Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Paddock Wood turns into a War (and Peace) Zone!...


Paddock Wood yesterday was like going back in time. Lots of WWII Jeeps and armoured cars around carrying quasi military-type personel dressed, mostly, in combat clothing. It's not very often that you drive into a petrol station to be confronted with two men sitting astride a camoflaged gun turret on the back of an American Jeep. One side of me thinks that this is all a bit sad but, on the other hand, where's the harm in it? Basically these enthusiasts are being nostaligic, longing for the days when life was simple, when you knew who your comrades were and who your enemies were. Food was basic but wholesome, the music of the day was big band swing, ladies were feeling more and more liberated, the Yanks were over here and over paid. At the very least these were exciting times, a time of great social change. If this is your thing then you'll be able to join around ten thousand like minded folk at the War and Peace show at the Hop Farm from tomorrow until Sunday. I'm hoping to see a few of the visitors around Tonbridge as, whatever you think of blatent displays of militaria, their vehicles make an awesome sight driving down the High Street. Hopefully one or two of them will show their faces in Mr. Books, perhaps even buy a book or three!...

2 comments:

Paul Bailey said...

I don't quite go along with your nostalgia theme, TB, neither do I agree that being around whilst the most destructive war in history was raging all around was an "exciting time"!

Nevertheless, my son and I will be making our annual visit to the War & Peace Show, primarily to catch up with a group of old friends who are Dad's Army re-enactors. They take the whole thing very seriously, dressing the part and spending the week living under canvas.

Not my cup of tea, but it's always good to meet up with this group, and to see all the other re-enactors. Whilst on that subject, someone was asking following a previous post of yours regarding the War & Peace Show, whether there were some Nazi's present at a previous event? This stems from a BBC programme that went out a couple of years ago, entitled "Weekend Nazi's".

In typical left-wing BBC fashion, the programme expressed scantimonious horor about a group of en-actors called the Second Battle Group, who dress as Waffen SS troops, and provide the opposition for the some of battle re-enactments. So far as I know, this group of enthusiasts are based up north, and just because they are wearing period costume. doesn't mean that their politics are allied with those of the Third Reich! As a result of this silly, and mis-leading programme, the show organisers have had to request that re-enactors portraying German forces, should not leave the showground dressed in their uniforms. An over-reaction, of course, and one that has come about as a result of licence fee payers money being wasted on quasi-documentaries, following a politically correct agenda.

Anyway, I hope that puts the record straight. Like I said, it's not my cup of tea dressing up as soldiers, German or otherwise, and I certainly don't countenance extremist politics of any persuasion. However, please let's keep a sense of realism about what for many people is a really good day out, and for others the chance to show off carefully restored historic vehicles and other memerobilia.

Tonbridge blogger said...

Ja vol Herr Bailey