The Chief of Army hosts an annual history conference.

The 2007 Chief of Army’s Military History Conference started with the annual dinner held at the RMC Officers’ Mess.  Sponsored by Point Trading Group, this year the dinner was attended by the Governor General of Australia, Major General Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC along with retired Generals, serving personnel and interested members of the public. 

The food was excellent and included dishes like Crispy Skinned Chicken with Prosciutto and Tarragon Jus and Char-grilled Beef Fillet with fresh tomato and sage salsa. 

The CEW Bean Prize for the best postgraduate or Honours thesis on the Australian experience of war was presented to Dr Craig Stockings for his thesis “The Torch and the Sword: A History of the Army Cadet Movement in Australia, 1866-2004.”  Dr Stockings was presented with an engraved medallion and will receive a $500 prize. 

The success of the conference dinner was a great portent for the conference itself.

Dinner guests at the 2007 Chief of Army's Military History Conference Dinner

The 2007 Chief of Army’s Military History Conference was held on 1-2 November and was, by all criteria, a resounding success.  The theme – 1917: Tactics, Training and Technology garnered a lot of interest among members of the public, teachers, academics and military personnel.  Over 300 delegates attended the conference and the programme promised to stimulate and appeal to anyone interested in the events of the Great War and 1917 in particular.  The Major Sponsor for this year’s conference was Defcredit.

On the morning of the conference, the packed theatre venue (in the National Convention Centre, Canberra) sat down to enjoy the opening Introductory Remarks by the Chief of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy AC, followed by the Keynote address by Professor Gary Sheffield (University of Birmingham) on Haig and the BEF in 1917.  Professor Sheffield’s paper examined the role of British ‘Generalship’ and its evolution during the course of the war, culminating in the tactical and strategic planning of the 1917 campaigns.

After morning tea the first session saw Professor Robin Prior speak on Command on the Western Front in 1917.  Professor Prior’s paper raised some issues and arguments in opposition to Professor Sheffield’s paper and also introduced an entertaining and vocal question time.  The second session introduced a rising ‘soldier-historian’ from within the ranks of the Australian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Stevenson who provided a snapshot of the 1st Australian Division in 1917.  This paper looked at the constitution of the 1st Australian Division and the actions they were involved in during 1917.

Just before lunch, David Coombes' new book, The Lionheart: Lieutenant-General Sir Talbot Hobbs, was launched. This book is published by Army Military History Publications in association with the Army History Unit. Also launched was the Chief of Army's Reading List, published by the Land Warfare Studies Centre, Canberra.

After a delicious buffet lunch of French-inspired food, the conference delegates returned for the first panel examining the contribution of the Dominion armies of Canada (Dr Tim Cook, Canadian War Museum), New Zealand (Associate Professor Glyn Harper, Massey University) and South Africa (Professor Bill Nasson, University of Cape Town).  Entitled The Empire Strikes Back: the Dominion Armies, this panel placed the Dominion armies’ contribution within the context of the wider Allied effort.  It was elucidating for a largely Australian audience to hear of the involvement and contribution of fellow Commonwealth forces and appreciate the pride that reverberates through their national story like the Great War does for Australians.

Networking drinks were held at the National Convention Centre from 4:15pm and were proudly sponsored by Defence Health.  Delegates had an opportunity to enjoy some beverages and discuss the day’s proceedings and papers, as well as the prospect to meet the speakers and discuss their presentations personally.

Networking Drinks also saw a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreed between the University of Birmingham and the University of Southern Mississippi.  The MOU is aimed at facilitating and promoting cooperation in the field of military history between the two institutions.  The MOU was signed by Professors Andrew Wiest and Michael Neiberg (University of Southern Mississippi) and Professor Gary Sheffield (University of Birmingham).  Both universities are regarded leaders in the field of military history and the signatories believe there is much scope for collaboration across a range of activities, including conferences, publications, and exchanges to the mutual benefit of students and staff. 

L-R: Professor Andrew Wiest (University of Southern Mississippi), Professor Gary Sheffield (University of Birmingham) and Professor Michael Neiberg (University of Southern Mississipi) at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.

At 0900h on Friday 2 November, the conference reconvened to listen to the second panel on Our Gallant Allies: the French Army.  Professor Michael Neiberg (University of Southern Mississippi) and Brigadier General Robert Doughty (US Army, retired) discussed the important role played by the French in holding the line and participating in their own offensives against the Germans.  More than one delegate found this panel the highlight of the conference due to the insights it brought on the contribution of the French Army.

After morning tea, session three of the conference saw Dr Robert Foley from the University of Liverpool present The Other Side of the Wire: the German Army.  This paper generated enormous interest due to being the only presentation that specifically addressed the German point of view of events in 1917.  Dr Foley’s revelations regarding the state of German troop levels and resources in 1917 provided interesting dimensions on the German forces on the Western Front and will no doubt inform further considerations as to Allied successes.

After a wonderful extended lunch of Italian dishes, Professor Andrew Wiest (University of Southern Mississippi) presented a paper on the American Expeditionary Force – Preferring to Learn from Experience: The AEF in 1917.  Professor Wiest’s paper discussed the desire by American commanders to adhere to older tactics from the ‘frontier’ tradition in preference to utilising the four years of experience of British and French military tactics.  He outlined the problems this caused in fighting a conflict increasingly regarded as one dominated by firepower and mechanisation.

After a short break for afternoon tea, Dr Daniel Todman (Queen Mary’s College, University of London) presented the final paper of the Conference on a topic of particular interest to an Australian audience – Third Ypres: Fact and Fiction.  Dr Todman explored some of the commonly held myths surrounding this series of battles as well as focussing on memories of Third Ypres.  Dr Todman’s paper received rapturous applause and was a fitting way to end a truly stimulating and fascinating conference.

The published conference Proceedings of all papers from 1917: Tactics, Training and Technology will be available to all conference attendees early in 2008 as part of their registration costs.  For others wishing to purchase a copy of these proceedings, please contact the War Book Shop, 13 Veronica Place, Loftus NSW 2232, www.warbooks.com.au.
Copies are expected to be available from approximately February 2008.

The Army History Unit would like to thank each and every conference attendee for coming along and supporting this fantastic event.  As long as the conference maintains its strong support from academics, the public and military personnel, it will continue to present world-class military history to Australian audiences.

The Army History Unit would also like to thank the speakers for attending and presenting extremely informative and interesting papers.  The academic reputation of the conference was further strengthened by the quality of these presentations and the lively panel discussions and question times that proceeded each session.  Professor Michael Neiberg declared it a privilege to be invited to present at this conference because the Chief of Army Military History Conference has an international reputation for excellence in military history and as a stimulating event attracting the world’s pre-eminent military history speakers.  The Chief of the Australian Army and the Army History Unit are proud of this reputation.

The Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy AC and the Army History Unit gratefully acknowledge the support of our conference sponsors, without whom the conference would not be as enjoyable an experience:

Defcredit (Major Sponsor)
Point Trading Group (Conference Dinner Sponsor)
Defence Health (Networking Drinks Sponsor)
ID Warehouse (ID Sponsor)
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (Printed Proceedings Sponsor)

Very special thanks must go to Professor Jeffery Grey from the Australian Defence Force Academy whose intellectual abilities, contacts and organisational skills were vital to bringing world class speakers to Canberra.  Professor Grey is integral to the running of these annual conferences and his role is deeply appreciated.  Each year since this annual conference began Professor Grey and Professor Peter Dennis have been the intellectual backbone to which the Australian Army has constructed a succession of entertaining and informative conferences, and the Australian Army personally thanks both academics for their prominent and continuing contribution.

Sincere thanks must also be offered to the National Convention Centre and its excellent staff.  A special note of thanks must go to Diann Castrissios for all the work she did liaising with the Conference organisers, the chef and floor staff of the Convention Centre.  Staging Connections must also be thanked for their efficient IT support.

Finally thanks must go to Roger Lee, Catherine Page and all at the Army History Unit for their hard work and long hours to bring the 2007 conference to life.