Branch Visits (UK)
Here you can see the branch in action.
Visit to RAF Cosford, 12th February 2023
On Sunday 12th February 2023, branch members enjoyed a day out at RAF Cosford. The museum contains aeroplanes from the days of early flight to the present day, as well as an exhibition on the first 100 years of the RAF, 1918 - 2018.
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Fallen Officers of Oxton Walk, Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th October 2021
The Chairman of the Merseyside Branch, Western Front Association , Peter Threlfall did two walks around the Oxton area of Birkenhead on the Wirral, about Officers who died during the Great War and lived in the Oxton area. On the weekend of the 9th/10th October. This was a follow up to the walk he did in February 2020.
Walk 1: Started at 10am 9th October 2021 at The Shrewsbury Arms car park, Oxton, Birkenhead, looking at the lives and houses of Officers who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1919. Each walk took approximately 2-2 1/2 hours. Walk 2: Started at Wexford Road, Oxton (outside Chetwynd Army Reserve Centre) at 10 am 10th October, 2021, looking at the lives and houses of Officers who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1919. Each walk took approximately 2-2 1/2 hours. Each walk was well attended by branch & non branch members. |
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The Great Maghull Walk, Saturday 7th August 2021
On Saturday 7th August 2021 Bruce Hubbard organised a walk around Maghull in North Liverpool.
They met at Maghull North Railway Station, Merseyrail’s newest station, looking at the plaques on the platform, and at the memorial at the station entrance to the Maghull Military Hospital that stood on the site. They then catch the a train to Maghull station. This is a contrast, being one of the oldest on the network. We can see stained glass, paintings, and the awards to Maghull Station Volunteers. They walked along Station Road, stopping to see the first house in Maghull purchased by Frank Hornby the famous toy inventor. Next up was was Kensington Club, which Hornby financed as Maghull Conservative Club. Then, from a distance, they saw Quarry Brook House, Hornbys next home, which was used as the officers part of the Military Hospital. They then walked to St. Andrew’s Church, the Parish Church, to look at plaques inside, the Memorial Chapel, and the stained glass window, before touring the old cemetery, with stories of those buried or commemorated there. Stopping at the primary school to see the War Memorial and then they made their way to the Frank Hornby pub for lunch and drinks. |
Birkenhead Park Grand Opening Celebration, 6th April 2019
On Saturday 6th April 2019 the Merseyside WFA Branch made an appearance along with other local organisations at the ‘Grand Opening Celebration’ event at Birkenhead Park to celebrate the opening of the park on 5th April 1847. The branch had a stall close to the main entrance of the park advertising the work and events of the WFA nationally and at a local level. Although the event was small in size it was another good opportunity for the branch to publicise itself to the people of Wirral.
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Branch Christmas Meal, 6th December 2018
The Branch's 2018 Christmas meal was held on the 6th of December at the Refreshment Rooms on the river front at Rock Ferry. 25 members attended and it was a good opportunity for Branch members to relax, socialise and reflect on the year's activities. The meal was excellent, Well presented and with perfect service. All who attended had a thoroughly good night.
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Liverpool remembers the Chinese Labour Corps. 10 August 2018
A series of UK events commemorating the First World War service of the Chinese Labour Corps has been held at the graves of five CLC members in Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool.Tributes were led by the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mark Blundell, representing Queen Elizabeth; the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Christine Banks; and Brigadier Peter Rafferty, of the British Army. Britain and France together recruited 140,000 Chinese workers for frontline support duties as the Great War took its toll on their own manpower. Of the 96,000 men who enlisted with British forces, many arrived at the port of Liverpool on their way to the Western Front in 1917. Branch representatives attended the ceremony (26 slides) |
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Boddelwydden Castle. 28th July 2018 (11 slides)
Members of the Branch were given a guided tour the trenches and officer’s dugout constructed during the Great War at Boddelwydden Castle in Denbighshire for the training of troops bound for the front. One of our members, Con, later took the group to a nearby relative's house and spoke about his great uncles George and William Carr who served during the war. George was killed and William badly wounded. The group also visited the CWGC Canadian graves at St Asaph church.
Members of the Branch were given a guided tour the trenches and officer’s dugout constructed during the Great War at Boddelwydden Castle in Denbighshire for the training of troops bound for the front. One of our members, Con, later took the group to a nearby relative's house and spoke about his great uncles George and William Carr who served during the war. George was killed and William badly wounded. The group also visited the CWGC Canadian graves at St Asaph church.
Birkenhead Bantam plaque unveiling at Birkenhead Town Hall (26 slides)
In November 2014 members of the branch were at Birkenhead Town hall when a plaque was unveiled to remember the men who enlisted in the two battalions of the Birkenhead Bantams. The battalions were for men who wanted to enlisted but failed to meet the minimum height of 5 foot 3 heights, Any men between the heights of 5 foot and 5 foot 3 inches could enlisted in the battalions.
In November 2014 members of the branch were at Birkenhead Town hall when a plaque was unveiled to remember the men who enlisted in the two battalions of the Birkenhead Bantams. The battalions were for men who wanted to enlisted but failed to meet the minimum height of 5 foot 3 heights, Any men between the heights of 5 foot and 5 foot 3 inches could enlisted in the battalions.
Segontium Roman Fortress, Caernarvon Castle, and RWF Museum (72 slides)
Staffordshire Regimental Museum, Litchfield, and the Cannock Chase war cemeteries (68 slides)
Bromborough Great War Walk August 2017 (32 slides)
KSLI Regimental Museum, and Wroxeter (Vericonium) Roman town 22nd July, 2017 (88 slides)
The Branch Christmas meal at the Albion Hotel, Chester- 2015 & 16 (14 slides)