Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, 15th-16th May Sat/Sun (updated for 2010!)

[Andrew Upton]

Just to let all the GWF members know that there is a large military event taking place next weekend at the Secret Nuclear Bunker at Kelvedon Hatch, Essex.

As part of this, a set of recreated WW1 trenches has been dug, and will be manned by members of the Vickers Machine Gunners Society (including my good self with my Vickers, which will be one of two present) and members of the 10th Essex Regiment. It will be representing a reserve trench somewhere a little behind the front lines, so there will be a mixture of troops present - MGC, Essex, RAMC, etc.

Should anyone from the GWF be present, if you spot a young MGC soldier sporting large round steel-rimmed glasses (and probably not to be found too far from a Vickers!), please do introduce yourself to me!

Link below to their website for some more general information on what's going to be there:

http://www.essex-armour-softskins.co.uk/es...ker%20bash.html

[J T Gray]

Should anyone from the GWF be present, if you spot a young MGC soldier sporting large round steel-rimmed glasses (and probably not to be found too far from a Vickers!), please do introduce yourself to me!

If it is too wet underfoot for cricket I may well come along - if I get the first roll of film from it back in time (to see how well it works!) I may even be clutching a period camera!

Adrian

[Max Poilu]

Sounds interesting Andrew, I think I may have read something about this on the EMLRA website (I run an ex-MoD 90). Despite living only 10 miles or so from Kelvedon bunker we only visited earlier this year and have to say we were amazed - quite some place.

[24463988]

Just to let all the GWF members know that there is a large military event taking place next weekend at the Secret Nuclear Bunker at Kelvedon Hatch, Essex.

As part of this, a set of recreated WW1 trenches has been dug, and will be manned by members of the Vickers Machine Gunners Society (including my good self with my Vickers, which will be one of two present) and members of the 10th Essex Regiment. It will be representing a reserve trench somewhere a little behind the front lines, so there will be a mixture of troops present - MGC, Essex, RAMC, etc.

Should anyone from the GWF be present, if you spot a young MGC soldier sporting large round steel-rimmed glasses (and probably not to be found too far from a Vickers!), please do introduce yourself to me!

Link below to their website for some more general information on what's going to be there:

http://www.essex-armour-softskins.co.uk/es...ker%20bash.html

I'll be there with my MV. The Essex Armour lads are a top crowd and the event will get even better if the sun comes out. I was there saturday last year when the month's rainfall fell before tea time. I think I know one of your MGC comrades....will definitely stop to say hello. I would love to take some decent snaps if time allows (I work for an MV magazine).

[small scot]

If it is too wet underfoot for cricket I may well come along - if I get the first roll of film from it back in time (to see how well it works!) I may even be clutching a period camera!

Adrian

And probably being followed by someone looking long-suffering He did warn me about cricket, and about cameras...

With any luck one or other (or possibly even both!) of us will remember to be wearing a forum badge as well.

Ailsa

[stiletto_33853]

Andrew,

Might just be around that area this weekend, if so I will pop in.

Andy

[J T Gray]

And probably being followed by someone looking long-suffering He did warn me about cricket, and about cameras...

With any luck one or other (or possibly even both!) of us will remember to be wearing a forum badge as well.

Ailsa

Aaaaaaaaaaargh, I've been rumbled by the missus!

The prints came back last night - they're pretty damn good for a camera built about 1913. So if you spot someone with a truly antediluvian camera and a "long suffering" (come on, I know you like a large weapon, dear!) other half in tow - tha's us!

Adrian

[Andrew Upton]

Looks like there should be an interesting crowd there! Off to bed now, got a long journey tomorrow and a lot of packing/setting up to do before the event, so will post again probably on the 21st - so until then (sings) Goodbye-eee, Goodbye-eee...

[small scot]

Well, we had a very good time at Kelvedon Hatch (once we found it!). Nice to meet you Andrew.

Adrian is virtually without net connection this week, so I suppose I'd better pass on the message. He did take pictures, managed to use up all 8 shots on the film . They will be developed after the next payday, scanned when one of us gets a chance, and possibly posted on the forum if any of them are half-way decent (I can't promise, not my pics).

I think that at least some of the shots managed not to get anything 'non-period' in the image.

Ailsa

[Andrew Upton]

An excellent event, rather quiet, but as it grows it should get more popular. The weather was excellent, and the rain threatening on Sunday never actually appeared, so managed to get the tent down and all equipment packed away dry which is always a blessing!

About four or five GWF members made their presence known, and so it was nice to put faces to names. Various people had taken pictures of the trenches, so I will endeavour to post them when I get them (whenever that might be!), but I especially look forward to seeing Adrians photo's taken with a period camera!

[Andrew Upton]

Bit of a bump, have been sent a picture taken at the weekend, will try and get it put up here at a more sociable hour!

[Andrew Upton]

test

[Andrew Upton]

There we go, a bit small, but it will do! Photo shows Lieutenant Godden and a Private of the Norfolks in front of the dug out, which the Officer actually slept in overnight.

[J T Gray]

Feel free to post some of mine when they arrive - I'm still wrestling with time to do things like scan!

I'd post the one of you and Ailsa, but you have a tank coming out of your lug 'ole and she has a flagpole on the helmet...

Adrian

[Andrew Upton]

Feel free to post some of mine when they arrive - I'm still wrestling with time to do things like scan!

Received the CD this morning, thanks very much! Some very nice period/atmospheric shots. I'll have a go getting some of them up in a bit...

I'd post the one of you and Ailsa, but you have a tank coming out of your lug 'ole and she has a flagpole on the helmet...

Adrian

Please post away, even if it looks a bit weird!

[Andrew Upton]

Picture 1: Private Hendy of the RAMC.

Picture 2: Private Upton at his Vickers.

[Andrew Upton]

Picture 3: Lance-Corporal Hendy and Sergeant-Major Cox of the Tank Corp outside the Officers dug-out.

Picture 4: More Scots and MGC soldiers by the second Vickers:

[Andrew Upton]

Picture 5: Sergeant Amos, MGC, inspecting the MG position - he doesn't seem impressed!

[Andrew Upton]

Picture 7: Private Hendy of the Essex Regiment realises the rum has run out!

Picture 8: Privates Upton and Fugel enjoy a bit of a natter!

[Andrew Upton]

Picture 6: Where has Sergeant Amos gone?

[loganshort]

Great pics Andrew. Brings back my day out seeing you all there. When I walked down the hill towards the trench, (far bigger than I had envisaged), I was immediately taken aback by the realism of the recreation. Seeing you all "in colour" was terrific. I know the B/W pics are more period inspiring (and good "candid" shots). but to see you guys on the day in full technicolor 3D was great. The images impressed in our minds from original WW1 photos only show a tiny part of it. What those guys experienced "in colour" must have been amazing and horrendous. the few colour photos (usually French) are really atmospheric but the b/w photos of the battle scenes and the dead are graffic enough without being in colour.

Can't wait till next year now. When I can afford a kilt uniform I might be brave enough to join you for a spoonful of rum!

[J T Gray]

(and good "candid" shots)

Yes, I need to get new mirrors cut for the viewfinder - I had to wait for someone to move so I could see where they were! I think they are bloomin' astonishing, considering that. The other advantage is that no-one nowadays associates the action of peering into a waist-level viewfinder with taking a photo - it's either camera-to-eye or chimping the digital. You don't look like you are taking photos and, with a whisper-quiet leaf shutter, you don't sound like it either.

Good to see they were a hit, Andrew!

Adrian

[J T Gray]

Well, it looks as though I was so busy admiring the trenches that I only took two shots with a post-WW1 camera. Oops!

Well, here's small scot modelling the latest fashions. Andrew is modelling the latest high-powered earwax remover, while Ailsa is demonstrating why the Germans held firm against British attacks for so long - the flag on the helmet meant they could always see them coming!

(they are a bit big - but I've just re-sized the first with photoshop to reduce the size - and it finished up bigger! )

And all I can say here is... Are you looking at my bird?

Adrian

[Andrew Upton]

Well, it looks as though I was so busy admiring the trenches that I only took two shots with a post-WW1 camera. Oops!

Well, here's small scot modelling the latest fashions. Andrew is modelling the latest high-powered earwax remover, while Ailsa is demonstrating why the Germans held firm against British attacks for so long - the flag on the helmet meant they could always see them coming!

(they are a bit big - but I've just re-sized the first with photoshop to reduce the size - and it finished up bigger! )

And all I can say here is... Are you looking at my bird?

Adrian

Very nice, thanks for that, good to see some colour shots of the weekend!

All I can say is how scruffy my neck cloth makes me look (but scruffy beats sunburned neck any day).

I am looking at your bird, but more from the point of view that if she were to suddenly abscond at that point, she would leave with about £600 worth of kit (it all adds up!) .

[small scot]

I am looking at your bird, but more from the point of view that if she were to suddenly abscond at that point, she would leave with about £600 worth of kit (it all adds up!) .

I would not abscond with such a set of items. The Law Society would throw me out, and my current employers would catch up with me far too quickly (especially when you consider the weight of the kit!)

There may be some more colour shots of the day in my camera or the one of Adrian's that I use. Will have a look when I get the films developed (yes, I really can take over 2 months to shoot 27 frames of film...)

Ailsa