War and Peace 2019

Saturday I went to the War and Peace Revival show at Paddock Wood in Kent. This time I accompanied the Veterans and saw another side of the show that I haven't encountered before. I'm normally straight into the Living History areas of the show or hastening to the arena to see some armour in action. This time my day started with a service of remembrance surrounded by some highly decorated veterans.

Don and Albert look through a book of D-Day photo's. 

Inside the Veterans Marquee

Parade of heroes. Some very decorated men and women in this lineup

The drumhead remembrance service was very moving

John and Don have a 'little' snifter! 

As the service came to an end, so did the rain so we headed out for a very quick look around the showground. Luckily I've been here many times and I knew to wear some waterproof shoes! Let's just say the roads around the side had gone from plain old mud to mud-coloured soup with the passage of thousands of visitors and hundreds of military vehicles.

This replica StuG is often seen at living history events. 

This excellently restores Sherman is still covered with battle damage, shrapnel slash marks and impact scars. 

Dust wasn't an issue...the mud looked like it could swallow up a person. 

A mock-up of a WWII field hospital. 

Did I mention the mud? Lucky my walking shoes are water proof. 

This Marder II (Ausf M) is a rare example. The open-topped fighting compartment is mounted on the chassis of the Czech Panzer 38(t). About 80% original parts the remainder has been sensitively restored by the owner, but he's always on the lookout for original parts. 

The same owner also has this original StuG III Ausf D. It was one of only three sent to North Africa and was captured by the allies, this one being returned to Britain. 

Myself and my Brother in Law Ray. 

A fine example of a restored Volkswagen Schwimmwagen

This M3 Grant tank still bears the scars of years as a range target. A testament to the simplicity and durability of this vehicle the new owner put a new engine in it and runs it in its current 'swiss cheese' condition. 

I've always wanted a Bren Carrier... it's on my shopping list should I ever win the lottery! 

Another excellent restoration, a rare Valentine DD tank. The inflatable screen is very similar to those fitted to Shermans for the D-Day landings. 

A classic Sherman. There were a few of these roaring around the site. 

Two Hetzers owned by Kevin Wheatcroft. One has been restored and the other (from a Swiss range) is about to begin restoration. 

Want to buy some track for your Tiger I? At £550 a link it could prove expensive!

Or a Panther wheel at £350... you need deep pockets if you're a collector. 

A wonderful and typically wet day but a good one despite some exhibitors going home early the day before. I guess the bad weather had them worried about their armour getting rusty!

D-Day Remembered

75 Years ago today something quite incredible took place. The largest seaborne invasion in history had been a long time in the planning but by the time the Allies were ready to launch their offensive they had done pretty much all that was humanly possible to make it a success. Victory in Normandy was by no means assured and the technical demands of this new front alone would be a constant headache for the allies in the months that followed. All of this, however, would have been for nought had it not been for the remarkable courage of the soldiers, sailors and airmen at the vanguard of that mighty armada.

It has been one of my life's greatest privileges to meet and get to know (in a very small way) some of those extraordinary men. Today I am accompanying a group of Veterans to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire for a service of remembrance. Many of these gentlemen are pushing 100, yet they still feel it necessary to pay their respects to their fallen comrades seventy-five years after they risked everything for a foothold in France. I'm not ex-military but I feel it is vital that the current generations salute the bravest generation for their service. If you get the chance to meet a Veteran - of any conflict - shake their hand and thank them for their service. Without their courage, the world would be a much darker place.

The Spirit of Normandy

Saturday I had the pleasure and honour to spend a day with some true heroes of WWII. This is an annual event and chance for the Veterans to raise some money for the Spirit of Normandy Trust, the organisation that took over many of the responsibilities of the Normandy Veterans Association when it disbanded a few years ago. These gentlemen have some amazing stories to tell. 

A Gathering of heroes. Hosted by the Eastgate Shopping Centre in Basildon this is something of an annual event and is guaranteed to raise a lot of interest and more importantly a lot of money. 

Geoff Wire - 2nd TAF, RAF

Bernard Mabey - Ground Crew 617 Squadron (the "Dambusters")

Stan Marsh - Veteran of D-Day

Don Shepherd - Royal Engineers, Juno Beach, D-Day

Some of the Veterans meeting visitors and signing memorabilia

Me with Len, another D-Day veteran and an incredibly
happy and spry fellow for someone in their 90's!

Me with Alfred Smith who was rescued in the evacuation at Dunkirk and then took part in the Invasion on D-Day. A genuinely nice fellow who received the red carpet treatment at the Premier of the recent Dunkirk movie.

Me with Don Shepherd who served with the Royal
Engineers on D-Day 

My Brother-in-Law Ray who does a lot of work with the veterans gathering their stories and putting them in print. 

Plenty of visitors throughout the day

All in all a pretty good day with a steady stream of interested visitors. Many travelled a long way to meet the Veterans but there were also many who were just out for a days shopping and instead found themselves chatting to these incredible guys. 

Fundraising event for the Veterans of Normandy

A quick follow up to my notice last week that I would be attending a veterans event on Saturday. Veterans from WWII, Korea and the Falklands came along to support the launch of my Brother in Law's new book. The public came out in force and the old Fire Station in Hadleigh was packed throughout. All proceeds from the day will be going to the Veterans of Normandy group. 

Veterans present included the following incredible men:

• Pte Thomas White (Paratrooper) who features in the new book. 
• Medic David Whiteman, 1st Airborne - Dunkirk & Arnhem 
• Medic Alec Hall, 1st Airbourne - Arnhem
• Alfred Smith - Dunkirk, D-Day Gold Beach
• Warrent Officer Bob Stevens - Juno Beach and Market Garden
• Sapper Don Sheppard - Juno Beach and Market Garden
• Royal Marine John Jones - A veteran after WWII
• RN Albert England - LCT2498 - Utah Beach
• RN Doug Shelly - Arctic Convoys & D-Day
• RN Len Hobbs - D-Day Gold Beach
• RN Charles Wheeler - Arctic Convoys & D-Day
• RN Alfred Fowler - HMS Sheffield, Arctic Convoys & D-Day Decoy
• RN Norman Summerhayes - Atlantic Convoys, Malta, D-Day & Pacific
• L/Aircraftsman Bernard Mabey 9/617 Dambusters Sqn
• Gunner Harry Irons - 9 Sqn
• Major John Hawkins - Korean War
• Lt Colin Conner, winner of the Military Medal at Goose Green in the Falklands. 

The Airborne Club 2 - Book signing event

This coming weekend I will be helping out at a book signing event in Hadleigh, near Southend. If you are in the area, or have an interest in meeting some truly inspiring veterans, please pop along between two and four pm. 

NVA Dinner Dance

Over the weekend I took time away from painting and wargaming to spend an evening with the Normandy Veterans Association. The NVA officially ceased to exist a couple of years ago but despite dwindling numbers the members of the Southend Branch have continued as an independent group. They hold an annual Dinner Dance supported by members, friends and family, and this year I joined them for an old fashion evening of big band music and dancing. And let me tell you, nobody parties quite as hard as a D-Day Veteran!

The Veterans receive their colours

A piper started the evening off

My Wife and I enjoyed a wonderful meal with family

Dancing to a Big Band and some swinging tunes from the 40's. 

Don Shepherd, Chairman of the Southend branch of the NVA gave a great speech.

Myself and Don towards the end of the evening

Alec Hall, a veteran of Arnhem, signs my brother-in-laws new book The Airborne Club

I know these posts about meeting the Veterans are a bit off-topic for a painting and wargaming Blog but meeting these guys always reminds me of the real cost of war. We treat these periods as 'fun' but for these guys the memory of the sacrifices they made are just as fresh now as they were 70 years ago. Don't get me wrong I think we should wargame modern conflicts - a lot can be learnt from such pursuits - but we should always do so remembering the need to be respectful and sensitive when we play at war, particularly conflicts that are still within living memory.