Author: Steve Williams Talks

I have added a new talk ‘Preston in WW2’ to my programme for 2015 and 2016.

You can download my up to date brochure here.

I have introduced three new talks – “The Battle of the Somme” about the famous battle in 1916, “Normandy” – looking at the region in France with its food, drink, scenery and history (including the D-Day Landings in 1944) and “For you the War is over” – stories of Lancashire men taken Prisoners in the First and Second World Wars.

Download my new brochure here.

Close to 100 years on from when the Chorley Pals Company (part of the wider known ‘Accrington Pals’ Battalion) went off to fight in World War One, a photograph of the men has come to light as they are about to board their train at Chorley Station on the 23rd February 1915.

BBC North West Tonight covered the story, including interviewing the daughter of one of the men in the photograph, Pte Thomas Leach.

Video © 2015 BBC, used with permission.

This is an invitation to join me and fellow Chorley Pals historian John Garwood to walk the route the Chorley Pals took as they left the town to go off to war 100 years ago.

On the 23rd February 1915, the 220 men left the Drill Hall on Devonshire Road in Chorley at 11.20am and marched to the railway station.

At 11.55am, the train taking them to Caernarvon for training (and ultimately off to war) departed to the strains of the song Auld Lang Syne.

Members of the public are welcome to join the informal walk next Monday; please meet at the Drill Hall (postcode for sat nav PR7 2DJ) by 11.00am.

Please note: walk is at your own risk.

I am holding an illustrated talk entitled “Battlefields & Poppyfields” at Chorley Library this Tuesday (14th October).

The talk covers WW1 and WW2 battlefields in France (Dunkirk, Normandy, Festubert, Somme, Vimy Ridge), Belgium (Ypres, Bastogne) and Holland (Arnhem) and features Chorley men.

The talk is part of Chorley Historical Society’s monthly meeting, and begins at 7.30pm.

Entry is just £2 on the door.

I have nearly completed my work for FIFA in Switzerland researching Daniel B. Woolfall from Blackburn, who was FIFA’s second President from 1906 to 1918.

My findings may well be published and displayed in the new FIFA museum, scheduled to open in Zurich in early 2016.

Earlier this year I did some research and media work for the BBC.

I am sorry but I have had to cancel my railway talk at Brindle Community Hall on the 21st September.

We were visiting the graves of two of his relatives from Lancaster who were killed within days of each other at Ypres in 1917.

Besides doing nine pieces for the local radio station, we were accompanied on the four day trip by a cameraman from BBC television, reporting for North West Tonight where Graham presents the news programme at the weekend.

Graham also did an exclusive interview for me about his thoughts and feelings during his first visit to the battlefields.

I spent an enjoyable day on the 24th June working for the BBC at their WW1 At Home event on the Promenade in Blackpool.

As well as talking to visitors to the “Meet the expert” stand, I did two spots on stage covering my trip with BBC Radio Lancashire’s Graham Liver to the battlefields in April.

My new talks brochure is now available here: Steve Williams Talks Brochure 2015