NORTH READING — Barry M. Stentiford, a professor at the U.S. Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, will discuss the Richardson Light Guard of Wakefield, and the larger military history of the old three-parish town of Reading, on Thursday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Edith O’Leary Senior Center.
Stentiford, who grew up in North Reading, holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Alabama. He has written extensively on military subjects, with a focus on non-regular forces. In 2013, McFarland Press published his book on the Richardson Light Guard.
The Guard served the town, state and nation from its origins in 1851 until it was reorganized out of existence in 1975. It fought at Bull Run and Port Hudson during the Civil War, took part in the Invasion of Puerto Rico in the Spanish-American War, and fought on Guadalcanal and Bougainville in World War II. The RLG was the most storied of several militia organizations raised in Reading since settlement.
Stentiford will be happy to answer questions about militia in general and the Richardson Light Guard in particular. He is always ready to chat about almost any topic of local history.
Sponsored by the North Reading Historical and Antiquarian Society, the presentation will be held at the Edith O’Leary Senior Center, Third Meeting House on the common, 157 Park Street, and will follow a short business meeting at 7 p.m.
For more information contact the Historical Society at 978-664-1066 or info@nreadinghistory.org.
