Despite the weather - the rain had appeared as per the forecast, but fortunately NOT as heavily as predicted - we popped into Hay this morning, to have a look around as a WWII weekend was being held - to celebrate 76 years since the end of WWII (it was to be last year but Covid stopped THAT happening of course.) We were too early for the events happening later in the day but had a chat with Rob and then braved the mud and wet grass in the field at the bottom of the car park, where everyone was camped out and on display.
The enemy were about by the Cheese Market . . .
The chap below had a very good display of farming equipment which would have been used during the War Years (and before and after). Had it not been raining I'd have stopped to chat - he had some great photos too.
A Scout Car and an Amphibious Tank. I think these were from the Tank Museum at Bovington in Dorset - we went there a couple of times when we still lived close by.
An Anderson shelter, which were built sunk down in people's back gardens and saved many lives.
George Formby was of course there!
I've taken photos of the Smoker's Bows now, so they will appear in my next post.
I went to a similar WWII event at Rougham Airfield in Suffolk about 10+ years ago when my oldest son was stationed nearby. It used to be WWII US airbase and the control tower is still there--and said to be haunted. (My own father's B-17 airfield isn't too far from there--a bit NE across the A14. In fact, my son ended up living in a house that would have been near the end of my Dad's old runway.) The Rougham festival had quite a few airplanes and WWII military machines, but they also had a large number of steam tractors running and on display. They were really amazing machines, too.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to step into the past like this. Fancy your son living in a house overlooking where his father's military exploits took place.
DeleteWhat a fascinating collection of the stuff
ReplyDeleteI think these folk go from military show to military show, like the vintage car people do.
DeleteWhen the have WWII days at the local railway museum there are never any German soldiers - strange to see them........ just as I was reading a book about some children growing up through WWII
ReplyDeleteHahah - no one wants to be the Enemy!! As for children growing up in WWII, our house was absolutely crammed full of Evacuees in WWII - don't know where they came from but I bet they found it utterly different to their city lives.
DeleteHow wonderful!!! All those lovely displays and people dressed appropriately. Love the Land Girls and the men from the ministry.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
The Men from the Ministry stole the show for me! Everyone had taken so much trouble to buy authentic clothing (my golly gosh, several paratroopers had "smocks" which we know sell for £400 each!) They are obviously totally absorbed in this period of history and take it all very seriously.
DeleteWhat a super day out. Some wonderful displays to see - thanks so much for the lovely photos. They sometimes have a WW2 event local to us but it is nowhere near as comprehensive as yours.
ReplyDeleteWe weren't there very long, but stayed to have an early lunch of a pulled pork roll (cheapest white bap, and meat/stuffing etc very luke warm). Kelvin, who organizes these events, is very good at it. We "think" we saw the Spitfire and the Hurricane in the far distance over Hay Bluff, approaching Hay for a fly-past as we came home from the Military Fair at Brecon yesterday, but I was driving and no-where to pull over.
DeleteA grand day out indeed. I would love to have such an event near enough to go to. Have a look at Wolseley for the car, and if you have time you can see one on the now, sadly, defunct but very lovely blog, Remembering The Old Ways.
ReplyDeleteAh, that sounds about right. How I miss the Remembering the Old Ways posts. She's on Instagram now - that seems to be the way for many bloggers to go - but it's not the same.
DeleteYou would HAVE to get that Spitfire flying wouldn't you?
ReplyDeleteLet's hope it's a work in progress Tom. Probably not that many Merlin engines kicking around now though.
DeleteThat is an amazing set up. I'd have loved to see it.
ReplyDeleteThey did a good job. We'd have seen some more had the weather been a bit more welcoming.
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