The month of April was a busy one for those interested in the period; as there were two conferences organised in London. The Spring meeting of the Napoleonic Association had two very good papers. King George's Prison Camp, Norman Cross was presented by Martin Howe, Curator of Peterborough Museum, and looked at the War Prison at Norman Cross during the Napoleonic Wars, relating the fascinating story of the prison and the prisoners of war of many nationalities who were housed there.

This paper was followed by Dave Hollins presenting Aspern - Behind the Myth. This interesting talk showed the Austrian side of the great Battle of Aspern-Essling, including photographs of the site as it is now, in comparison with the battlefield of 1809. Both of these Speakers made the day one of the most enjoyable the Napoleonic Association has staged at the National Army Museum.

At the end of the month the First Partizan Press Napoleonic Military Conference was held at the Royal Armouries Education Centre. Papers on The Origin of Line vs Column, Unravelling the Redcoat, Aspects of the Spanish Army and The Royal Regiment at San Domingo ensured that this was a varied and enjoyable meeting. I only attended on the Sunday to hear these papers, but I understand that the Saturday of wargames was enjoyed by all. With the Napoleonic era becoming more popular these days because of the Bicentennial Anniversary of the period, I have no doubt that conferences such as these will become more and more popular, and hopefully, bigger and better.

The Autumn Conference of the Napoleonic Association will be held on Saturday 2nd October. The papers will be: Discipline in Wellington's Army by Stephen Petty, and The Blue and The Green, looking at the French and British Customs Services. This will be presented by Mark Dennis.

More Dusty Archive

Introduction
Petersborough Museum
Books
Thoughts