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Military History Interest Group
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Event Details
We are in conversation with a number of distinguished speakers for the 2027 programme. Subjects under discussion include intelligence in the twentieth century, contemporary strategic affairs, and the human dimension of war.
to follow
Format of the evening
To be the first to hear when 2027 talks open for booking, sign up to the mailing list.
Conversation
over dinner.
History
in good company.
A distinguished speaker, a gathering of O&C members for an evening of thoughtful discussion on military history, conflict, and the forces that shape our world — centred around the table, with a talk followed by dinner and open discussion.
See the Next Talk →
Est. 1830 · Oxford & Cambridge Club
An evening with an expert,
and a conversation round the table.
The Military History Group is a member-led special interest group within the Oxford and Cambridge Club in Pall Mall, London. The Group hosts leading historians, authors, military practitioners and subject specialists for discussion-led evenings in an intimate, dinner-table setting. Events are designed to be both informative and conversational, combining expert presentation with the opportunity for questions and discussion.
Recent speakers have included distinguished historians such as Dr Helen Fry, Professor Huw Bennett, Professor Stephen Badsey, Saul David, Giles Milton and Professor Helen Parr, alongside senior serving and former military officers and diplomats.
All members of the Club are very welcome to attend. No specialist knowledge or prior experience is required — the Group brings together members with a wide range of backgrounds and levels of familiarity with military history. An inquisitive mind and a willingness to engage are all that is needed to enjoy and contribute to the discussion.
“What I liked most was that it didn’t feel like a seminar — it felt like a really good dinner party with a guest worth listening to.”— First-time attendee, 2025
Everyone is welcome
If you are an O&C member with even a passing interest in history or world affairs, you belong here. No prior expertise assumed; no particular background expected.
Round the table, not round the lectern
The evening is built around conversation. The speaker opens, we hear them out, and then the discussion belongs to the room — every voice has the floor, and some of our best exchanges have come from unexpected quarters.
Speakers of genuine standing
Leading experts drawn from academia, writing, the services, and public life — the kind of people you’d cross London to hear. They come because the evening itself is a pleasure.
An evening that ends well
Hard close in the room at 9.30pm. Conversation continues, by long tradition, in the Morning Room for those inclined to stay.
Attendance is typically limited to 24–36 members to preserve a collegiate, discussion-led atmosphere.
- 6.00pmInformal drinks reception
- 6.30pmOne-hour presentation from our speaker
- 7.30pmTwo-course dinner with house wines and coffee
- After dinnerRound-table Q&A and discussion
- 9.30pmFormal close; conversation continues in the Morning Room
A few practical notes — the Club’s standing conventions, how bookings work, and a word on the arrangements that make the evening run smoothly.
The Club operates a formal dress regime. Gentlemen wear a tailored jacket, tie and fully button-fronted shirt fastened at the collar. Ladies wear conventional smart dress — a smart trouser suit, skirt or dress. Trainers and casual footwear are not permitted in the formal rooms. Shorts, sweatshirts, fleeces, tracksuits and t-shirts are never acceptable.
The dress code is strictly enforced; members and guests who do not comply will be refused admission to the dinner, and no refund will be offered. Full dress regulations →
Photography, filming and recording (audio and video) are prohibited throughout the Club house, and the Group enforces this policy at all events. This supports a candid and open environment — speakers often contribute on a basis akin to the Chatham House Rule, which allows them to speak more freely without their remarks being recorded, attributed or reported. Recordings of meetings are not made available.
Bookings are made through the Club’s Members’ Events page when logged in as a Club member. If the event isn’t visible on the page, click “Book Online” at the top to see the full events listing. Inclusion on our mailing list does not guarantee a place.
If an event is fully booked, please join the waiting list — places frequently become available at short notice, and waiting-list size also helps us gauge whether a larger room is warranted. Book an event →
Please flag any dietary requirements when booking through the Club’s events page — there is a field for this in the booking form. If you’ve already booked and need to add or amend a requirement, contact the Club’s Events Administration team (below) a week or so before the evening.
Speakers sometimes bring copies of their latest book to sign and sell after dinner — cash only when they do. The Club’s Library Committee is supportive of our speakers, and their books often find a home in the Club’s collection.
The Club offers bedrooms for members wishing to stay overnight — useful if you’re travelling from outside London or would prefer not to make a late journey home after a talk. Rooms are bookable via the members’ area of the Club website. Book accommodation →
Rhineland: Hitler’s Last Defence, 1944–45
Anthony Tucker-Jones
A reappraisal of the final German defensive effort in the west, and the Allied campaign that broke it.
Details & booking →Women of SOE and the Shaping of Covert Warfare
Dr Helen Fry
Intelligence, signals, and field operations — and the women who transformed the practice of clandestine warfare.
Details & booking →Hitler’s People: Portraits from the Inner Circle
Sir Richard Evans
Character, proximity, and complicity — a historian’s portrait of those who surrounded Hitler and shaped the regime.
Details & booking →The 2027 speaker programme is taking shape. Dates and titles will be confirmed in the spring — subscribe to the mailing list to hear first.
Details to follow
Speaker to be confirmed
We are in conversation with a number of distinguished speakers for the 2027 programme. Subjects under discussion include intelligence in the twentieth century, contemporary strategic affairs, and the human dimension of war.
Click for details →
Details to follow
Speaker to be confirmed
Further dates will be announced as they are confirmed with the Club’s banqueting team. If there is a speaker or subject you would particularly like to see covered, we are always glad to hear from members.
Click for details →
Details to follow
Speaker to be confirmed
To be the first to hear when 2027 talks open for booking, sign up to the mailing list below. We write four or five times a year, and bookings typically open two events at a time.
Click for details →
A few evenings worth remembering
Members have been gathering for talks of this kind for many years. A small selection from our recent programmes — the breadth of subject matter is the thing.
- 2025The Stalin Affair Giles MiltonGrand Strategy
- 2025Women in Intelligence Dr Helen FryIntelligence
- 2025Uncivil War: The British Army and the Troubles Prof Huw BennettContemporary
- 2025Islands at War Nick Le HurayOccupation
- 2024Templars: The Knights Who Made Britain Dr Steve TibbleMedieval
- 2024Sky Warriors: British Airborne in WW2 Prof Saul DavidSecond World War
- 2024Deploying as a Surgeon with the British Army Lt Col Darren MannPractitioner
- 2024Stepped in so Far: Post-Conflict Environments The Hon Alice Walpole OBEDiplomacy
The programme belongs to the membership. Members are warmly invited to suggest potential speakers and share feedback on evenings attended. While we cannot always accommodate every suggestion — factors such as prior coverage and overall programme balance play a part — all submissions are appreciated and kept on file for future consideration.
Share your feedback
A short form, a minute to complete
Tell us what you made of a recent talk — what landed, what didn’t, and what would make the next evening even better. Anonymous if you’d prefer.
Open the feedback form →Suggest a speaker
Historians, authors, practitioners — we’re listening
Know a historian, author, military practitioner or subject specialist who’d make a good evening? Suggestions from members are one of the most valuable ways we discover new speakers.
Open the suggestion form →
Stay in Touch
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The mailing list is the best way to hear about upcoming talks. We circulate advance notice of events including PDF flyers, confirmed speakers and forward programme updates, and occasionally share post-event materials from speakers.
The list is intended for members of the Oxford and Cambridge Club. Bookings for all events are made directly through the Club’s Members’ Events page.
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