Kelmarsh 16/17th July 2011

GI44-45 returned from this weekends’ excellent multi-period event at kelmarsh in Northampton. This was the first time I had attended this event, and I thought it was excellent. Despite the random rain showers, it didn’t dampen the enjoyment of being able to work with and support, Glen Mallen and the guys from the 2nd armoured in Europe, and Wayne Roff and the troops from the 1st Division Living History group. Both are part of the WW2 Living History association. For a change it was also good to work with them at a “static “display rather than marching through some woods in the winter, somewhere in the Ardennes. It’s a no-brainer that I’ll be at this event next year. As usual “tab” on any photos to take you to all on webshots..

By Saturday lunchtime rainclouds had soon passed and chow was served. And during this time we prepped weapons for the afternoon public battle.











Once the public battle was concluded and the public had gone home it was time to engage in our own multi-period event…



…and then head down to the bar to join the red-coats and Vikings!


Donning the uniform of the Union army, caused quite a stir amongst some of the southern boys in 2nd armoured so I was relieved to find safety amongst a few more union troops in the camp..


No stranger to revolution, I was soon joined by Marie Antoinette….


The evening social activities added a whole new dimension to the hobby; especially as it was multi-period. At one point we had the 2nd guards doing their “special” dance magic, only to be interrupted by a pimp from the back streets of New York who fancied his chances at out doing them. Later we had Neil Armstrong on stage, wearing a space suit and singing a few tunes…..doubt this would happen anywhere else! (video to be soon posted on YOUtube)

The next day, hangovers and dodgy stomachs were put aside and vehicles were prepared for the public battle.




Kelmarsh is one of the few events where I have been to where you can’t really get off site until late on the Sunday. By the time our camp was set down and packed up it was 7.30 pm, with a 3 ½ hour jeep ride back home ahead of us. That said the positives of being involved in Kelmarsh far outway the negatives, of which there really are none. It was great to see some of the top Allied and Axis WW2 living history groups displaying at the event, I never got ‘round to saying “hello” to all, but we were all busy with the massive amount of public present, which of course also makes it worthwhile.

To conclude , this is the first time I’ve been to Kelmarsh but I very much doubt it will be the last.

Hi Paul,

Was just looking at these on Facebook - looks like you had a really great time. Shame about the weather, but true old British grit seems to have prevailed! Well done to all - a cracking event to be added to the 2012 list.

Regards,
Ben.

Yeah looks like a good one and one for consideration for group attendance in 2012.

Certainly seems to be a quite original social in the evening!!!!

Dantheman wrote:Yeah looks like a good one and one for consideration for group attendance in 2012.

Certainly seems to be a quite original social in the evening!!!!

Dan- its a unique experience to say the least, and I am convinced all the grpup and dare I say , other halves, would like it, as there is something for all, even crafts, marquees with lectures and such like...

I really like the look of camo hbts !! (another thing to get... saw a pair of original trousers for $ 800 ). Nice pics and I looks like an event lots of GI's can get reunited !!

Pat

Dont buy from SOF - they are thinner than the Epic ones, This weekend the top of my trousers pockets ripped about 10mm.

Paul great pics! As has been said its a shame about the wet weather but at least it seemed to brighten up!

It isn't half strange to see you in your civil war clobber!

Defo one for the diary next year then chaps!

Sam

Yes, I like the look of it and I like the idea of working with 2nd Armd.

Hi guys,
A great time was had by all, well except nearly all the LHA getting the Eartha kitt's as Paul would say, oh and some heavy rain from time to time but no genuinely it was a great event and a defo for 2012. Oh and getting the old camo's out and being able to wear some different kit in the evening was cool too.

Regards
Tom

Tom Sainter wrote:Hi guys,
A great time was had by all, well except nearly all the LHA getting the Eartha kitt's as Paul would say, oh and some heavy rain from time to time but no genuinely it was a great event and a defo for 2012. Oh and getting the old camo's out and being able to wear some different kit in the evening was cool too.

Regards
Tom

Hmmm that's interesting, did you by any chance go with the on site catering unit?

I'm afraid I did go with the LHA's own catering unit Ian.

Tom Sainter wrote:I'm afraid I did go with the LHA's own catering unit Ian.

Should have gone with Costino industries! Mind you , some tikes were trying to blame the "earthas" on my D Bars!!!!

Johnny_Costino wrote:

Tom Sainter wrote:I'm afraid I did go with the LHA's own catering unit Ian.

Should have gone with Costino industries! Mind you , some tikes were trying to blame the "earthas" on my D Bars!!!!

How can you get that of chocolate that has been melted and remolded! ha ha!

Tom Sainter wrote:I'm afraid I did go with the LHA's own catering unit Ian.

Hmmm, that is a shame, I guess you can't pin the blame on anyone as such but if all of you had trouble it does make you suspect that there is a common link. I really like their set up but it does illustrate a point I made earlier this year that catering for large groups of people needs to be done carefully.

Too true Murph and from an Insurance perspective emphasizes the need to make sure your correctly insured to do that sort of thing to cover your ass when things go wrong!!!

They ("Jimmy Chow") are insured, and have the relevant food hygiene certificates, but unfortunately made an error with the beef in the chilli. Anyone who ate with them at Pip Park knows what they're capable of, they just made a mistake this time. And have now been thoroughly instructed about the never-to-be-repeated-error by a food hygiene trainer.

Add to that the dodgy past-its-best chocolate being given out on the day by certain unscrupulous supply sergeants, and I'm not surprised we all had the "Jimmy Chows"...

I know they run a good outfit so I'm sure they will be ok for future use. I was harking back to proposals we had considered to operate the catering for Pip Park

In regards to chocolate....Costino Inc, are being looked at by the Dept. of Health and Treasury officials, apparently they have been putting in ersatz chocolate from a German firm! Profiteering off the War Effort tut tut tut.

GlenM wrote:They ("Jimmy Chow") are insured, and have the relevant food hygiene certificates, but unfortunately made an error with the beef in the chilli. Anyone who ate with them at Pip Park knows what they're capable of, they just made a mistake this time. And have now been thoroughly instructed about the never-to-be-repeated-error by a food hygiene trainer.

Add to that the dodgy past-its-best chocolate being given out on the day by certain unscrupulous supply sergeants, and I'm not surprised we all had the "Jimmy Chows"...

Guess who is now off my "christmas" list of persons to be supplied with D Bars at our next Bulge event!!

Johnny_Costino wrote:
Guess who is now off my "christmas" list of persons to be supplied with D Bars at our next Bulge event!!

Typical Copper - twisting words of the innocent to make them guilty... I actually meant Mark, who was handing out some really old D-Bars of yours....

GlenM wrote:

Johnny_Costino wrote:
Guess who is now off my "christmas" list of persons to be supplied with D Bars at our next Bulge event!!

Typical Copper - twisting words of the innocent to make them guilty... I actually meant Mark, who was handing out some really old D-Bars of yours....

Haha, I should have guessed!

I'll send round the MPs!