemplate his vision and strategy at the Lines of Torres Vedras. We examine Wellington’s decision making at Oporto where Nosey’s army routed Soult’s French into full retreat.

The intent of the reconnaissance is to visit and consider main battlefield stands, suitable hotels, restaurants, museums and relevant places of interest in order to conduct future successful tours. We will have fun and certainly fair better than our ancestors who soldiered and suffered here during the Napoleonic Wars.

Full details can be found in the attached document.

https://www.gbg-international.com/gbg-recce-2-7-apr-20-ff-2/

The Guild recce to Malta will take place from the 9^th to the 11^th of April 2021. The theme of the recce is the defence of Malta during WW2, with the emphasise being on the Explosive Ordnance Disposal capability of the Islands. It will also cover air and sea campaigns, the experience of the Maltese population and the Axis plans to invade the islands to provide background and context. There will also be a presentation on the siege of Malta in 1565.

Despite being the most bombed place on earth in WW2, Malta is a beautiful island with experiences and sights to suit everybody from narrow meandering streets with baroque church’s, medieval towers to some of the oldest known human structures in the world.

The Islands have rightly been described as an open-air museum with superb weather, fantastic beaches and 7,000 years of intriguing history.

To register an interest contact Bob Shaw

The Guild Special Forces recce will take place on the 11th and 12th September 2021 in the Poole area.

The theme of the recce is the development of Special Forces capabilities during WW2 and will study the Special Operations Executive, The Auxiliary Units, the Special Raiding Force, Special Forces Communications, Air support to SF operations, MI9, the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, the COPPs and Operation Frankton.

This promises to be a packed weekend with lots of historical info and a fun but challenging quiz night. You will be home on Sunday in time for tea and medals!

Contact Bob Shaw to reserve a place.