Meetings are held at Fort Nelson on the fourth Wednesday of every month, excluding August and December, often with speakers on military subjects that may range from Victorian guns to local history to World War One and Two.
The meetings are held at Fort Nelson from 19.30 to 21.00 hours, and are both informative and social occasions. One meeting each year is normally a visit to a local fort or gun battery not generally available to the public.
2020 marks the centenary of the deployment of the para-military police force - the Black and Tans - in Ireland. Their indiscriminate and heavy-handed methods succeeded in dragging the IRA to the negotiating table but alienated the majority of the law-abiding Irish population. The talk on this fascinating and generally forgotten subject will be given by PFS member Richard Willcocks
A talk by Paul Vickers, Heritage Project Officer, Friends of Aldershot Military Museum
PFS member James Doherty provides an insight into one of the worst British military disasters of Queen Victoria's reign, and ponders the contribution of the rapscallion, but fictional, Harry Flashman.
PFS member Nick Tudgey tells the tragic story of Franklin's lost expedition, a British voyage of Arctic exploration led by Captain Sir John Franklin that departed England in 1845 aboard two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. The two ships became icebound in Victoria Strait near King William Island in the Canadian Arctic. The entire expedition, comprising 129 men, including Franklin, was lost.
The Boatyards of Forton Lake talk will be given by Commander Martin Marks, R.N. retired. Originally a history of The Maritime Workshop, Gosport, where Steam Pinnace 199 was refitted, has links back to the 18th century. It then expanded to cover two more boatyards no longer on the lake. Forton Lake is a tidal creek, and is home to around thirty wrecked vessels of varying type.
The PFS Annual Outing this year will be on the 19th September to, as yet, an undisclosed fortification(s). As with previous years the outing will begin and end at Fort Nelson, departing 0800 sharp..... Watch this space for further details.more...
PFS members are invited to share their artillery and fortification photographs with those at the meeting.
The PFS 2020 Annual General Meeting will be held on the 17th October 2020 at Fort Nelson, commencing at 1400hrs. All PFS members are welcome to attend.
A talk by PFS member Geoff Hallett about Sir Fabian Ware and the history of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The roller-coaster ride for Fort Gilkicker continues, as it's back on the market yet again.... read more ...
Drop Redoubt Open Weekend dates for 2020: 30th – 31st May and 5th – 6th September. For full details: https://doverwesternheights.org
Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna (The Malta Heritage Trust) were involved in the creation of the animation and Mario Farrugia, who represents the trust, wrote an excellent article about the fort and gun for Redan 48 back in 1998. To see the animation click on the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyItmfUO3WAread more ...
The PFS Committee would like to take this festive time opportunity to wish the members of the Society a 'Very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous 2020'.read more ...
Fears over the future of Hurst Castle have been heightened after storm damage forced the historic building’s closure at the weekend. English Heritage, which owns the scheduled monument near Milford, has shut a number exhibition rooms for the foreseeable future after large cracks appeared in the walls and ceilings.read more ...
The 2019 issue of The Redan has been received from the printers, and will be distributed to members who attend this year's AGM on the 12th October. A general mail out to members who have renewed will commence from the 14th October.
The new PFS membership year commenced on the 1st October, and thanks to all members who have renewed, but a reminder to those who have yet to renew that their subscription for the 2019-2020 year is now in overdue.
The Peter Ashley Activity Centre at Fort Widley will be open for a unique evening on Friday 4th October with a tour of the Secret Nuclear Bunker. The two hour guided tour begins at 6.30 pm and will include access to the Nuclear Civil Defence Bunker and a talk about the changes to civil defence since the 1950s. The cost is £15 per person and does include refreshments, including Pompey Pals Ale. To book call Lydia on 02392 321223 or email: lydia@peterashleyactivitycentres.co.ukread more ...
Fort Cumberland Heritage Open Days will be from Friday 13th September to Monday 16th September. Full details and tickets are available on the website: www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/fort-cumberland1read more ...