Programme of events 2023-2024.
The Birmingham Medal Society meets on the first Thursday of each month at The Holiday Inn, Kidderminster Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B61 9AB. Each meeting is different and provides a wide range of subjects for medal collectors and historians in all areas. The meetings begin at 1900h with the formal start at 1930h. Members may also wish to meet in the bar area from 5.00pm onwards for a meal or drink.
The programme for the next year is detailed below, for more information please contact us.
Any member wishing to talk about an item on a relevant night can fill a form in upon arrival or complete one in advance by CLICKING HERE and e-mailing on the link to the Secretary.
The programme for the next year is detailed below, for more information please contact us.
Any member wishing to talk about an item on a relevant night can fill a form in upon arrival or complete one in advance by CLICKING HERE and e-mailing on the link to the Secretary.
Thursday 1st June 2023 - Friends of The Family. Martin Harrison will talk about some medals he acquired many years ago and how they were described as belonging to 'Friends of the Family' at the time. Subsequent research lead to some interesting details.
Sunday 4th June 2023 – Birmingham Medal Society Mini Convention. Knowle Royal British Legion Club, Knowle. Click here for more details and application form.
Thursday 6th July 2023 - A Surprise Talk. Founder member Dave Seeney will talk about a subject he is passionate about An entertaining evening is in store
Thursday 3rd August 2023 - La Retraitte de Moscou. Mick Atkinson will give another of his enthralling talks based around his interest in the Emporer Napoleon and Napoleonic awards. Undoubtedly Mick’s detail in research, passion and enthusiasm will provide an entertaining evening.
Thursday 7th September 2023 - The Great War in Africa – an overview Part 1. Member Christopher Mellor-Hill will draw on his experience and knowledge of Africa to discuss this subject. The First World War was essentially a quarrel between European powers which involved Africa, both directly and indirectly, because at the outbreak of hostilities the greater part of it was ruled by the European belligerents. Over 150000 soldiers and carriers lost their lives during the war. Christopher will no doubt enthral us all once again with his inimitable style on the subject so close to his heart.
Thursday 5th October 2023 - Dargai 1897 Revisited! Chris Davies will talk about the storming of the Dargai and include medals he has in his collection to illustrate the presentation
Thursday 2nd November 2023 - Drummond Lecture. Baptism of fire: 21st Division at the Battle of Loos. Derek Clayton BA MA PhD will talk about the units of 21st Division who disembarked on French soil between 9 and 12 September 1915. Two weeks later, with absolutely no prior battlefield experience and very little in the way of acclimatisation to the realities of the Western Front, they were thrown into action at the Battle of Loos.
Thursday 7th December 2023 - Flying for France. President Paul Handford MBE will deliver another of his excellent presentations based around World War I awards. No doubt the volunteer ambulance service will feature and Paul will exude his usual passion for a subject close to his heart.
Thursday 4th January 2024 - ZOOM Meeting - Members Own / Recent Acquisitions. An opportunity for members to show off their latest medallic acquisitions or to talk about a specific group of medals they have. Always an interesting evening and one full of surprises. A link will be sent out to members beforehand.
Thursday 1st February 2024 - Defenders of the Alambagh. Longstanding member Pete Fisher will talk about the Defence of Alambagh (Lucknow) a part of Indian Mutiny 27 November 1857-10 March 1858. The defenders were able to send messengers to and from Alambagh, from where in turn messengers could reach Cawnpore. Pete will no doubt illuminate his talk with some outstanding medals from his own collection. An important aspect of British Imperial history.
Thursday 7th March 2024 - The RAF in India 1918 to 1939. Long time member John Scott will present a talk on a subject extremely close to his heart and will no doubt have plenty of medal groups to show those present.
Thursday 4th April 2024 - Annual General Meeting. Following the formal business of the evening and election of the Committee. Our Patron Phil McDermott will give an address on latest medal developments, the annual President’s Cup competition will also be held on the evening and if time permits, Recent Acquisitions.
Thursday 2nd May 2024 - The Cadet Forces Medal. John Scott will introduce this topic and look at the history, devepment and changes to the award, which when presented a few years ago proved very interesting. It will enable members to being any relevant groups containing the Cadet Forces Medal.
Thursday 6th June 2024 - 枕木 Makuragi . Martin Harrison will look at the British defeat at Singapore followed by the forced labour of Allied Prisoners of War in constructing the Burma Railway. He will use medal groups from his own collection and draw upon experiences of visiting the Commonwealth War Graves in Kanchanaburi and Chungkai in Thailand.
Thursday 4th July 2024 - Recent Acquisitions, Members Own. An opportunity for members to show off their latest medallic acquisitions or to talk about a specific group of medals they have. Always an interesting evening and one full of surprises
