NEWARK 'RANSOME AND MARLES' AIR RAID REMEMBERED - RE-ENACTORS WANTED!

On Sunday 6th March 2016, Newark Air Museum remembers the german air attack on the Ransome and Marles bearing factory.  Re-enactors are wanted including factory workers, ARP, Rescue, Police and Ambulance, Fire service, WVS, also Home Guard and British Army.

The venue is Newark Air Museum, NG24 2NY and for further information contact 01636 707170 or you can visit the website at www.nfs-afs-org.uk/2015/11/27/75th-anniversary-memorial-events-2016-newark.
#Newarkairmuseum  #Newark  #re-enactors
Pictured are WWII re-enactors at Severn Valley Railway event.

THE CHINDITS IN BURMA AND THE FRIENDSHIP THAT HELPED ALF AND NORMAN SURVIVE.

To try to combat Japanese controlled Burma during WWII, a special operational force was created, known as the "Chindits."  Prior to their mission in 1943 they were trained in jungle warfare to withstand the difficult terrain and physically demanding conditions they were to encounter.

Troops and supplies were to be dropped by airplane. Norman Fowler and Alf Nicholls were with the fifth column, rifle platoon 7, led by Lt. Phillip Stibbe. Column 5 successfully completed their task on the 6th March which was to destroy a railway bridge at Bonchaung.  The fighting continued and eventually the fifth column was weakened, by the fierce battles they endured, and also having received just 20 days of rations in the 80 days they spent behind enemy lines. Alf and Norman were captured by the Japanese on the 11 May 1943 and sent to a prisoner of war camp. The friendship that developed between Norman and Alf was to be a source of strength and survival during their gruelling years in Rangoon Jail.  Their friendship continued after the war.
Kathleen, Alf's wife and his son Kevin are planning to write about Alf's experiences in Burma during WWII.

www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/4905/chindits-of-Burma
www.chinditslongcloth1943.com.

Thanks to Margaret Woods for her help with this story.
The picture is from a re-enactment at Tutbury Castle 2015.
#ChinditsBurma ,  #WWII, #Chindits,  #WhitchurchHeritage, #OldRectory, #listeningstation

THIS WEEKS WWII NEWS

Re-enactors wanted for The Ironbridge Gorge WWII Weekend 2016!

Unesco World Heritage site, The Ironbridge Gorge, a scenic Shropshire venue over the River Severn, is the location for a #WWII weekend in 2016.

Vintage vehicle owners, wartime #re-enactors, 1940s entertainers, and traders are requested to contact the event organiser at 07470 831484.
The event is to take place on May 28th and 29th, and the location is The #Ironbridge Gorge, Dale End Park, Ironbridge TF8 7EG.

#Landmine Discovered near the Isle of Wight
A 1,500lb landmine had been safely detonated by a bomb disposal team this week.  The WWII landmine was recovered by a dredger and taken to a site near Bembridge where it was disposed of by a controlled explosion.

College at University of Kent named after WWII #Codebreaker
A college at the University of Kent has been named after Alan Turing - famous  for his work as a Bletchley Park code-breaker.

#IronbridgeWWII  #IsleofWight #AlanTuring  #WWIIcodebreaker
Source- www.40s-events.co.uk/calendar, www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire,
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews, www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/university-college-named-after-codebreaker, www.thepeopleshistory.com.

WHITCHURCH COFFE MORNING, MEMORIES OF WWII AND ATTACK AT DAWN!

The Royal Navy holds a special place in people's memories. Extreme weather conditions and mighty sea battles spring to mind and the events of #WWII still bring people together, to share memories and discover what their young parents and relatives endured.
A coffee morning held at the Civic Centre, Whitchurch on the 20th November 2015, and organised by Whitchurch Heritage Centre, included wartime re-enactors, music from the 1940's and a book signing by author Ron Cope. The book, Attack At Dawn is an in-depth look at the First Battle of Narvik, Norway, during WWII. Ron Cope's father Cyril was a torpedoman and served with HMS Hardy. This is a well researched, detailed and moving account of the naval battles, and of the British sailor's and their families. The Captain of HMS Hardy, Bernard Warburton-Lees V.C. who lost his life during the battle, was from the Whitchurch area.

Pictured with Ron Cope (centre), is Christopher Clark son of  Lieutenant Clark who was a gunnery officer on HMS Hardy. Also pictured is Olwyn George whose uncle, Frederick Arthur Mason served with Cyril on HMS Hardy.

Attack At Dawn  is available on Amazon, from retail book stores, or you can contact Ron Cope by email roncope@btinternet.com.

Source
Attack At Dawn by Ron Cope
Whitchurch Heritage Museum

~
#Narvik   #WhitchurchHeritageCentre   #HMSHardy   #BattleofNarvik   #RoyalNavy

DESBOROUGH IN THE 1940s September 2015

Despite some unsettled weather prior to this event, Desborough in the 1940s enjoyed a sunny September day! The festivities started at 12.00pm with the sound of an air raid siren and then we were all able to imagine we had re-visited wartime Britain.

Vintage vehicles lined the street, there were costumed re-enactors including WWII

soldiers with a jeep and lots of stalls and vintage shopping for the enthusiasts!

 The Heritage Centre provided displays and showed Pathe News from the 1940s and there was music and entertainment for everyone to enjoy! Another friendly and enjoyable event from Desborough.

#Desborough1940s  #WWIIdesborough  #1940sRe-enactors

REMEMBERANCE SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8TH 2015

"For our tomorrows their today they gave

and simply asked that in our hearts they'd live.

 

 

We heed their call and pledge ourselves again, 

At dusk and dawn - we will remember them!"

 

A hymn - words by Charles Henrywood

 



#RE-ENACTORS AND VEHICLES WANTED FOR WWII NOSTALGIA DAY NOVEMBER 2015!

Military and vintage vehicles are required for Nostalgia Day at #SawbridgeworthMemorial Hall, Hertfordshire, postcode CM21 9AX.

This event is taking place on November 7th 2015 to commemorate the end of WWII. Costumed re-enactors are also wanted.  For more details contact david.mead7@btinternet.com or you can ring 01279 724503.

HADEN HILL HOUSE - SECOND WORLD WAR EVENT OCTOBER 2015

Haden Hill House, Cradley Heath, hosted it's Second World War Event last weekend.  Visitors to this lovely Victorian house and parkland were able to taste food as it was cooked during #WWII. The bread and butter pudding, with sultanas soaked in tea prior to cooking, was delicious!   There was also a food rationing display pictured below,

an exhibition of wartime uniforms and also items from the museums WWII collection to see and nostalgic music of the time to listen to.  There were vintage vehicles in the grounds, and pictured, an American GI Re-enactment and a #1940s tea wagon.

 

 Lots of re-enactors were ready to talk to the visitors and help to re-create the atmosphere of 1940s Britain. Great day, already looking forward to next years event!

HARTLEBURY CASTLE - FASHION THROUGH THE AGES -2015

Fashion through the Ages at #Hartlebury Castle brought it's visitors a day of classic cars, vintage style and #1940's nostalgia.

Costumed #re-enactors from WWII Britain talked to visitors and strolled around the site of this mid-13th Century manor house in Worcestershire, central England.

 

There was a family with evacuees from the Forever Forties re-enactment group (pictured above)  and there was also a Fashion through the Ages parade and dancing display, and plenty of #vintage shopping opportunities in the hall. This was both an interesting and enjoyable day out!

DESBOROUGH IN THE 40s SEPTEMBER 19th 2015

Visitors were able to travel back in time as Station Road #Desborough was transformed into a scene from wartime Britain.

 There was a demonstration about using equipment (pictured above) from the Fire Service, and entertainment, dancing lessons and the songs of the #1940s!

With lots of costumed #re-enactors strolling in the September sunshine, and a military and civilian vehicle display along the roadside, it was easy to imagine we had stepped back in time!

There's always a great atmosphere at Desborough's 1940's events and this year was no exception. Thoroughly enjoyable!

(Adding more pictures from this event later- glitch in software at present!)

BANTOCK HOUSE MUSEUM 1940s WORLD WAR WEEKEND 2015

Bantock House Museum and Park travelled back in time with a weekend of wartime nostalgia on the 5th and 6th of September!

There were plenty of 1940s #re-enactors and visitors wearing themed costumes at this lovely Edwardian house and parkland and everyone got into the spirit of the time and joined in with the dancing!

In the tractor shed, Home Front re-enactors are seen here (pictured below) visiting a  #Ystation display (wireless station) showing the work of radio interception during #WWII.

With lots of #vintage shopping for the enthusiasts, a scale model aeroplane and 1930s Hornby train exhibition, #1940s picnic and land girls display, this was an entertaining weekend at this scenic venue!

GLOUCESTER GOES RETRO AND THE 1940's RE-ENACTORS!

It's not often that a city centre is the stage for a #1940's (and multi period) event!  But on the 29th and 30th august 2015 Gloucester was transformed into a retro and vintage themed event. 

Westgate Street was the scene for the #HomeFront #re-enactors and also for #WWII soldiers with the Gloster 2nd Battalion providing a street display.

With a vintage market and dancing display at Kings Square, vintage vehicles lining the streets, and costumed re-enactors from the 1900's through to the 1980's, this was an interesting and enjoyable city event!

TELFORD STEAM RAILWAY 1940's THEMED DAY 2015

The re-enactors stepped into character throughout the day creating a light-hearted wartime theme at #TelfordSteamRailway

and the WVS, Women's Voluntary Service were ready to provide cups of tea for the visitors!

 

There was plenty of excitement and espionage with a search for  german spies on the steam train, pursued by the military police, occupied territory at Lawley Station and French Resistance and Allied troops at Horsehay and Dawley Station!

There were also #vintage stalls, and the sounds of the #Blitz and #wartime music, radio and entertainment from Kevin Mack. This  #1940s Shropshire venue was a great day out, and visitors to this event told me how much they enjoyed the event!    

SPETCHLEY PARK MULTI PERIOD EVENT 2015

Used by the USAAF Air Force during WWII as a recovery centre for pilots, Spetchley Park was the venue for a multi period re-enactment two day event, last weekend.

 Built in 1811 this lovely Georgian mansion house, parkland and lake brought something very different to the #1940sevents calendar! We were transported through history with Roman, Medieval, American and English Civil War, Edwardian and Victorian re-enactors (and more) all providing stunning costumes, re-enactments and displays.

The 1940s were also represented and there was fun and laughter with a  display of "swing" dancing from the Forever 40s re-enactment Group to the sounds of Glen Miller which put us all "in the mood."

In the stable yard an RAF Operations room re-enacted the sights and sounds of wartime Britain and a nearby field was the site for many WWII displays.

 

Re-enactors from all time periods mingled and chatted and made this an interesting and a great experience!  I'm already looking forward to next years event at #SpetchleyPark!

Source
http://www.visitworcestershire.org/about Worcestershire/Worcester-Spetchley-Park-Gardens/

DESBOROUGH 40s DAY - SEPTEMBER 19th 2015

The town of Desborough is holding a 40s day on the 19th September 2015 and the High Street is the venue for WWII Britain!  Pictured below are #Homefront re-enactors from last years event.

There's music and dancing, a parade of military vehicles, a Vintage fair and Homemade Craft event at the Ritz and lots more! Military vehicle drivers are being offered free tea and coffee and also soup and rolls for lunch.

The venue for #Desborough40s Day is Northamptonshire NN14 2RS in the East Midlands and for further information about re-enactors with vehicles contact 07747 107760, and for venue details email events@ketteringvenues.co.uk.   

PEAK RAIL 1940s WEEKEND 2015

#PeakRail Steam and Diesel Railway is always a popular and scenic #1940s event in the re-enactors calendar.  With Chatsworth House nearby (where Pride and Prejudice was filmed) visitors could also enjoy journeying on the Steam trains through the picturesque Derbyshire countryside.

Jeeps and other military vehicles carrying troops arrived at Rowsley South Station for a battle re-enactment with Russian, American, German and Volksturm (Home Guard) Forces and there was also plenty of entertainment, vintage shopping opportunities, displays and civilian and military vehicles to see.

 Costumed #WWII and #HomeFront Re-enactors turned the clocks back to wartime Britain and helped make this event, a weekend to remember!

1940's RE-ENACTORS REQUIRED FOR AYSCOUGHFEE HALL MUSEUM AND GARDENS!

Ayscoughfee Hall Museum and Gardens are looking for costumed #WWIIre-enactors, historical vehicles, displays and also #vintagestalls for their 1940's and Vintage Weekend on the 15 and 16th August 2015.

They are located at Spalding, Lincolnshire PE11 2RA. Also, you are welcome to contact them if you would like to be involved with this event in any way. You can email Julia :Museum@sholland.gov.uk or telephone 01775 764555 or you can visit their website www.ayscoughfee.org for more details.

1940s WEEKEND AT THE BLACK COUNTRY LIVING MUSEUM 2015

Visitors told me that they enjoyed Saturday night so much they returned for another day of wartime activities on Sunday! Not surprising really as this was a happy and friendly event with the #WWII re-enactors ready to talk to and entertain the crowds, and there were just lots of exhibitions, displays and re-enactments to enjoy.

Kidderminster Home Guard inspected our ID cards and kept order on the streets of this lovely Victorian village. At The Workers Institute there was an opportunity to learn and join in with the #1940s dancing, the D Day Darlings entertained us with WWII songs and a wartime wedding and variety show included a community singalong.

You could buy ration books and enjoy a spam fritter, sweets from the sweet shop and a drink at the Glass and Bottle Public House, and more. There was a #Blitz fire re-enactment with the home guard and fire wardens rescuing the occupants from a house  and also street performers, #vintage shopping stalls and military and civilian vehicle displays.
The Black Country Living Museum and it's industrial heritage of the Midlands provided an authentic scene for this 1940s venue and brought WWII Britain back to life! This was simply a superb event and convincing too, with so many re-enactors and members of the public in 1940s costume.

One of the best, if not the best wartime event I've been to!

(More photos from this event at 2015 Pictures page)

THE TOP SECRET WWII AIRFIELD and RAF DEFFORD WEEKEND 2015

Hidden in the Worcestershire countryside, Croome Court and Parkland  was requisitioned by Churchill's government during WWII. In 1941, the construction of an airfield, RAF Defford#, was completed. It was at these two locations that top secret work on the research and development of radar began, which was to play a key role in the defence of Great Britain! This included the use of radar for the detection of enemy aircraft and German U-boats.

Croome's RAF Defford Weekend, 11th and 12th July 2015, brought displays and exhibitions, music and entertainment in the 1940's canteen, vintage vehicles, market stalls and wartime costumed re-enactors.

RAF Defford Veterans were also present to tell their stories to the visitors.

Preserved by the National Trust and supported by volunteers, Croome Park# was once, during WWII, home to over 2,500 civilian and military staff and also scientists. Such an interesting piece of history and an enjoyable weekend!

Source
www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/3339/m-air-station
www.worcester.co.uk/news/regional

SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY 2015 - THE SECOND WEEKEND - JULY 4th and 5th.

It's no wonder that the picturesque surroundings of the #Severn Valley Railway are a favourite location for film companies, and so popular with tourists. Built in the 1800's the railway provides an authentic backdrop for historical events.

With 1940's displays, exhibitions and costumed wartime re-enactors we were all transported back to #WWII Britain.  The second weekend of "Stepping Back to the #1940's continued it's busy schedule with a wartime wedding at Arley Station which

 drew the crowds, and also featured at this station was a Red Cross Train Carriage with nurses.

Actor's Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Montgomery were also to be seen at Kidderminster Station with an ARP warden.

Stepping back to the 1940s is just one of the events this year to mark the 50th Anniversary and Golden Jubilee of this popular Midlands attraction.  In 1965 a group of railway enthusiasts met and planned the rescue and re-opening of the Severn Valley Railway. This event was a tribute to their achievement, and was also a very successful and enjoyable weekend!

STEPPING BACK TO THE 1940S AT SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY - THE FIRST WEEKEND - 27th and 28th JUNE 2015

This year's "Stepping Back to the #1940's" event at #Severn Valley Steam Railway offered an action packed wartime experience for visitors! And the displays and costumed re-enactors, pictured here at Kidderminster Station, turned the clocks back to the 1940's.

 

 

There was a battle at Highley Station, which drew the crowds, as American, British troops and the French Resistance fought to regain control of a steam train.

 



 

With exhibitions and activities at all of the six stations that make up the Severn Valley Steam Railway, this was a great weekend !







STEPPING BACK TO THE 1940s at SEVERN VALLEY STEAM RAILWAY 2015!

Severn Valley Steam Railway is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year.  Paul, the Event Organiser tells me that preparations are being made to make this years annual WWII# event a special occasion! On Saturday morning we are travelling back in time, with the help from pupils from a nearby school,  to see the scene of wartime evacuees leaving Kidderminster Station.

There's a battle re-enactment at Highley Station with impressive sound and visual effects, a 1940s taxi office at the front car park at Kidderminster Station,  plenty of 1940s costumed re-enactors, a wartime wedding, vintage shopping stalls, rides on the steam trains and much more!  Stepping Back to the 1940s at Severn Valley Railway#, ( June 27th and 28th and July 4th and 5th 2015) is always a very popular event and well worth a visit! For more details visit www.svr.co.uk

TODDINGTON STATION, COLOSSUS AND THE BLETCHLEY PARK ENGINEER#

During a journey, on a steam train from Winchcombe to Toddington Station, I met David who told me, "I was at Bletchley Park#." Working with Bill Tutt and Tommy Flowers, he helped build Colossus# which was used for intercepting messages to German High Command and Hitler's instructions to his generals! David said his work involved wiring and installing plates. "My job was to keep Colossus going," David said, "we worked on it while it was live - 350 volts - you could get a shock!" "We worked with one hand in our pockets, because if you worked on two different parts of the machine, the current could go straight through you." After WWII, David continued his top secret work with GCHQ.

Considered to be the first version of a program controlled computer, Colossus was developed at a Post Office Research Station (GPO) and was moved to Bletchley Park in December 1943.  By January/February 1944 it was operational and working around the clock to decode German transmissions, and provide Britain with crucial information. It also confirmed that false information about Britain's invasion plans and tactics, a deliberate decoy, had been believed by Germany. Eventually there were ten machines at Bletchley Park!

The interception of the German Lorenze# SZ-40 cipher machine transmissions (tunny) led to the success of the D Day invasion, and the shortening of the war saving countless lives. This is a remarkable story and the work of David and the Bletchley Park Engineers has never fully received the acknowledgement it deserves.


Source
The Secret Life of Bletchley Park   Sinclair McKay
Station X   Michael Smith
The Colossus its Purpose.. Tony Sale  www.codesandcyphers.org.uk.lorenz/colossus
The Colossus Gallery  www.tnmoc.org/explore/colossus-gallery
Colossus   http://cryptomuseum.com/crypto/colossus/index.htm

1940s WARTIME EVENT AT GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY 2015!

It was sunshine and sunglasses at the Great Central Railway Wartime Weekend Event !

And there was definitely an emphasis on 1940s fun and fashion at this venue with

 

 

plenty of vintage stalls, expert styling from hairdressers and (pictured below) a fashion parade.

 

There were lots of military and civilian vehicles and  displays including 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron.

 







Wartime entertainment was provided by Kevin Mack and Miss Luna Nightingale and

there was a morale boosting speech from King George V1. With activities at all of the four stations and a flypast, poppy drop, and battle re-enactment, #Great Central Railway Wartime Event was a great weekend!