Features
and Reviews
Weekend manoeuvres
at the Battery
Last weekend (9th & 10th June) Battery
Gardens provided the setting for the Heritage Battery Groups
presentation of the Battery through the ages. On Saturday they
were helped in re-creating a sense of the past with Blitz and
Peace's providing musical interludes with ukulele and vocal
duets. |
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Based at Exmouth the team of Arthur
and Lesley brought a collection of World War 2 items ,wandered
around singing to people in the gardens and performing at the
Museum. They said that over the years they had worked with and
met hundreds of people who told them their tales and experiences
of war, some horrific, some tragic and some highly amusing. |
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Dressing as a World War 2 Home guard and ATS, a
familiar sight at the Brixham Battery during wartime, they sang
the familiar theme to ‘Dad's Army' as well as ‘Run Rabbit Run
Rabbit.' They also said, “By allowing people a hands on living
history experience and engaging with the sights, sounds and feel
of the Home Front in the Second World War, we hope that people
will enjoy and share a greater understanding of what of what life
was like in Britain in these difficult times.” |
The duo
who also have a sister group called the Sirens, a 40s close
harmony vocal group, want to link with backing musicians to
re-create more of the Big Band sound. This weekend they wanted
to support the Heritage Battery Group and hope to go on and
work on future projects with them. For more information www.blitzandpeaces.co.uk |
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Dave, Historian and Archivist for the Battery, shared
his present mission of discovering more about the British Resistance
and how they prepared in Devon during the 2nd World War to work
against any advancing forces. He explained how it has been difficult
to uncover the activities of this group, who were not apart of
the British Army, but were trained in anticipation of an invading
army with strategies and techniques similar those of the French
Resistance. |
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For anyone who is able to shed more light on the
activities of the British Resistance in Devon they can contact
Dave through CONTACT US page of www.brixhambattery.org
or phone the Battery 01803 852449. |
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Going back further in time Steve in 1st World War
Battle Dress had an array of military armaments displayed in the
Battery Gardens and reflected on how the soldiers had used them
in trench warfare highlighting the damage they could do to anyone
who got in the line of their fire. |
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Now a days we use the term shrapnel to mean any
exploded piece of metal, but the Shrapnel Shell was actually fired
from large field guns and released metal balls which showered
the men like riffle fire. |
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Knowing the hell of trench warfare the men had little
relief other than food parcels and letters which came regularly,
with the special tins at Christmas containing chocolate or tobacco.
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In amongst the trees of Battery Gardens members
of the Battery Heritage Group also set up a display of World War
2 parachutes caught up in the branches, with the men resting by
fires and tents representing an American Airborne Division 101
with at British Division next to them. |
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Mark and Ben explained how the American forces apparently
shipped many items to Devon during the War to take over to France.
Some of the supplies got buried in places around Devon, including
the Clennon Valley as they did not bother to send them back to
the USA after World War 2 ended. |
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Parachutes were also a valuable commodity as men
often brought back spare chutes to sell the silk to make used
for garments including wedding dresses with fabrics in short supply.
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| Just out of the sun a Series 3 Land
Rover built in 1980 had been restored to be used on roads locally
but had seen desert action in the 1st Gulf War, providing a reminder
of the continuing presence of British Forces abroad. |
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After an afternoon at the Battery, the Heritage
Museums own Wellbase Series 3 Land Rover took to the streets of
Brixham. Forming a float in the Cow Town Carnival the Group won
1 st prize as the best adult entry in the parade. This was not
surprising as the team from the Heritage Battery Group are dedicated
to detail, preserving and forming a living record of military
history. |
On
Sunday 10th June the Battery had a different set of military
vehicles on show... |
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On Sunday the Battery had a different set of military
vehicles on show as the Devon RC Military Vehicle Group and RC
Off Road Club moved their tanks into the Gardens. |
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Fortunately the Tiger
Tanks that travelled over the hilly terrain were miniature versions,
with the remote controlled vehicles noisily invaded the tranquil
scene with their built in sound effects.
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For more information on the club who build their
tanks mainly from kits but requiring an amount of engineering
skills…. www.devonrctanks.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
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Features
and Reviews 
