The Ordnance Society

Ordnance Society member Änder Bruns has sent scans of two complementary handbooks; the original Austrian 1900 24cm M98 Morser and the gun that Britain then purchased; the 1915 9.45-in Howitzer.  These have now been added to the MODERN ARTILLERY B.L. & Q.F section of the new ORDNANCE DOWNLOADS webpage.

The ORDNANCE DOWNLOADS page has now been split into sub-pages, with the aim of making research into different topics easier. The changes are still ongoing and some sub-pages have no entries yet; and some entries are listed in different sub-pages where appropriate.

The current UK COVID-19 restrictions on groups of people meeting indoors means that, sadly, the Ordnance Society has had to cancel this year’s AGM. We will of course plan for the 2021 AGM as soon as we can, but in the meantime the various annual reports for 2019-2020 that would have been presented at this year’s AGM, will be published in the next Newsletter (October 2020).

Will members please note that their annual subscription renewal became due on 1^st July and that a renewal form is available on the ‘Membership’ page. Unless you are a Life-member, or already have a standing order set-up, please fill in this form and return it with the appropriate payment. Payment details are also on the ‘Membership’ page.

The Ordnance Society Constitution was revised at the November 2019 AGM and a new Complaints Policy was also agreed.  They are both available on the Membership Page.

The indexing of the current 130 Newsletters has finally been completed, thanks to a super effort by Alastair Fyfe.  The alphabetical index is included on the ‘Publications’ page and as PDF document is fully searchable, making it a very useful research tool.

Both Newsletters completed printing, packed and posted today.

The latest Newsletter No. 130 is available for download from the ‘Publications’ page of the website (no password required); and the printed copy will be posted out to members opting for hard-copy, together with Newsletter No. 129, next week.

Our local printer is now open again and Newsletter No. 129 (April 2020) has just been sent to him for printing.  I hope that we will be able to post these out to members who have opted for hard copy within the next two weeks.

Trevor Parker

Chairman

Another twelve super articles, extracts and books have been uploaded.  These include two more Research Guides from Alistair Graham Kerr, a number of late 19th century USA items from Ed Dittus and a couple of early Treatise on Ammunition, also from Ed.