Re-enacting monthly (ok not as catchy as a top shelf)

The re-enacting calendar has been quite a full one this year with the greatest challenge being the weather., there are a few events left throughout the remainder of the year but these tail off with the arrival of summer (summer meaning the time when the clouds part to view the bright yellow satellite we remember calling the sun).

The first events of the year are usually much smaller than the early summer events and hence are much smaller.

I belong to a mixed group of re-enactors that are family orientated hence not part of a larger group.

Ian Pope belongs to ‘Just Ordinary Men’ (http://www.justordinarymen.org.uk/flashes/intro.html)

who are a pure airborne group Tilford

Martin

A small rural farm museum that runs an annual event, I often find myself the only British Airborne at these small events which gets me lots of attention from the veterans from any regiment or theatre. Met Ian for the first time to put a face to the emails as we are both going to Texel this September . This was also my first trip out in my Airborne kit and luckily got it all tight apart from the leather laces being tied wrong – luckily for me I don’t get barked at by the CO for mistakes like that..

Tangmere

Home of Douglas Bader’s ‘Big Wing’ & Guy Gibson’s ‘Dam Busters’. I was invited as my RAF pilot to this one but we had a field hospital set up

Strange but true, whilst sat in the RAF dispersal tent we had a visitor – a large black Labrador called……..

1^st Airborne Medical 133 Field Ambulance

War on the line

The Brits where well represented but as with most events I found myself to be the only British Airborne ,however this has its benefits. I was trying to squeeze out of an old railway carriage in my kit (I bet its easier being pushed out of a DC3 – Brords got a big farmers clog apparently) and landed right in front of two Para vets (the maroon berets and wings helped), they greeted me with a massive smile. One chap was in 1 Para and jumped into Arnhem & the other 6 Para who jumped onto Merville – quite an honour to meet them & makes it all worthwhile.

Exbury & Southsea Airborne show

Typical occurrence is events on at the same time and this was one annoyance, I was at Exbury as id promised to be there and Ian was at the much bigger Airborne show at Southsea

At Exbury I was the only Airborne again but not the only Brit, because so many people have family who have served I find we get spread out. The guys who do the Yanks all join in one of the groups and hence have a large contingent.

This was the 16th Inf Regt. 1st Infantry Division re- enacting Omaha @ Lepe beach (Marchwood marines LC’s)

Solent Sky’s Spitfire K5054 (cant forget the boys in blue  )

Ian was at Southsea for the annual Veterans Awareness Weekend show which was well attended by many WW2 veterans which makes the work we do worthwhile.

(Picture: Chris – Just Ordinary Men)

War & peace show

Ian’s group won Best Large Living History Display. War & Peace 2007 so if you want to see how re-enacting is done try and find them at a display soon. (PS they also came Joint Winners : Best Living History Display. Military Odyssey 2006) – definitely the group to be in.

(Picture: Chris – Just Ordinary Men)

Twinwood

This event is over August Bank Holiday & is set more with the 40s music scene but does include several dioramas. Heres one of the Para’s dug in;

Arnhem & Texel

Enough said, you all know more than me so I will be learning from you all.

Theres always room for more British Airborne, if only to outnumber the yanks for once.(lol).

 Martin Fielden