Judi Nicolay will lead our discussion of Diana Souhami's biography, Edith Cavell, which follows the life of the British nurse who became a world-renowned symbol of humanitarian courage during World War I. She moved to Brussels to lead a "ramshackle" hospital, which she transformed into a model training school for nurses. When WWI began in 1914,...
Historian Joseph Schram will lead our discussion of Attack on the Scheldt 1944, by Graham A. Thomas, which is about a brutal, five-week Allied campaign to clear German forces from the Scheldt estuary, unlocking the vital port of Antwerp. Led by the First Canadian Army, alongside British and Polish troops, the grueling operation involved fighting...
Eric Padgett will lead our discussion of The Beauty and the Sorrow: An Intimate History of the First World War, by Peter Englund. His non-fiction work tells the story of World War I through the personal experiences of 20 ordinary individuals—soldiers, nurses, and civilians—from various nations. It explores the war as a human experience rather than...
After the excellent three-course meal in the Bistromy Dinning Room, the Battles and Books members adjourned to the Wasteels bar of the Club Prince Albert, for informal social time with Helen Fry. All-in-all it was a great event. Shown in the photograph is Helen Fry with the Battles and Books Co-Chairs, Dr. Christina Bache and Colonel William Bache...
After inspiring story telling by author Helen Fry about the Belgians that organized and operated a World War II Evasion and Escape networks for downed allied pilots during World War Two, we had her as our luncheon guest. The venue was the Bistromy dinning room of the Club Prince Albert. Twenty-five members and guests, spread out over four tables...
Helen Fry one of the recognized expert on the full spectrum of British intelligence activities and the anti-Nazi role of the Belgian resistance during World War II. She presented her latest book, MI9: A History of the Secret Service for Escape and Evasion in World War Two to a rousing large group of followers. Her marvelous book tells the stories...
Our focus will be on the new history book - The (Belgian) 5th SAS in the Second World War. If possible, we would like to see if the book presentation can be held in conjunction with a visit to the Pegasus Museum. The date and place of the presentation are not firm at this time.
Dennis Abbott, journalist, author, and Chair of the Royal British Legion (RBL) in Brussels, led a discussion of the ebook version of George Beeston's book. The book focuses on the adventures and misadventures of a young Belgian man, the son of an Englishman and a Belgian mother.
Olivier d'Olne, the Administrator of the Fraternelle des Agents Parachutistes, gave an excellent presentation of their newly published La Guerre Secrete 1940-1945, a history of the Belgians who were recruited, trained, equipped, and infiltrated into occupied Belgium from England during World War Two. Their mission was to link up with the various...
Members gathered for our annual Christmas season dinner at the Fraternelle des Agents Parachutistes in Ixelles. Chairperson William Bache presented the books nominated for the 2026 season. Additional books were also nominated from the floor. Volunteers were identified to serve as discussion leaders. Some historical site visit opportunities were...
Gerald Loftus led the discussion about one of the successful aspects of the Dutch Resistance to the Nazi Occupation, 1940-1945. The resistance was desperate to find financial support for thousands of demobilized Dutch soldiers and workers hiding from officals who wanted to deport them for forced labour in Germany, for the families of merchant...
A presentation by Marc Audrit, the author. Immediately upon the fall of Belgium on May 10, 1940, the Gestapo commandeered Résidence Belvédère, a luxurious Art Deco apartment building located at 453 Avenue Louise in Brussels, as its headquarters, and tortured prisoners in its cellars. Pilot Longchamps had devised a plan to strafe the building...
Florian Babusiaux shared the Belgian experience in preparing for stay behind operations to resist a possible Soviet invasion, rescue downed Allied pilots, and conduct guerrilla warfare during the Cold War era. His presentation was in English and included a Q&A Session. He was happy to sign autographed copies of his book.