Lectures

I am an experienced speaker, giving talks on various aspects of the Great War. I lecture regularly, having spoken to the National Trust, Western Front Association (WFA), local history groups, university classes, battlefield enthusiasts and schools. I also speak at after-dinner functions on request. I also speak to businesses, most recently at the Swiss headquarters of petrochemical company INEOS. My newest talk, entitled ‘The Canadian Corps in the Last Hundred Days, August – November 1918′ focuses on the endeavours of Sir Arthur Currie’s Canadian Corps and has been given at various WFA branches and the Lit & Phil in Newcastle. I also spoke at the 2016 Great War Forum Conference in Birmingham. Please use the Contact page to request more information on subjects covered, availability and rates.

jeremy-banning-lecture

I have lectured in French twice at the Carrière Wellington in Arras to a French audience on the Battle of Arras and have also spoken at various WFA branches, as part of the Eastbourne Redoubt Fortress & Museum Great War lecture series and at universities and professional institutions. I have lectured twice on the work of the La Boisselle Study Group at black tie functions held at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. A write up of my talk on “The Battle of Arras: April – May 1917? is available HERE.

Testimonials received include:

“Thank you again for delivering such an engaging talk at the Army & Navy Club earlier this week. Our members were most impressed with the lecture. They commented on how well structured the talk was and of course your knowledge on the subject, which was second to none.” Elana Kruger, Marketing Manager, Army & Navy Club, London

“A huge thank you for giving such an informative and interesting talk last week as part of our Tuesday talks programme.  Members of the audience spoke to Stuart after your talk and mentioned how much they had enjoyed your presentation.” Jules Wooding, Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life

“On behalf of the Trustees and members of the Wessex Branch WFA we would like to say what a  superb  talk  you gave this afternoon. As always so much content, well researched and delivered. We certainly think you gave your audience something to mull over. Well done!” Martin & Judy Willoughby, Wessex Branch, Western Front Association

“Very many thanks for your excellent presentation – I think it deserves full marks! You presented your material clearly and audibly, using very good visuals to illustrate your commentary. Your maps were legible and easily read – something where many speakers fall down. Wisely you kept statistics to a minimum but used them to make your points. You established a good rapport with your audience and you certainly appeared very relaxed. It should have raised the profile of the battles of Arras and I hope it will have encouraged more people to explore the area.” Bridgeen Fox, Chairman Thames Valley Branch, Western Front Association

“The talk was excellent and really enthused the attendees, one third of which were non-ICE members. I received a lot of complimentary comments afterwards.” Andrew Culley, Institution of Civil Engineers South West

“Your talk was very well received by both staff and students alike, indeed some of the students have come to find me this morning to ask if we can arrange to come and volunteer at the site; a definite sign that the talk was delivered at the right level. I have to say that it was absolutely what we were looking for, it both enthused and moved the audience through the personal stories you used throughout. I would personally recommend your lecture to anyone who has an interest in the La Boisselle area, or indeed anyone who has an interest in history, a truly captivating talk by an inspirational historian!”  Mr James Wilson, History Teacher, South Bromsgrove High School

“On behalf of the group, a very big thanks for the really first class talk you gave us. I have had a number of calls saying how much they not only enjoyed the talk, but how much new material they learned. You really did uncover some dark corners. I thought your presentation was terrific – not too much detail and very clear.” Charles Stuart, Farnham U3A letter of thanks following my talk, The Somme1 July 1916. A North-South Divide?

Jeremy Banning and Peter Barton using panoramas at Aeroplane Trench, Fricourt to explain the failure of the 1 July 1916 attack at this point to a group of battlefield visitors