Friday 16 May, 7.00pm. St. Bartholomew’s Church, Much Marcle
Jennifer Harrison will be talking about ‘ Belgian refugees – the Herefordshire Connection’.
Few people know about the Belgian refugees who fled from the World War 1 German Schlieffen Plan, a swift flanking attack on France through neutral Belgium, avoiding the heavily fortified Franco-German border and sweeping the weak Belgian army aside. As a result, 250,000 Belgians fled to Britain, the largest ever single displacement of populations into the UK. Although mostly civilians fleeing the German armies, there were also wounded and discharged Belgian soldiers. Most of the Belgian refugees were housed in local communities around the UK, often with families who offered rooms or their homes. Some of these refugees came to Herefordshire, and in Ledbury some were housed in the Drill Hall (in addition to a number in private houses in the town) on which aspect Jennifer will expand.
St. Bartholomew’s Church, Much Marcle HR8 2LY