English Heritage’s Festival of History

I was very pleased to spend last weekend helping man the Battlefields Trust stand at Festival of History (English Heritage’s annual event at Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire).

In amongst my main duties explaining the Trust’s work of preserving and protecting historic battlefields – encouraging the public to support our campaign to protect the battlefield of Edgcote from the HS2 rail link, explaining the great events of nearby Naseby on my battlefield model etc. – I got break periods when I could go off (get rained on!) and visit the various period displays …

As ever, there were a great number of 20th Century groups and a lot of equipment on display.   The reenactors seemed universally helpful and willing to explain and demonstrate their gear (and always willing to pose for photos!) ..

Here’s a quick tour round …

Part of the 'Trench Warfare' exhibit

I’m not sure that I have seen this Spanish Civil War group before …

Getting help from Soviet Military Advisors, it seems

I was very impressed with the overall look of this Desert Airforce zone

Northamptonshire by the Med!

… with a typically robust looking mid 20th century British truck

US armoured Recce troops:

M20 Armoured Reconnaissance Car

US M3 Stuart Light Tank

Ready and willing to demonstrate the various small arms in their armoury

explaining the workings of a 30 cal.

Some of the other weapons they were demonstrating …

'grease gun', 'bazooka', carbine, Garand, Thompson etc.

Light Mortar in the back of one of their Jeeps

I showed quite a bit of the Red Army kit last year, but here’s a PTRD to add to the gallery:

And here’s some more German kit:

basic platoon weapons

8 Cm mortar

transport for armoured infantry: the Sdkfz251

the iconic if complex motorcycle combination

Of course, not everyone got something as cool as a Kubelwagen ….

Now, of course, I accept that not everyone approves … but there’s nothing quite like a big machinegun to get youngsters interested in military history:

Trying out the Vickers

As well as all this good stuff outdoors, and me with my Naseby display (see ECW Battles …), the Phoenix Wargames Club in association with Warlord Games ran their usual wargames pavillion (this year with a big official sign outside: kudos, lads) …

wargames at the Festival of History

An excellent weekend.

Let’s hope we get a bit more sunshine next year …

Advertisement