Annual meeting and a new patron for the SCS

Members will be pleased to learn that the Honourable Ann Straker – granddaughter of Field Marshal George Milne, 1st Baron Milne – has agreed to become Patron of the Society. This re-establishes the link between the SCS and the family of the BSF’s Commander-in-Chief.

Ann has a great interest in her grandfather’s military career and joined the Society’s battlefield tour in September, where she laid several wreaths on the Society’s behalf at commemorative events. She also laid a wreath at the short act of remembrance at the Cenotaph in London, which takes place every October.

Following this, Ann joined about thirty members and friends at the Civil Service Club for the annual meeting where she was formally welcomed to the Society. In addition to meeting Ann, members also had the unique opportunity to see Field Marshal Milne’s service cap and passport!

The meeting focused on Britain’s allies with a short Serbian film on the campaign – fortunately with sub-titles – and a talk on the capture of Skopje in September 1918 by French North African cavalry led by General Jouinot-Gambetta. These were followed by the usual business meeting which saw all committee members standing for re-election. The SCS committee for the coming year remains as follows:

• Chairman – Alan Wakefield
• Treasurer – Ray Brownson
• Secretary – Darren Rolfe
• Membership Secretary – Keith Edmonds
• Journal Editor – Ian Cochrane
• Web Editor – Robin Braysher

We can be contacted through our ‘Contact Us’ form.

General Sir George Milne with General Mishitch, Salonika, January, 1917. (click on the image to see full size) © IWM (Q 32734)