Western Front Association The Western Front Association ( WFA ) was inaugurated on 11 November 1980 , in order to further interest in The Great War of 1914 - 1918 . The WFA aims to perpetuate the memory , courage and comradeship of all those who fought on all sides and who served their countries during The Great War . The WFA was established by military historian John Giles , who enlisted the help of John Terraine , who had co - written the landmark television series The Great War , which was first broadcast in 1964 . The Western Front Association does not seek to justify or glorify war . It is not a re - enactment society , nor is it commercially motivated . It is entirely non - political . The object of the Association is to educate the public in the history of The Great War with particular reference to the Western Front . Since its foundation the WFA has grown over the years to in excess of 6 , 000 members worldwide . There are around 60 branches in the UK , Europe , USA , Canada , Australia and New Zealand . The WFA is a UK registered charity , numbered 298365 . Web Site . The website of the The Western Front Association contains a wealth of articles on The Great War and there is an interactive discussion forum with a wide range of discussion topics , the Front Forum . One of the notable sections of the website is a " For Schools " section which has a large number of educational resources for teachers and young students alike . Branches . With nearly sixty branches world - wide , including fifty in the UK and Ireland , the association has a representation in most counties in the UK and in most of ' main combatant ' countries which took part in the Great War . Membership of the WFA is not a requisite to attend branch meetings , which are open to the public . As most branches hold an event at least once a month , there are between 500 and 600 meetings up and down the UK every year in which an aspect of the Great War is discussed . The number of branches being formed is increasing , which gives an indication that interest in the First World War is also increasing . Publications . The WFA publishes its eminent journal , " Stand To ! " three times a year . This contains many learned articles on the subject of The Great War . There is also a house magazine for members , the " Bulletin " , which is also published three times each year . An electronic newsletter is also available for members and non - members to subscribe to . Annual Service of Remembrance . The WFA organises each year the Remembrance ceremony held at the Cenotaph in Whitehall , London on 11 November ( not Remembrance Sunday ) . Butte de Warlencourt . The Western Front Association owns a small but historically important part of the " old front line " on the Somme , the Butte de Warlencourt . This land was bought by The Western Front Association in 1990 in order to ensure its future preservation . A memorial detailing the fighting that took place in the area was dedicated in a ceremony on the Butte on 30 June 1990 . The ceremony involved the then President of the WFA , well known historian and author John Terraine . First World War Records Saved . Medal Index Cards . The Medal Index Cards were saved from destruction in 2005 . Medal Index Cards ( MICs ) are the original method of recording medal entitlement for soldiers who served in the Great War . Each soldier who served in an active theatre of operations was awarded a medal . The Medal Index Cards were stored at the Ministry of Defence record centre in Hayes until 2005 . Due to the need to make space , the MoD sold the Hayes site for redevelopment ; the MoD ( which owned the cards ) proposed the cards would be destroyed . No museum or archive was prepared to take them on , so the Western Front Association came forward and agreed to save these records . Since obtaining these cards , the WFA has been storing them . Many WFA members have requested copies of these , often placing the card in a frame alongside the medals . Pension Index Cards and Ledgers . In November 2012 , the WFA announced that it has secured over six million Pension Index Cards and Ledgers from the UK ' s Ministry of Defence , which would otherwise have been destroyed . These are an extremely valuable primary source for family and military historians as they provide information on men ( and some women ) who served in the Great War and who subsequently applied for a pension . This significantly adds to the data that is available , particularly for those individuals who survived the Great War . Sound Archives at the Imperial War Museum . The Imperial War Museum ' s sound archive holds over 33 , 000 recordings relating to conflict since 1914 . This consists of the largest oral history collection of its type in the world , with contributions from both service personnel and non - combatants as well as significant holdings of speeches , sound effects , broadcasts , poetry and music . The Western Front Association funded digitisation of the majority of IWM ' s First World War sound recordings , thereby widening public access to this important historical resource . Tours . The WFA organises tours of the Battlefields four times a year Membership and Contact . Applications for membership are always warmly welcomed from anyone of a like mind . The address of the association is : The Western Front AssociationPO Box 1918StockportSK4 4WNTelephone : + 44 ( 0 ) 161 443 1918 Honorary Office Holders . Patron : Col Terry Cave CBE President : Peter Simkins MBE , FRHistS Vice Presidents : Dr . John Bourne BA , PhD , FRHistS Prof . Gary Sheffield BA MA PhDLt . Col . Graham Parker OBEAndré CoilliotThe Burgomaster of Ypres The Mayor of Albert Past Patrons : Sir John Glubb KCB , CMG , DSO , OBE , MC John Terraine FRHist . S Past Presidents : John Terraine FRHist . S Correlli Barnett C . B . E . , D . Sc . , MA , F . R . S . I , F . R . Hist . . S . , F . R . S . A . ( interview with Correlli Barnett in May 2011 ) Past Vice Presidents : The Earl Kitchener TD , DL ( appreciation : The Western Front Association ) Tony Noyes CEng MICE ( appreciation : The Western Front Association ) John TolandHRH The Prince Albrecht , Duke of Bavaria General Sir Anthony Farrar - Hockley , GBE , KCB , DSO , MCThe Earl Haig , OBE , KStJ , DLCol Terry Cave CBEHon . Leonard G . Shurtleff