The Western Front Association is open to all people who have an interest in any or all aspects of World War I, the Great War, 1914-1918.
the U.S.S Texas was a great success.
Thanks to all who attended and helped with the event.
Event Photos:
Clockwise from top left:
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Part of the Group Below Decks; Clark Shilling, Presenter, with Some of the Guests Topside; David Beer and James Thomas, Chapter Chairman and Associate Chair,
Behind a 14-inch Turret
The Southwest Chapter of the Western Front Association, US Branch, was formed with the approval of the President and Board of Directors of the US Branch in 2004. We are headquartered in Austin, Texas, but would like to build a strong regional Chapter within our six-state territory. Our regular venue is the Texas Military Forces Museum, located in Building 6 on Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas.
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Please check back for news. |
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Our 2008 Fall Seminar and Armistice/Veterans Day Remembrance was held Saturday November 1, 2008 aboard the battleship U.S.S. Texas, the last WWI Dreadnought.
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Click here for our program.
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Our first World War One Film Festival and Armistice/Veterans Day Remembrance was held Sunday, November 11, 2007 at Camp Mabry.
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Click here for our program.
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| On September 16, 2007 we joined in honoring history's First Indian Code Talkers, World War One's Choctaws of the 36th Division of the AEF, at Camp Mabry. |
Click here for the press release.
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We held our inaugrral World War I History Seminar on March 10, 2007.
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Click here for our program.
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Over 33,000 American Casualties of the First World War are buried in the American Battle Monuments Cemeteries in France, Flanders and England. Of these, 1724 are veterans who enlisted in the six-state area of the Southwest Chapter. Here is the breakdown: |
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Click here to learn about Linda's work.
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| Click here to read Clark's book reviews. |
Some of Our Favorite Photos and Topics: |
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Two WWI Authors Whose Work Has Been Filmed Recently | |
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Patch of the 36th Division of the AEF. This division, composed of National Guard units from Texas and Oklahoma, after training at Camp Bowie, Texas, fought in the Champagne at the Battle of Blanc Mont in October 1918 capturing the hornet's nest of St. Etienne, then making one of the longest advances of any American division in the war to the River Aisne. The arrowhead represents Oklahoma, formerly Indian Territory, and the "T", obviously, Texas. |
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Memorial to the 90th Division which was the "National Army" division [primarily draftees] from Texas and Oklahoma in World War I. The division was in the opening attack in the St. Mihiel Offensive where they attacked through heavy shelling in the "Valley of Death". Later they were redeployed in the Argonne Sector where they participated in the great advance of November 1, 1918. In the Second World War, the division returned to France, fighting from Utah Beach at Normandy to the Rhine, crossing into Germany in March 1945. |
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Honoring Those Who Served. The Southwest Chapter is committed to honoring the memory of everyone who served in the First World War. Shown here on the far left is William Thomas, RN, who served at Gallipoli and later in India. To his right is his grandson, Southwest Chapter Chairman David Beer.
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William Thomas was sunk three times at Gallipoli manning landing boats like these. He could be in this photo. | |
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Inspiring Vimy Ridge Canadian Memorial. Currently undergoing renovation, Vimy is a large complex of tunnels, monuments and preserved battlefields which is one of the highlights of any visit to the Western Front. It is also a short drive from the fascinating French Memorial at Notre Dame de Lorrette. |
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Ruth Beer with her husband David, who also happens to be our Chapter Chairman. David is decked out as an officer of the Royal Engineers in his 1980s era reenactment uniform. |
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