Stowe 2005 ranks as one of the best events we have attended this year and is always one of our most looked forward to shows. The venue for this event is outstanding as you would expect of a landscape Garden.

Working for the National Trust is always helped when those running the event are friends and fellow re-enactors who understand the effort in making these shows happen.

Each year the Association decides on a display theme, always trying to come up with something a little different each year. This year it was felt that with the 60th Anniversary of the end of the War around the corner, it was time to represent a unit and campaign theatre that is not often seen here in the UK and has been a little forgotten by re-enactors.

The Stowe event follows a route around the gardens (acres of it), no group can see another group, such is the scale of the place. Groups therefore have the chance to display within an area especially allocated to them. The public follow the 1940's trail (War Walks) around the park and come to the Living History Displays on route. It was fitting that ours representing the Pacific would be last on the route.

Our impression was of the 11th Airborne Division in 1945, the scenario saw FAAA Troopers representing Soldiers of the Divisions Reconnaissance Platoon and Division HQ Staff at the units Division Jump School at "Lipa" (Camp Angel) Shortly after the units combat in and around the city of Manila and the Historically successful prison rescue at Los Banos in Feb 1945.

Veteran troops and replacement were now preparing for there final phase of the war in the Pacific, the Airborne Assault on Japan!

High on the Hill overlooking the Grecian Valley the advance party arrived on Friday to establish an element of the Divisions Camp.  By mid evening all tentage was up and the Camp had taken shape with several troop tents, Command posts, Officers Quarters, Briefing Tents and Mess Hall established. The advance party of the Commanding Officer, First Sgt, Recon Platoon Sgt and 3 Troopers settled down for the evening with a few cold beers.

Camp Angel

Pvts Wood and Harris of the platoon's advance party take a break in the mess tent

Saturday Morning was a little overcast but dry, breakfast was early and ready for the arrival of the main party, who arrived in dribs and drabs but in plenty of time to be allocated there accommodation for the weekend and briefed on the training programme arranged for the Platoon.

Stowe is considered, as well as a public event, our Summer Training Camp, where it is aimed to carry out many of the Military Skills required to bring the group to a basic level of Living History in regards to the new guys and give the new NCO's the chance to command at a junior level.
 

S/Sgt Sturgess, Divisional MP Platoon, greets the arrival of the Recon Platoon at Camp Angel

After the heavy fighting to take Manila, the Recon Platoon receive replacements - the platoon Sgt introduces himself to his new troopers

The programme for Saturday saw the troops undertaking Close Quarter Drill, with and without arms, Weapons Training on the Browning .30 A6 Light Machine Gun and the 57MM Recoilless Rifle and basic Reconnaissance Skills. The day's training culminating in a 2 squad Recon Patrol deep into the jungle of Stowe Park (this allows all the association members attending to visit the other groups).

Close quarter drill instruction

 from the First Sergeant

 The A6 Light Machine Gun will replace the BAR in the Platoon

Troopers training on the new 57mm Recoilless Rifle

The day finished with retiring the colours in "Camp Angel".  This was quite a snappy parade for the group with many of the members squared away in "Suntans" After Colours, the group had only a short distance to go for the evenings entertainment.  The party for the groups attending the event was as always fantastic, great atmosphere in the company of first rate groups.  

 The 1st Lt faces the colour at Sunset

Post Manila and the Los Banos operation, replacements and combat experienced troops undertake training on new weapons and tactics,  Division Headquarters and Headquarters Company First Sergeant brief the troops on the training schedules for the day

I have heard that it rained at some time on Saturday, but don't remember it really, it might have been that we were in the Jungle in any case and did not notice it.  However, Sunday was a lot brighter and hot as well.  The troops were given a half hour extra in their bunks as they had worked very hard the day before.  However, while a KP Team sorted Chow, the remainder were soon up and dressed in HBT and White T Shirts and off around the Division area for a run and Callisthenics under the guidance of the Platoon Sgt and PFC Harris.

Breakfast was followed by more Close Quarter Drill and preparations for the Sunday Church Service. By now more replacements had arrived at Camp Angel and the Recon Platoon were up to 18 Troopers.  The Platoon and Division Staff marched to the service where Cpl Harrison presented the Units Guidon to the Chaplain to be laid up on the Altar.  It was good to see many friends there at the Service, but notable that many other groups had forgotten about it!

The remainder of the Sunday was spent in Preparations for the final Long Range Patrol and Parachute Ground Training.  All fit Jumpers and replacements undertook the Jump Training with no injuries.  The Patrol Training, the last before the Platoon would join the rest of the Division in the Airlift to Okinawa was made up of a Recon Squad from Div Recon and Platoon HQ and two Rifle Squads of Company A, 1st Battalion, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment.  This Patrol again used the 1940 trail putting into use all the skills practised the day before.

Parachute Landing Fall Training - exit the aircraft

The first Sergeant demonstrates how to fall correctly

The long range patrol moves out

PFC Harris in defensive position

The end of another successful deployment!

On returning to Camp, it was time to move out and pack away for another year.  Using the scenario that the unit was moving out for the Airlift the group stayed in "First Person" for as long as possible, the Public finding the decamping quite fascinating!

The event was well attended by the MOP's and all the hard work we put into the show was appreciated. We look forward already to Stowe 2006 but now prepare for our two remaining events this year, the Glenn Miller Festival and the Victory Show where we will be reverting back to our initial impression, the 82nd Airborne Division.

This year we have taken on many new first rate recruits, but, like all groups, still look out for good quality individuals to join our ranks. If you like to do more than one Airborne Impression and feel you might like the way we operate, get in touch.

Lee Bowden

First Sergeant