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The Victory show was for us
the last major group public event of 2009, it location
offering us a guaranteed good turn out from the Association.
In had been a couple of years
since we last attended this event, last year we were
elsewhere where it was equally wet and finally cancelled, so
all was hoping for some dry weather and a fine weekend. The
weather as we all know now was ok and that is what added to
the enjoyment of the event.
Like all large events
problems are expected and have to be overcome and to
pre-empt any on our part, members of the group travelled to
the show site the weekend before the event and combined a
social meet up with a good few hours preparing the display
location. Even with the bad weather the week prior to the
event the work we carried out including the erecting of 3 of
the group's tents was well worth the effort, on arriving
with the military vehicle main party on Friday afternoon, a
great deal of the work had been done.
Part of the scenario would
see the groups blank firing Mortars in a dug in position and
the pits had to be dug out, but it was pleasing to see on
arrival several mechanical diggers already hard at work, it
would not be long before it would be our turn and soon 2
Mortar pits and a command post position was dug deep into
the clay. What was not pleasing was to see several Vans and
a Burger Bar grill just on the other side of the hedge to
our display. With us firing twice on both days and with no
section to cover burnt and crispy burgers in the hands of
burnt and crispy MOP's in our risk assessment these were
moved further down the hedge by first thing Saturday
Morning.
So on arrival we moved onto
the display area to continue setting up, the 4 vehicles we
had with us were parked up and by nightfall the advance
party were in location with most of the tentage up and beds
sorted for the evening, the traditional chip run was
organised before a few beers were downed. Last to arrive was
the units cook and field kitchen team. Too late to erect the
largest of the tents, the cook and the team were given
alternative accommodation in whatever we had up and prepared
for an early start, no breakfast until the mess hall was up
was the order of the day, so at first light everyone
available set to getting the monster up and quickly she went
up too, before long the Cooker was in place, cooks billet
established and breakfast was on. Soon another two jeeps
arrived with more group members, and then another car, and
then another until all attending members was accounted for.
The group's scenarios saw
both displays in Normandy. In regards to the guys doing
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment this would be based around
a mortar section from the 1st Battalion 505th in or around
and Normandy Village and was the basis of an interactive
display of firing Mortars that would take place twice each
day. The largest part of the FAAA display and where much of
the group's assets would be allocated was based around the
"Army Nurses" stand alone display depicting the 91st
Evacuation Hospital which was deployed around the Village of
Bouteville after they landed on Utah beach on the 10th June.
We were hosting quite a few
new members this weekend, some were in Army Nurses, one was
attached to the 1st Army Military Police detachment and a
couple were crewing the mortars as Paratroopers.
Both days of the show
followed pretty much the same format, for us this meant two
Fire Mission displays each day, mid morning and early
afternoon, the latter display would generate casualties for
the nurses and there interactive scenario. This year the
weather held, which added to everyone's enjoyment, the
inconsiderate early morning party held at our neighbours
location on both Friday and Saturday did not! The Belting
mentality it would seem! The busy and exciting days however
made up for the lack of sleep for most of the group and all
reported having had a good time. Unfortunately on the Sunday
morning two of our group and our youngest couple just
starting out together received a call to say they had been
burgled that morning, of course they had to get home to sort
it out, however they had come as a group with 3 other
members sharing transport and they too had to leave, this
meant we lost 3 nurses and 2 Paratroopers, neither the less
the rest of the group pulled together and helped get there
kit packed away and loaded on to their transport early on
the Sunday morning. They would be very much missed on the
Sunday, but we managed and both displays carried on the best
they could.
All sections of the group, the 91st Evac Hospital, Military
Police, WARCO, Field Kitchen and the Paratroopers of the
505th put everything into the two displays we did. The field
kitchen especially again provided some of the best field
cooking seen in the hobby and the food presented to the
group which included a vegetarian menu was a credit to the
commitment both Bob and Irene have to the group and the
hobby.
Having spoken to many of the group since the event all feel
there was enough to keep all members interested throughout
the weekend.
The Hospital worked well under Capt Amanda Ware, the
Military Police as always played a very important part in
not only providing a visual impression of the 1st Army
Military police in Combat but also provided us with real
time security of the Hospital Display.
The Airborne element was as always spot on, the drill on the
Mortars were second to none with only one misfire in 150
rounds of Ammunition. This scenario gave the MOP's a close
up display of the Mortars in Action which complemented the
big battle and from what I experienced from feedback from
the public it was well received and enjoyed.
This was the first event for some members of the group and I
thank all the 7 new members for their interest and
commitment to the group. All in all a good show, plenty to
see and do and some great displays from some outstanding
groups. The event gave us the platform to work on two
co-located displays, the organisers were very helpful in
ensuring we had the area needed to carry out the scenarios
and rectified the problems encountered before and during the
event. A well run show for sure.
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