ABOUT US

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Western Front Association (WFA) was founded by John Giles and inaugurated on 11 November 1980. Initially there was one national 'branch' but as the number and geographic spread of members increased, the Association moved first to a regional structure and then to individual branches.
 
The Dorset and South Wiltshire branch is one of 47 affiliated branches of the WFA in the UK with meetings held at the village hall in picturesque Pimperene in the heart of rural Dorset. Pimperne village lies two miles north-east of the Georgian Town of Blandford Forum with Blandford Camp, currently home of the Royal Signals, less than a mile away. The seaside resorts of Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth are all less than 30 miles away as is the Cathedral City of Salisbury. Within an hour you can reach Southampton (to the east) or the historic city of Bath (to the west). Closer to Pimperne are the smaller rural towns of Dorchester, Shaftesbury, Sherborne and Wimborne.
 
The military history of Pimperne and Blandford Camp is available as a Word doc.
 
Since its formation some six years ago the Dorset and South Wiltshire branch has gained a reputation for being active, friendly and effective in its activities. Monthly branch meetings now regularly attract 60 or more people and we are pleased to be able to offer a high quality speaker programme that includes many internationally renowned historians and authors as well as local historians and our members who cater for a wide range of interest in the Great War of 1914-1918.
 
The branch endeavours to cover a broad spectrum of subjects across the main historical domains of land, sea and air and other not so well known aspects including the home front, war poets and the role of women in the Great War. The Branch does not restrict subject matter to the Western Front nor just to British Forces, attempting to cover the Central Powers and other nations across the domains stated above. All meetings are open to non WFA members.
 
Events and Branch Meeting Speakers in 2010
 
The Dorset and South Wiltshire branch of the WFA is entirely self supporting and is not funded financially by the national WFA. The branch is dependent on donations and grants in order to meet its running costs and to achieve its object and key functions.
 
BENEFITS OF BRANCH MEMBERSHIP
 
Branch Meetings
 
Monthly branch meetings with quality speakers to inform and educate members, their guests and the public. These meetings provide attendees with an opportunity of meeting like-minded people to learn, share, explore and exchange information and knowledge about the Great War in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
 
Newsletter
 
The regular branch newsletter "The Dugout" is free to those attending meetings as well as for download from this website. It contains news of events and personal research undertaken by branch members and under the guiding hand of the Editor, continues to grow in quality, content and frequency. The Dugout is recognised as a publication worth reading.
 
Field Trips and Battlefield Tour
 
The branch arranges at least one annual field trip to a suitable UK venue where the aims and objects of the WFA can be met. Recent venues have included the Royal Artillery Museum (Woolwich), the Imperial War Museum and the Royal Air Force Museum (Hendon).
 
An annual branch battlefield tour to France, Flanders or other operational theatres of the Great War is also undertaken at reasonable prices to branch members.
 
Local Military Museums
 
The branch has arranged corporate membership of the Keep (Dorset and Devonshire) Military Museum, with similar membership of The Wardrobe (Berkshire and Wiltshire) Museum pending. Among other benefits, this entitles branch members to free entry to the museum and use of the library for research.
 
Research
 
The branch is willing to help in any way it can to answer questions that individuals have in regard to the Great War in general but with particular emphasis to the Dorset and South Wiltshire area. The branch is very fortunate in having members who can offer help and tips to research individuals or relatives and there are a number of research aids at the branch to assist e.g. access to Soldiers Died in the Great War CD.
 
Access to Regional Seminars
 
A series of regional all-day seminars are planned by the branch in the lead up to the centenary of the Great War. The first seminar 'Aspects of the Great War' took place in June 2010 at the Tank Museum, Bovington and proved a great success. A further seminar is scheduled to take place in 2012 with noted military historian Professor Richard Holmes CBE TD JP booked as the keynote speaker.
 
Other Activities
 
Participation in events in order to promote the branch and the WFA, by encouraging membership and participation in branch and WFA activities. In 2008/09 these events included Remembrance 90, Tankfest, and Dorset Family History Day.
 
Membership of the WFA is at national level but it is not a condition to attend our 11 branch meetings per year or benefit from other branch activities. There is no fee involved to become a branch member although everyone attending a branch meeting is invited to pay a small donation. We hope that visitors to the branch will consider joining the national WFA to benefit from the excellent, high-quality publications and to enjoy the other advantages of membership.
 
Branch Committee Members
 
Martin Willoughby
Chairman
 
Rod Arnold
Vice-Chairman
 
Judy Willoughby
Secretary
 
Marc Thompson
Treasurer (Website Editor)
 
Sandra Twyford
Events Co-ordinator
 
David Seymour
Branch Education Officer
 
Helen Kerridge
Newsletter Editor
 
Katherine Seymour
Branch Memorials Officer
 
Janet Scott-Puttock
Member without portfolio