Victory Show

[paulgs1000]

Travelled down from Newcastle to visit the Victory Show in Leicestershire. Over 50 re-enactment societies with 200+ vehicles, an Air Show where you can get up really close to the performing aircraft, a set piece battle on a massive field, it's quite an impressive show.

Dressing up and presenting a portrayal of life in WW2 wouldn't appeal to me but talking to the participants, many of them had relatives that took part in the War and they were very knowledgeable. Schools get to visit on the Friday and the groups certainly put a great deal of effort into their show. It's an amazing place to see all kinds of WW2 vehicles and the detail and equipment of all kinds down to the smallest pieces are incredible.

Just watched a very moving programme on the effects of the Blitz in Liverpool presented by Ricky Tomlinson. That's the only thing missing from this show - that profound sense of dread, stress, tension, insecurity, fear horror and ultimately loss. Don't know how you would put that across in such a show. Nearest I've had to that is walking around the US military Cemetery and Memorial at Madingley Cambridge.

For someone like me that grew up in the 60s with War movies, reading the Victor and Valiant comics, every way you turned there were images worth photographing - here's a few. . .





Battle of Britain veteran - this Hurricane is the earliest still flying and actually fought in 1940.


Bristol Blenheim - All we had at the time for bombing - whole squadrons were wiped out during missions and still they flew them.

 

[Taz]

some good pictures

i've been to France a couple of times and I have stopped at several war cemeteries, they can be very eerie

 

[paulgs1000]

some good pictures

i've been to France a couple of times and I have stopped at several war cemeteries, they can be very eerie

They can Taz; I imagined all the men (and women) stood in front of their crosses, with their flying equipment and uniforms on, just looking at you as you walked through the cemetery. Given the thousands of crosses all lined up, it made me appreciate the massive loss of individual lives and hopes - all given so that we might have a better future.

 

[TR4man]

Gosh - I used to have the Victor each week!

If I was good, I also got a Commando story book - remember those?

 

[paulgs1000]

Gosh - I used to have the Victor each week!

If I was good, I also got a Commando story book - remember those?

Yes I do TR4man, The art work was always brilliant. Bought a Commando story book via Ebay some time ago as I remembered it from my childhood. Amazing to think the final survivors of that conflict are very near or past their 90th year!

As a child, the war was only 20 years before and there were people all around that had direct experience, it was a big part of growing up in the 60s. Very soon there won't be anyone left from that period. I wonder if that means the world's view and feelings about WW2 will inevitably change?

Makes me feel very old at 58 when anniversaries of 75 year old event mean so much

 

[jakblade]

I was supposed to be going to the Victory Show this year but took the family to Normandy instead. What a fantastic time!! I like to think I'm quite knowledgeable about such things but learned so much being there. The War Cemeteries over there are very moving and as Taz said can be eerie, especially the German Cemetery at La Cambe, very stark. My kids who are 14 and 9 didn't realize how young some those brave men were but eventually realized how much these people had given and the commitment they showed in such trying times. They were especially impressed when I took them to where their Great Great Uncle had parachuted in on the 6th June 1944, way behind German lines, spent 2 days trying to find Allied lines and eventually being captured. He said that he was one of the lucky ones!!!!

Anyway, great pics Paulgs1000. Think I may have to make an effort and get there next year.

 

[rhys4]

Thank you for sharing the pictures.

 

[paulgs1000]

I was supposed to be going to the Victory Show this year but took the family to Normandy instead. What a fantastic time!! I like to think I'm quite knowledgeable about such things but learned so much being there. The War Cemeteries over there are very moving and as Taz said can be eerie, especially the German Cemetery at La Cambe, very stark. My kids who are 14 and 9 didn't realize how young some those brave men were but eventually realized how much these people had given and the commitment they showed in such trying times. They were especially impressed when I took them to where their Great Great Uncle had parachuted in on the 6th June 1944, way behind German lines, spent 2 days trying to find Allied lines and eventually being captured. He said that he was one of the lucky ones!!!!

Anyway, great pics Paulgs1000. Think I may have to make an effort and get there next year.

It's that connection that makes such events special. I think a trip to the Victory show would be an interesting day after your visit to Normandy

 

[paulgs1000]

Thank you for sharing the pictures.

Cheers rhys4 - I'd hoped folk would like to see them

 

[john-e89]

As a child, the war was only 20 years before and there were people all around that had direct experience, it was a big part of growing up in the 60s. Very soon there won't be anyone left from that period. I wonder if that means the world's view and feelings about WW2 will inevitably change


Hopefully not Paulgs, the atrocities and sacrifice's should never be forgotten or diluted.

My 91 yr old mum was on the search lights and also drove a rocket launcher vehicle at 17 where the M25 is now, she did 4 yrs until a shrapnel injury forced her out.

Have you been to the Eden camp exhibition at Malton? If not it was a northern POW camp where the POW's that would work went, the one's that would'nt went to Sheffield. There's 36 camp huts there that are just as they we're then but have exhibitions and lots of war info inside each hut, well worth a visit if you're ever down that way.

 

[john-e89]

Ah sorry forgot to say great photo's, thanks for posting.

 

[paulgs1000]

As a child, the war was only 20 years before and there were people all around that had direct experience, it was a big part of growing up in the 60s. Very soon there won't be anyone left from that period. I wonder if that means the world's view and feelings about WW2 will inevitably change


Hopefully not Paulgs, the atrocities and sacrifice's should never be forgotten or diluted.

My 91 yr old mum was on the search lights and also drove a rocket launcher vehicle at 17 where the M25 is now, she did 4 yrs until a shrapnel injury forced her out.

Have you been to the Eden camp exhibition at Malton? If not it was a northern POW camp where the POW's that would work went, the one's that would'nt went to Sheffield. There's 36 camp huts there that are just as they we're then but have exhibitions and lots of war info inside each hut, well worth a visit if you're ever down that way.

I was going to mention Eden Camp - it is a terrific place to visit with even the smells in each hut to fit the theme, such as chimney coal, soot, smoke and then diesel in the U boat hut (they sell small bottles of the smells in the shop). The chapel is worth a visit if just to see a panel which states the numbers of persons killed in each country as against the size of population. Poland took an enormous loss.

I mention a change related to living history. It's wonderful to have the folk around us that did so much and responded so well during WW2 (such as your Mum's amazing effort at such a young age) but like you, I hope that such acts are never forgotten even when those that were there are sadly no longer with us.

 

[Toe-side]

Love the Bristol Blenheim .........made one out of airfix when I was a kid
Great pics Paul

 

[paulgs1000]

Love the Bristol Blenheim .........made one out of airfix when I was a kid
Great pics Paul

First time I'd seen it flying Angus - quite agile in the air and very different with that chiselled glazed nose.

There's a Beaufighter being rebuilt at Duxford - I've watched it being put together for 20 years - hope I'm around long enough to see it fly. Very similar with twin engines but a shorter nose.

 

[Toe-side]

Smaller than I expected in real life............those guys were brave!

 

[firebobby]

Smaller than I expected in real life............those guys were brave!

Very true, I feel so proud to see the old boys and girls with their medals, true hero's.
My son is in a reenacting group as a German foot solider, I really didn't understand why he wanted to act on that side of the battles, but as he said, without them it wouldn't work. They do quite a few training weekends throughout the year to get the battles and actions just right.

 

[ronk]

Smaller than I expected in real life............those guys were brave!

My old, now departed uncle got 75 up on his log book (Halifax and Wellingtons) and I always remember the fella with a devil may care attitude to life. Nothing seemed to matter!
Perhaps that's what it did to people?

 

[Swiftly]

Some cracking photos there Paul, it looks like a great show and thanks for sharing

 

[paulgs1000]

Smaller than I expected in real life............those guys were brave!

You can see the relative size in this shot Angus



You can see how close you can get to the action



You can see the pilot and second seat in this shot

Smaller than I expected in real life............those guys were brave!

Very true, I feel so proud to see the old boys and girls with their medals, true hero's.
My son is in a reenacting group as a German foot solider, I really didn't understand why he wanted to act on that side of the battles, but as he said, without them it wouldn't work. They do quite a few training weekends throughout the year to get the battles and actions just right.

There was an awful lot of work put into the show and the detail was amazing (wouldn't like to be doing the risk audit as those massive machines moved about the place - no risk audit in war

Smaller than I expected in real life............those guys were brave!

My old, now departed uncle got 75 up on his log book (Halifax and Wellingtons) and I always remember the fella with a devil may care attitude to life. Nothing seemed to matter!
Perhaps that's what it did to people?

I'm sure it did but I'd guess many came back severely affected for the rest of their lives.

Some cracking photos there Paul, it looks like a great show and thanks for sharing

Thanks Nick - I wish I'd had more time and better equipment - it really was a great opportunity for photography.