Went to this for the first time yesterday. A great day out, some good displays and the castle has a lot of WW2 defences and the museum of the old 'Queens Division' (Queens, East Surreys, West Kents, Buffs, Royal Sussex, Middlesex). It's an English Heritage site: Dover Castle : Kent : South East : Find a property by map : Properties : Days Out & Events : English Heritage Some photos from the day: Fritz demonstrating a Stick Grenade...
Paul, It looks like you enjoyed a super day out and thanks for sharing the excellent photographs. The 'Germans Everywhere' shows a nice Czech manufactured Bren gun used by the German Army, with straight ammo Magazine and different barrel. Regards Tom
I was there on the Saturday, great weather and a reasonable amount of displays including a NAAFI but 16/- for a cuppa? Good Russian display with these AT Rifles which I have only rarely seen: This is bleeding heavy, and the only part which dampens recoil is a small short spring in the stock. The boy slug and his chum got a short hands on training session on this, and the semi-auto version, plus their Maxim. I'll come back and pop some photo's in here later. Unfortunately no other reenactors felt safe letting any similar hands-on happenings. Luckily the following day at Manston Slug did get his hands on an L86 and a GPMG, so a high calibre weekend none the less. Did you have a word with the "Ruskies"? The larger one is doing a Brit WWI trench display at Beltinge this year apparently. The big shows have really spoilt smaller shows like this for me, it's a bit like going to a super club in Ayia Napa, and then finding yourself in the local working men's club expecting a foam party and shouting "Let's Go Bonkers!"
Paul - looks like a great day out and some very good pictures - but I can't help thinking of my old SSM Bob Christie - Horse Guards at 61st Training Regt RAC at Barnard Castle. he would choke up at the sight of that line up - then whisper which could be heard in Durham - "what have I done dear Lord to have this shower to train into soldiers "...then start shouting.....scared the s... out of all of us ! Then he would be first to buy the drinks at the friday night dance.......once we were soldiers to his liking .... !!! Cheers