About

John Terraine wrote of Field Marshal Lord Byng of Vimy that he was a 'lovely man and a fine general.' This talk will explore whether John Terraine was correct in his assessment and try to shed more light on this largely forgotten figure of the Great War, including his life after the war and the speaker's very tenuous connection to the Field Marshal.  

William Franklin was Head of Politics, Citizenship and a teacher of History at Parkstone Grammar School in Poole, Dorset for many years until retiring to London in 2013. While at the school, he co-led many trips to the Western Front. William has an MA in Military History from the University of Buckingham London Research Programme.