South West England Research and Discussion Circle (SWERD)

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435

Australian Defence Personnel & Salisbury Plain – Part 2

Australian Defence Personnel

Penny Mercer describes the experiences of her ancestor Arthur Mercer who served with the AIF in WW1. Patsy Daly talks about her ancestor John Learmonth who was stationed in the camps on Salisbury Plain during WW2.

Webcast Duration
43 minutes
Presenter
Penny Mercer & Patsy Daly

Australian Defence Personnel & Salisbury Plain – Part 1

Australian Defence Personnel & Salisbury Plain

Martin Lock and Peter Collins provide an early history to Salisbury Plain together with a history of the Defence Forces training areas. Details of the Fovant Badges carved into the hills are discussed. Gayle Nicholas outlines the WW1 experiences of her ancestor Alfred Price who trained in the area.

Webcast Duration
22 minutes
Presenter
Martin Lock, Peter Collins & Gayle Nicholas

County and parish histories for south-west England

Stephen Hawke reviews a number of histories of the seven counties of south west England, including an excellent book by Philip Payton on Cornwall. Stephen also covers the Victoria County Histories – a project, still running, that was initiated in the late 1890s in honour of Queen Victoria, and tasked with compiling histories for every parish and county in England. All books discussed are available in (or through) the GSV library, and Stephen provides a few tips for using the catalogue.

Webcast Duration
40 minutes
Presenter
Stephen Hawke