christma truce 1914

Lieutenant-General Jonathon Riley CB DSO PhD MA FRHistS

News & Diary of Engagements August 2014


Westminster Lights Out August 4thCandlelight Vigil Marks Great War Centenary
August 4th 2014

The "Lights out" event concluded a day of ceremonies marking 100 years since Britain entered World War One. Jonathon Riley accompanied Sir Deian Hopkin to the Abbey service, representing the First Minister of Wales.

Order of Service ...

(Click on images to view enlarged)

 

Christmas Truce 1914 Launch of the Christmas Truce 1914 Exhibition in Dresden
August 3rd 2014

A collaborative project between the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, the Army Museum of Saxony, the Municipalities of Armentieres and Frelinghien in France, the new Wipers Experience museum in Belgium, CyMAL (Museums, Libraries and Galleries Wales) and the Dulverton Trust.

The exhibition opened on 3 August at Castle Wolfenstein, will move on to Armentieres, Ypres, and then to Frelinghien, site of the actual 1914 truce, in December for a special event, then it will come to Bodelwyddan Castle in North Wales in January, the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff in April, then back to Germany in May.

Jonathon Riley is a member of the WW1 Commemoration advisory group, under Sir Deian Hopkin, advising the Welsh government on the centenaries and also Chairs the British Army's group supporting these events in Wales.

See WWI Commemoration
 

 

The Last Ironsides

First Launch of "The Last Ironsides" by Jonathon Riley
July 15th 2014 - The Oriental Club

Guests at Book Launch, included: Lord Richards, Chief of Defence Staff & Lady Richards
Lord Naseby, chief whip of the Conservative party in the last parliament
Lord (John) Morris, Blair's Attorney-general and architect of the Welsh Assembly government
Maj-Gen & Mrs Charles Vyvyan; Mr Tom Lloyd, Wales Herald and Willa, Lady Elphinstone
Mr & Mrs Francis Cleverdon; Ann Green CBE, Chair of Hadrian's Wall
Professor Theo Farrell, Head of War Studies Dept, King's College London; Mr Ralph Ffrench

The English and French regiments fought with courage and discipline at the series of major battles and sieges that followed, most of which have never been properly described.

 


Sir Owen ThomasUnveiling of Plaque to Brigadier Sir Owen Thomas
April 27th 2014

The extraordinary life of former Anglesey MP, High Sheriff, County Councillor and Brigadier General, Sir Owen Thomas, will be celebrated at his childhood home near Cemaes in a special ceremony.

Among the invited guests attending the ceremony will be distinguished military historian and former commanding officer of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, Lt General Jonathan Riley; David Pretty, an author of two books about the life of Sir Owen Thomas; and relative Robert Williams, of Neuadd. Read more...
Press release (pdf)


Honour in 1812Honour in 1812: Lt. Gen Jonathon Riley in Spencerville
(by Alicia Wanless)
April 22nd 2013

Spencerville - Before me sits a gentleman. It is clear from his comportment, and his ever-present charm.

He’s the sort of man one can easily imagine in a Jane Austen novel sporting an officer’s red coat, or better still retired to the country.

And in a way, Lieutenant-General Jonathon Riley really is that embodiment.
a matter of honour. jonathon rileyPress release (pdf)

 


CSD2014CSD2014 Conference ‘Organised Crime in Conflict Zones’
March 6th 2014

Organised by postgraduate students from the Conflict, Security and Development (CSD) programme at King’s College London (KCL) and supported by the War Studies Department, the conference will be held at the Great Hall of the Strand Campus.

 

podcast war studiesThe one-day event will focus on transnational organised crime, a multi-billion pound global business and an area of growing international concern.
Press release (pdf)