The rain held off for the whole weekend, right up until the end of the last day of this event held in the village of Lacock.
Step back in time to the 1940s, it’s World War Two and Britain is at war… As you walk into Lacock, this picturesque old Wiltshire village, you feel transported back to the war, in fact, as you walk into the village, you would be forgiven for thinking you had just walked onto the set of the film The Eagle Has Landed where Michael Caine stars as a German Officer parachuting into an English village in preparation to assassinate Churchill.
Lacock At War is truly a unique event in the world of Reenactment Groups and Military Vehicle Trust events, as it spills out from the main field and takes over this small village. Walking past the Red Lion Pub, you come across a group of Tommy’s sat around outside the pub chatting and eating during a bit of R&R, then you hear the barking order of a British Officer, ordering the Tommy’s to straighten themselves out and get back to camp.
The women walk around dressed like Dame Vira Lynn, the men as soldiers including British, Allied and German, you feel out of place walking around this picturesque village in 21st Century costume.
On the main field there was an Aladdin Cave of military weapons and vehicles from World War One up to the present day. There was surprisingly a large number of US Vietnam re-enactors with a great US Army bunker set in the Vietnamese Jungle.
There were army Landrover’s, armoured vehicles, and of course the US Army Jeep Willys. For the big kids, and I mean us adults, particularly us men, there were large scale model Tanks, these were fully working tanks, recoiling main guns, loud engines and of course radio controlled! Yes these tanks that were about a meter in length and standing nearly knee hight. When asking about how much they cost, I was told £8000. Not a cheap hobby!
The British Army were there in the presence of HQ Company 7Rifles from Reading who are on a big recruitment drive with their new role they are moving into as Mechanised Infantry. 7Rifles now have a Company based at the TA Centre in Swindon, who were previously just platoon strength and are now looking to increase their numbers to build up to Company strength.
Talking to the organisers of the event, they were extremely pleased with the success of the weekend, recoding record numbers of people visiting the event. On average the event has attracted around 5000-7000 for the whole weekend, this weekend saw over 7000 on the Saturdayand nearly the same on the Sunday.
Lacock At War is a great event for all the family and a must see event next year, but if you can’t wait till next year and you missed the event in Lacock, then you are in luck, as on 9th & 10th September there will be an event held at Swindon and Cricklade Railway
By Mike Buss.
