I have to take a break from the usual content of this site to acknowledge the very sad death of Mark Whittow, a man I have known, through friends, since the late 70s early 80s.

This tribute about sums him up: https://www.spc.ox.ac.uk/node/1642

A limited exhibition at the Bodleian, Weston Library in Oxford.

Not worth a special trip – but Oxford is!

BRITAIN’S LESSER-KNOWN ALLIES IN THE GREAT WAR When most people are asked to consider the countries that fought on Britain’s side against the Central Powers of Germany, Austro-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire in the Great War, they generally think only of the great powers of France, Russia, and the USA. This can hardly be surprising given that it was these three nations, plus Britain and her dominions, that contributed most to the conflict and made the greatest sacrifices. However, there were a further twelve independent nations that had declared war on the Central Powers and who to a greater or larger extent made contributions to the allied victory. This talk looks at these twelve nations, examining the reasons for them entering the conflict, the contributions made by each to the Allies cause, and the consequences for each. The speaker: Following a successful City career, Club Member Dr. Keith Williams has pursued his love of history, researching and writing on a variety of military history topics, mainly within the period from the Crimean War to the close of World War I, with his work appearing in such publications as The Journal of the Orders and Medals Research Society, Wellcome History, History Today, and the British Medical Journal. He was awarded a Doctorate by Cardiff University, and holds a Masters degree from London University in the History of Medicine. Currently he is writing a book on the development of military medicine in the nineteenth century.

I have recently been contacted buy a researcher who was involved with my grandfather, Malcolm Hancock, when he was on The Wogan talk show back in 1987.

I have had a great little chat with the historian Peter Hart at Woodstock when he was giving a talk on Gallipoli. Peter interviewed Malcolm Hancock for the Imperial War Museum way back in the early 1980s.

I have made contact and remain in touch with Malcolm Harris – grandson of John Rideout, who Malcolm rescued in the heat of battle at Gallipoli 1915, for which Malcolm won the MC.

I have been informed about the repatriation Ships of WW2 on which my maternal grandfather, Eric Walter Hare, was lucky enough to benefit from in 1942.

I have made contact and continued to liaise with eh Auxiliary Units of WW2, with whom Malcolm Hancock served with distinction.

I have been contacted by a film company for a piece for the One Show about the Coats Mission – the unit designated to looking after the Royal Family in WW2 – in which Malcolm also served.

I have been in contact with various relatives of John Michael Bryan – Wing Commander ahead of his time and clearly a special man.

I have been in contact with relatives of the Parkes family, several of whom I have researched at length – Spencer, who is remembered on the Menin Gate and Sydney Ernest, who died at Gallpoli.

All this, and more, down to the power of the internet.

Early in the 1980s, Peter Hart interviewed my Grandfather, Malcolm Hancock, for his military History, which is recorded on this website.

After a highly successful Somme trip this year – fantastic company, fantastic weather – here are a few pictures. Click on the picture to see the collection.