Source: Toy Soldier Museum |
1984 Games Workshop Lizardman |
(Source) |
Electron Microscope image of corroded lead (Source) |
Source: Toy Soldier Museum |
1984 Games Workshop Lizardman |
(Source) |
Electron Microscope image of corroded lead (Source) |
So instead of my prepared post here's a filler post. Today we went to the English Heritage property at Tilbury Fort. I've been here many times before but not recently. I shot some interesting pictures which I'll post when I get a chance later in the week.
New sections of tunnel have been made available for public access and consequently they are proving very popular this weekend. The queue to get in was a sight to behold in itself. Once inside the tour lasts about 45 minutes.
The tour of the tunnels has changed since I was last here a couple of years ago. Its now a multimedia exhibition focused on the Dynamo operation. The presentation is excellent with plenty of background information to help put the events in context.
Ernest Dark, Ray Newlyn & Don Shepherd (Chairman) |
Fred Roberts (Trooper) 7th Armoured Div |
Replica Map - German Order of Battle |
Ernest Dark (Trooper) 7th Armoured Div |
Ernest Dark today |
EH are running a series of events for kids called 'Time Travellers' and today's event is all about WWII. This picture is of a very interesting talk about bomb disposal. The kids were engaged and listened silently for at least forty minutes and as any parent will tell you getting kids to sit still for more than five minutes is a feat in itself.
The talk was especially relevant as the wartime owner of the house was too old to join the regular army. Instead he joined the local Home Guard and became a fIre watcher. One night incendiary bombs were dropped on the roof of his own house and with the help of his staff put the fire out. The scorch marks from melted lead can still be seen on the wooden floor of the balcony overlooking the Great Hall.
Today they held a special event with veterans, a few vehicles, music and a visit by the RNLI Gravesend Lifeboat.
Although Hatton built the house in the hope that Queen Elizabeth would visit. However despite being a favourite at court she never came to Kirby.
The house is now largely a romantic ruin but parts have been restored. The audio tour of the house and gardens is also very interesting and worth listening to if you visit.
The day wasn't a complete write off from the gamers point of view as I found a small local newsagents that actually sold a Wargames magazine. I picked up issue 341 (the September issue) of Miniature Wargames and that kept me happily amused while we relaxed on the beach.
I particularly enjoyed the article 'Jets over the Reich' which presented an alternative ending to WWII in which British and German Jet fighters battled it out for control of the sky. Its a bit fanciful but not completely improbable.
Another good article was called 'Mid-Life Military Muddling' and offers some practical and interesting advice on how to start building a new army.
The castle was strengthened in the 13th century with a circular keep in stone. By the 14th century the site had a high stone curtain wall and corner towers.
Much of the site remains as a picturesque ruin but the scale of the site is still evident. The moat in particular is very deep and shows what an imposing statement this castle would have made on the landscape and its conquered people.
The lighthouse was destroyed by German naval bombardment in 1914 in the same attack that hit Whitby (I mentioned this in my post on Sunday). The townsfolk paid for the rebuilding of the Lighthouse which remains in use to this day.
Its been a great day although the weather has been naff in the extreme. I'm beginning to think I need a waterproof cover for my camera as well as a raincoat for me. All in all a typical British summer!
If you get a chance to visit this museum I would defiantly recommend it. The brochure suggests allowing two or three hours for the visit but I would say five or six is more realistic. There is tons to see making this a very reasonably priced day out.
This T34 stands at the entrance to the car park greeting visitors to a very popular attraction.
A Book of Sandhurst Wargames by the late Paddy Griffith was a completely unexpected find and a real bargain. The book starts with a history of wargaming that most gamers would find fascinating to read.
The rest of the book contains four sets of rules covering four periods of history. Each game is detailed with history and background and lots of useful illustrations. Unfortunately this copy is missing the game boards and tokens for play but its still and interesting read none-the-less.
The museum contains lots of interesting documents and paintings related to his time in Whitby. There is also an impressive collection of model ships including one of the Endeavour in which Cook first circumnavigated the world.
The site of the Abbey is bleak, windswept and exposed. Ideal as a location in a Gothic novel! The towns exposed position on the East coast saw it shelled by German battleships in 1914. The Abbey was damaged as were several buildings in the town.