Steve Williams offers
illustrated talks to groups,
lunch clubs, Women’s Institute,
Mothers Union, schools, colleges
and historical societies across
the North West.
To book a talk, or for more
information, please get in touch
via our
"Contact Us" page.
WORLD WAR ONE
The Chorley Pals
‘The Chorley Pals’
In September 1914 men from every
walk of life around Chorley answered
Kitchener’s appeal to join up and
fight in WW1. The talk looks at
the history of Y Company of the
11th (Service) Bn. East Lancashire
Regiment and those who served in
it. The talk includes footage from
BBC TV North West news coverage
of a trip he organised to the Somme
on 1st July 2006.
‘The Western Front’
A talk about visits to WW1 battlefields
across France and Belgium over the
years - linking each to a local
man who fought and died “In a foreign
field”.
WW1 Recruitment
Poster
‘Gallipoli’
A visit to the Gallipoli battlefields
in September 2006 was more of a
personal pilgrimage, searching out
the lost graves of three men from
Brindle.
The talk covers the research
and result, as well as looking at
the beaches and battlefield; numerous
photographs.
‘A Mother’s tears’
A few lines spotted in the ‘In
Memoriam’ column of Chorley Guardian,
dated 17th June 1917, forms the
basis for this talk.
Over the last 5 years Steve has
researched many local men who fought
and died in World War One. He has
put together some very poignant
real life stories and, as the title
implies, they view the War through
different eyes.
Eddie Latheron from
Blackburn Rovers
who was killed in
action on 14th October
1917
‘Footballers in the Trenches’
Many professional and amateur
footballers fought and died in the
trenches during the First World
War. They range from Eddie Latheron
of Blackburn Rovers and England
to James Miller VC from Withnell
Fold who played in the Chorley &
District Amateur League.
The talk also covers two Bradford
footballers - Lt. Donald Bell of
Bradford City (the only professional
footballer to win a Victoria Cross
in WW1) and my relative Private
Benjamin Balme (a ‘Bradford Pal’)
who played for his village team
of Clayton near Bradford. Many other
stories including an England international
taken prisoner by the Germans; illustrated
throughout.
WORLD WAR ONE & TWO
‘King and Country’
A unique and personal talk, linking
families (including his own) who
fought in both Wars.
Travelogue theme, with stories
and photographs of the Somme, Ypres,
Gallipoli, Dunkirk and Normandy.
