Just as a matter of interest how many of you/us Jocks are members of the Western Front Association...Scotland North or South

Why only Scots?

Just trying to get a rough idea as to how many members there are in Scotland as I have been away from the WFA for many years and just wondering how active they are in Scotland...

Hmmmm, not Scottish but a WFA member none the less....

Maybe change the topic title?

Despite being called Bruce, I am not Scots, but am a WFA member.

According the WFA website there are two branches in Scotland: Scotland North and Scotland South.
With best wishes,
David

That's two more than in Ulster.

I'm a member, have been for about 13-14 years, but obviously not affiliated to any particular branch anymore. Perhaps a postal branch might be a consideration for those of us not served by any geographical representation?

Perhaps not a question for this forum eh?

Cheers,

Nigel

Why not form a branch? I'm up for it.

Is there any branches in Ireland ?

Moi, originally S Cheshire Branch, now Lancs & Ches Branch, where sometimes I bump into our very own Harters. Not Scots through.

Im not Scottish but i am a member of the WFA.I can highly recommend it to those on this forum who are not members.
The annual subscription is £22.For your subscription you get 3 bulletins and 3 Journals.The bulletin contains information on local branch issues,new memorials and ww1 related factual stories.The Journal is a bigger publication, with lots of ww1 related fatual information from battles to individal soldiers etc.There is also a section on new book releases.All in all great value for money,with lots of information and interesting ww1 stories.
Anthony.

There must be hundreds of WFA members here. Any chance we can stick to Glesga's original question? I don't think he needs to know if you're from south of the Border or are an exiled Scot in Cornwall.

[WFA member since 1991. Former Chairman of said organisation].

I to have been a WFA member for 13 years. I can highly recommend becoming a member.

Regards Frances

What a funny old thread. I am a Scot and a WFA member.

There!

W F A member since i dont know when


regards John

I'm not a WFA member, but I've been to a couple of events that seem to have been organised by them in N. Ireland. I don't really know what the situation is here, regarding local 'feelings'.

Peter

Just to pop this up again, is there branch in Ireland ??

I had a bit of a look at their site but I don't see Ireland mentioned. I thought there was at least a Belfast connection. Aw well.


Peter

Since issue 6 of the Journal, a very low membership number.

And a boring contributor.

I think what Charlie wants to know are how many WFA members live in the Glasgow area not nation wide.

Dan

OK you guys all I wanted to know was how many who regularly contribute to this forum in Jockoland were members of the WFA...the South or North Branch. The Glasgow Branch of this forum at their recent meeting decided that we should organise our meetings with guest speakers and other events and visits to sites of Great War interest. So I am trying to get a rough idea of the numbers up here in Scotland who are active in any Great War groups and if it would be in our best interest to extend a welcome to all Great War groups north of the Tweed.

By the way if you want to know how the HLI single handly won the war I am the man for your next meeting...of course I will mention the English, the Welsh, the Irish and the Commonwealth troops in the passing...if the price is right.

The Sons of the Whores Who Left Ireland . Hell's Last Issue and Glesga's Finest.

Hi Glesga Highlander,
I am a WFA member living in Fife. The Scotland South branches activities seem to have been low key recently especially dare I say over here on the east coast. Keep us all posted of upcoming meets, activities, trips etc. I for one have just done a trip abroad on my own, using a commercial tour, as I had no like minded Great War enthusiast to travel with


Len

Len Not a problem I will keep you informed I just feel it would be in all of our interests if we combined some of our meetings especially if we were to invite speakers to our meetings.

I could do a talk on the benefits of a pre paid funeral plan Charlie or how to get bargans at the barras with chatem fleecem and run.

Dan

As long as you don't tell anymore of those funeral jokes again as aMarina is still laughing her head off after the last time.

Not a member (yet?), but I have attended some of the UK's northernmost branch meetings.

Roxy

I'm a member too. Christina

Thought about joining, but never have. And unlike a large percentage of people who have responded so far, I'm actually in Scotland...

Hello!

I am Scottish by birth and have lived here all my life. I am also a WFA member, and have been since I was a mere schoolboy. The WFA is something I am proud to be a part of, and it has served to keep my interest alive. I am also with the TA, and last year I was at the unveiling of the Scottish monument on the Frezenberg ridge...dressed in Number One uniform as a member of the Honour Guard.

Cheers

Owain.

Roxy I used to be active in the WFA Scotland (South) about 12 years ago or more but haven't renewed my membership for years. Despite continious efforts and publicity by John Cameron our secretary our numbers at meetings were disappointing. I know that the Scotland North branch have a healthy membership and a very active programme...I plan to attend one of their meetings this year.

The numbers at our last couple of members by the Glasgow members of this Forum have been really encouraging and we are keen to get ourselves established and meet on a more regular basis...but we do not want to be seen as direct competition to other Great War interest groups either here in Central Scotland or in Scotland as a whole.

Does anyone have any ideas as to why the WFA in South Scotland isn't as popular as it possibly could be...is it due to geographical and travel reasons or has the WFA to pricey for some - or are we Jocks just miserly.

PS

English readers. Please answer this last question with caution otherwise we will be on our way back down the road to Derby...this time there will be no bus strike to stop us going all the way to London.

Ive only heard about the WFA since joining this forum - I'm not a member (yet). Do they have meetings in Edinburgh?

That speaks volumes.

Yes Rab they do have meetings in Edinburgh and Glasgow alternatively.

Talk on conducting Battlefield Tours

When:
Sun, 14 September 2008 02:30PM

Where:
Edinburgh
Category:

Scotland (South) Branch
Description

Speaker to be ascertained
Venue

Venue:

Old Parish Church Hall
Street:

Bellfield Street, Portobello

City:
Edinburgh

Cheers G. H.

Rab

Without wanting to sound like I'm knocking the WFA at all, could anyone tell me what the main advantages of being a WFA member are? It just seems to me that many of the things you have to pay to gain access to are available here for free - e.g. contact with people who have an interest in the Great War, people who can assist you with research into the subject, even access to maps and other resources. It's nice to get the magazines, but I can't say that much of the content in the magazines is much different to the debates on this forum. I don't find the 'discounts' for members for maps and cds that generous.

Again, don't mean to knock the WFA at all, I'm just wondering whether those of you that are dedicated members can help me to decide whether I should renew my membership as I'm struggling to justify the cost at the moment.

In the main, the articles are authoritative and, vitally, are footnoted, so that anyone wishing to follow up can do so.

This is in contrast to a great deal of Forum input, which often offers opinion as fact, and impossible to verify or expand on.

Just depends on the needs of the reader: my cast on history is a product of background, education and training ....... I am a control freak.

Personally, I find that Bulletin and Stand To! are worth the membership fee alone.

Highlander,

Drop me a PM when you plan to visit the far north - we can possibly make up for my lack of availibility at the Pals meets in Edinburgh or Glasgow!

There are a (I think) reasonable number attend the meetings. Some things put me off - I have submitted a number of photos of memorials for inclusion on their website on a number of occasions without even the courtesy of a response. It doesn't fill me with enthusiasm!

Roxy

Christina,

I would be interested in becoming a member if there was some type of active continental group. I asked about this a year ago and got rather less than an encouraging answer from WFA.
Tea for two?

Paul

An important contrast with Stand To and the Bulletin.

There is also the benefit of being able to attend branch meetings, meet fellow enthusiasts in real life, and hear interesting and informative speakers (although not always - occasionaly it's me).

John

John,

That's why I've not joined. I originally thought there would be an active group here, let's say expats in Germany, Belgium, and Christina, but there seems to be no such animal.

Actually, I should say re-joined. I was a member of WFA at the ripe old age of 13. I saved my allowance and worked odd jobs in the summer to get together the membership fee, which was quite a lot for me at that age. It was also in pounds, which made it doubly expensive for a young American lad. I sent off my fee, got a letter or welcome, and then a month later a bill for another year's fee!! Because of the way the membership year ran I had paid an entire year for the privilege of being a member for a little over a month.
I will never forget how dissapointed I was. I even wrote a letter of protest and got a response from a retired Colonel so and so from Biggleswade. Those were the rules, sorry, it read. I haven't rejoined in 25 years.

Paul

To answer Glesga's simple initial question! I am a member of the Scotland (North) Branch of the WFA.

Kinnethmont am I correct in saying that you guys were responsible for the erecting of the new flag poles at Beaumont Hamel...you beat me to it but it saved me a lot of time and effort in fundraising. Thanks...I can now concentrate my efforts on getting something in place at Frankfurt and New Muncih Trench.

Presumably a memorial to the 1st South Staffords?

(Sassenach retires quietly....)

I have been a WFA member for some years. Its not a perfect organisation but the bulletin and the journal are probably the best currentlyu published works on the Great War. Local meetings are also well worthwhile and where there are gaps in local meetings the opportunity exitist for enthusiasts to start them up with funding assistance from the WFA. I would say that even with this splendid forum, it is well worthwhile to be in membership - not least it offers the opportunity to meet those with the same interest face to face.

I find the WFA publications extremely informative and well produced, incidentially is the membership static? on the increase/decrease? it maybe my imagination but the number of branches seems to be less? and several people I have spoken to are all former members


best regards John

I agree with you lads although I let my membership lapse several years ago I still have all my copies of the Stand To and the Bulletin which I like to read through now and again. I would say that I have met many WFA members on my numerous travels to the Western Front and I have to admit that there seemed to be a 'north versus south' attitude amongst many of these members - and I don't mean Scots and English - more of a case of Home Counties and anyone else north of Watford. Maybe it has changed since I was last a member...hopefully

Chris my original idea for a memorial to the 15th , 16th & 17th Highland Light Infantry was to be a statue which would've featured 'Mother Glasgow' gazing over the fields above Beaumont Hamel with her three small children representing the three battalions as her lost sons. Alas due to economics at the time this was not possible and we had to settle for the Highland Light Infantry plaque at Authuille Chapel.Maybe someday as I feel that the story of New Munich Trench and Frankfurt Trench should be recognised and considering it was until recently the most decorated action in the history of the British Army I am surprised that the story is not better known.

Chris, the new flagstaff was to replace the one given by the 51st Highland Division to the village of Beaumont Hamel in memory of those members of the Division who fell in the struggle there leading up to their capturing Beaumont Hamel on 13th November 1916. The village undertook to fly the Lion Rampant from the original flagstaff on future anniversaries. That tradition continues still.

There was no quiet retirement!!

See details below.

Beaumont Hamel Nov 2006

As Heiton is distinctly south of the Tweed I know when I've been snubbed.

Incidentally, I'm a member of the WFA for the news and articles contained in the very wonderful Bulletin.