The
Shorncliffe Military Lectures:
Restarting an old military tradition
One
of the most famous regiments in the British Army is the 95th Foot,
the Rifles.
Under
Sir John Moore in 1802 the regiment began a training regime using
new light-infantry tactics that would revolutionise the way the
British army fought.
The
inventiveness and forward thinking of training at Shorncliffe
were boosted in 1803 by military lectures given by Colonel Coote
Manningham.
Now
the lectures are being restarted by The Shorncliffe Military Trust
in a bid to raise funds to finance its vision for Shorncliffe.
Those
aims include "the preservation and conservation and development
and improvement of features of historic interest at Shorncliffe
with public amenities and the preservation of a site of historic
interest. And to educate the public in the history of the military
and the social impact of military history by the provision and
maintenance of a museum."
The
new lecture series is being held in the centre of Shorncliffe
Garrison close to where they began.
Guest
speakers Professor Charles Esdaile, General Sir Nick Parker and
Andrew Morgan will continue the theme of the originals over 200
years ago, echoing the inventiveness and forward thinking of the
period.
Professor
Esdaile is a lecturer at the University of Liverpool, a leading
Napoleonic historian, author and founding member of the Peninsular
War 200. He will be speaking on: Sir John Moore, Some Thoughts
on a Complicated Hero.
General
Sir Nick Parker is an ex-Colonel Commandant of The Rifles and
Deputy Commander of the ISAF in Afghanistan. He will speak on:
The Characteristics of the 21st Century Rifleman.
Andrew
Morgan is a historian and historical interpreter and is a specialist
tour guide for WWI and WWII. He is also a consultant to the media
and military museums. He will speak on: Shorncliffe - The Shared
British and Belgian Experience of WWI.
All
proceeds from this event will go towards the work of the Shorncliffe
Trust.
The
lectures are on Saturday November 15, 2014 at the Tower Theatre,
North Rd, Folkestone.
To book tickets click here