NAPOLEONIC ASSOCIATION
AUTUMN CONFERENCE

Napoleonic Newsdesk

by Paul Chamberlain


Lecture Theatre, National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London. Saturday 4 October 1997 This is the programme for what promises to be an interesting and varied meeting. Admission (to both the museum and the conference) is free to all enthusiasts of the period, whether members of the Napoleonic Association or not. If you are not a member, then take the opportunity to visit one of our popular events and discover what the Association can offer you. The museum has a cafeteria and book shop.

Timetable

10.00 Museum opens. members may set up displays in the Lecture Theatre.
11.00 Introduction by Paul Chamberlain.

11.10 The New South Wales Corps and the Australian Economy 1790 - 1810 by John Black.

Orthodox historians have regarded this regiment as being almost a penal unit made up of undesirable men from the rest of the British Army, and forming the guards for convicts in the new colony in Australia. Is this a true picture? John Black argues that the New South Wales Corps were no worse than any other unit of the army. The records indicate that there was a high level of literacy and numeracy amongst the rank and file, and over fifty men in the regiment were artisans. These skills helped to promote New South Wales into a thriving colony by 1830.

12.10 Napoleonic Newsdesk.
12.30 Lunch.
2.00 Introduction to afternoon session.

2.05 The Battle of Vittoria by John Salmon.

This is a brief look at one of Wellington's famous victories during the Peninsular War, examining the battlefield as it is today.

Folkestone Martello Tower by Andrew Mullen.

Martello Towers were built along the south coast of England as part of the defence preparations against Napoleon's planned invasion. The tower at Folkestone has a museum and was host to a re-enactment by the Napoleonic Association earlier this year.

The 42nd at Quatre Bras and Waterloo by Tom Greenshields.

This presentation takes a look at this famous regiment during the Waterloo Campaign, and is given by the Research Officer of the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of the Napoleonic Association.

Rich Uncle Quintin by Jane Hoyle. Robert Craufurd's Uncle Quintin was a man of many parts - business man, soldier, diplomat, scholar and francophile. He kept Prime Minister Pitt informed of events in France during the Revolution. He returned to Napoleonic France and became friendly with Talleyrand; at the same time he and his wife becoming friends of the Empress Josephine.

3.05 Tea.

3.30 Clearing For Action by Peter Goodwin. This talk will look at how a warship of the period prepared for battle, looking at the general preparation on board a ship, in which each sailor had an allotted task to perform. The wooden bulkheads would be unshipped, personal possessions stowed below, netting rigged above the deck. The marines would go to their stations, and the powder-boys would be ready to collect the cartridges for the guns. Going to Battle Quarters, and Beating to Quarters will be examined in detail by Peter Goodwin, who is Keeper and Curator of HMS Victory.

4.30 Closing remarks.

5.00 Museum closes.

Future Conferences

At this time of year I begin thinking about the Spring and Autumn meetings for next year. While I have a file of potential speakers that I can approach to present their research, I am always pleased to hear from any enthusiast, be they Napoleonic Association member or not, who would like to present their own research to an audience of 50 - 60 people. Presentations can be either 1 hour or 15 minutes in length. The shorter sessions do give inexperienced speakers the chance to have a go, as it were, and are proving very popular. The only stipulation is that they are illustrated in some way, with slides, overheads or uniform/equipment items. If you have had some of your work published in the pages of this magazine, why not present it to an appreciative and friendly audience of fellow enthusiasts? For further details of the Autumn Conference and future events, either as a speaker or member of the audience, contact Paul Chamberlain on 01582 616674.

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