THE society had another good attendance at its monthly meeting on May 5 at our regular venue of Plymouth Court, Headless Cross, Redditch. We appear to go from strength to strength.

This month’s presentation was given by society member Ron Gallivan and covered the First Anglo-Sikh War of 1845-1846.

The first part concerned the rise of the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the Punjab, India. This great empire would have consisted mainly of Pakistan, Northern India and Jammu and Kashmir. We saw how this Sikh army was transformed from a typical Indian army of that period into a modern, Westernised force that became a power to be reckoned with on the Indian subcontinent and an equal to the British and East India Company army of that time.

The final part described the punitive peace terms dictated by the British through the Treaty of Lahore in 1846 and part two will follow towards the end of the year.

All society meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month.

Future presentations include; June 2 – The Battle of Britain; July 7 – What the Romans did for us; and August 4 – the Sherman Tank ‘Wonder Weapon or Tommy Cooker’. The normal £3 door charge will apply and new members wishing to join will be made most welcome.

The society has also made arrangements to attend the Birmingham Military Tattoo on the evening of November 27.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday, June 2. The doors will be open at 7pm for a 7.30 start. Contact Ron Gallivan on 01527 545450 for details.