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War and Peace Show 2009 Roundup
FROM the moment The Hop Farm opened for business on Wednesday 22 July, you could tell the 2009 War and Peace Show was going to be one of the best.

Instead of the usual slow start, people began arriving thick and fast, and Joanne Bater's NAAFI Wagon was soon doing brisk business supplying the now traditional tea and bread pudding breakfast.

The focus was on the Normandy Campaign and the Battle of Arnhem, which took place 65 years ago. Among the crowds and gathered around tables in the Victory Marquee were dozens of blue and red berets belonging to veterans of both campaigns.

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On Saturday they were rewarded by a visit from "the Forces Sweetheart" herself, Dame Vera Lynn. Despite her 92 years, Dame Vera signed dozens of autographs, shook hands with veterans, exchanged memories and posed for hundreds of photographs. 


Among the military vehicles at the show were several that saw
action on the Normandy beaches, most notably the powerful Caterpillar D8 bulldozer, which visited Normandy again this montys_roller_resized.jpgyear, and Rex Cadman's Sherman BARV.

Perhaps more elegant was the Rolls Royce Silver Wraith which unloaded from a tank landing craft on D-Day + 3, and which General Montgomery used throughout the campaign.  It now lives in the Royal Logistics Corps Museum at Deepcut.

Batting for the other side was Bruce Crompton's deadly looking 88mm gun and transporter, which took the prize for the best German exhibit. This "tank buster" might have sent shivers down the spines of veterans who saw it.

Visitors were rewarded with dozens of new displays. 

How many people knew the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Light Railway ran an armoured train with machine gunners who downed at least one German fighter? Yet there was a replica of the train with a display of its wartime history, just down from the Victory Marquee.

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On the Sunday we were visited by Lachhima Gurung, reminding us there was a war in the Far East as well as in Europe. Lachhima was awarded the VC after beating off a ferocious attack from the Japanese despite being badly wounded.

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The First World War is usually under represented at War and Peace. This year the vehicle voted Best In Show was a Pierce Arrow dating from 1915, which saw service in France during the Great War. There was also a living history display depicting a typical First World War trench.

An army marches on its stomach, so they say, and the Royal Logistics Museum display showed how the thousands of men awaiting embarkation for Normandy were provided with good healthy meals despite a lack of facilities. Dixies of nourishing stew were brewed up on camp ovens constructed of nothing more than mud and bricks. lancaster_bomber_resized.jpg

There were changes to the entertainment programme this year with many of the acts concentrated into a two-hour afternoon variety show, although there was still plenty going on at other times, with the authentic wartime sounds of the Jive Aceprogramme_sellers_did_brisk_business_at_the_show_resized.jpgs, the Swingtime Sweethearts and Kas.

Overhead the massive, powerful Lancaster bomber contrasted massively with the tiny fragile Piper Cub spotter plane belonging to Anthony Bendkowski. And who can fail to be thrilled by the throaty roar of the Spitfire which zoomed overhead, accompanied this year for the first time by a Messerschmitt. 

Everyone with an interest in military history would have found something to fascinate them at the War and Peace Show this year. Those with no particular interest would also found the event to be an exciting and entertaining day out.


 

 
A Date With Vera - Ernie Witcombe

A DATE WITH VERA

ernie_witcombe_at_lunch_with_dame_vera_resized.jpgA BIG surprise was in store for former businessman Ernie Witcombe, of Okehampton Crescent, Welling, when he visited the War and Peace Show on Saturday.

Back in 1936, Ernie worked for the Co-op Store in Barking Road, Plaistow, East London, where a frequent customer was Vera Lynn.

"Vera often sang at the Working Men's Social Club, opposite the store," said Ernie. "I always made sure I served her when she came in."

On Saturday he and his wife Lily were invited to join Dame Vera for lunch at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Kent, where the War and Peace Show is held. Known to servicemen as The Forces Sweetheart, Dame Vera was guest of honour at the Show.

"It was a wonderful surprise," he said. "I have always been a great fan of Dame Vera, and have followed her career right through.

"When she came into our store she would spend more than £1, which was a lot of money in those days. There was always a battle for the privilege of carrying her groceries out to the car."

Ernie sat next to Dame Vera throughout the lunch and chatted about old times.

Now 91, Ernie spent most of his working life running Whitcombe Cycles, and only retired from the firm - for the third time he says - a year ago. The company builds frames for racing bikes.

Next year he and Lily, 95, will have been married 70 years.

Also at Saturday's lunch were the owner of The Hop Farm, Peter Bull, and the organiser of the War and Peace Show Rex Cadman.

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For futher information contact Peter Cook, 01795 536915 or 07796 172680.


 

 
Jeep Raffle Winner

The winner of the 2009 Jeep raffle was Mr Terry Price of Ipswich with ticket number 38301.  Click here to read the story. See our Jeep raffle page for all our other winners.


 

 
2009 Trophy Winners

War and Peace Show 2009 Trophy Winners

The Bart Vanderveen Challenge Shield

Winner: David Fletcher

The Dickie Dover Trophy
Best in Show

Winner: Ben Mitchell for Pierce Arrow WWI
Runner Up: Rolling Thunder for Rio

The Buster Smith Trophy
Best Post War
Winner: Roger Jerram and Fred Cornwall for Red Baron Truck
Runner Up: Graham Rosser for Saracen APC

The Paul Sutton Trophy
Best British Over 5CWT

Winner: A Neal for Fordson WOT2
Runner Up: G Long for Austin K6

The Ray Ireland Trophy
Best Self Restored

Winner: C Till for M18 Hell Cat
Runner Up: P Wright for K2A GS Tender

The Tracklink Award
Best British Armour

Winner: William Bannister for Stuart M3 A1
Runner Up: Chris McMillan for Curt Sabre

The Graham Sykes Insurance Award
Best Artillery

Winner: Stuart Beeney for M14 155mm Howitzer
Runner Up: Martin Stevens for 105 Howitzer

The Fighting Rover Trophy
Best Landrover

Winner: Paul Hazell for TAC R-1 Fire Engine
Runner Up: M Cummins for Ambulance

The Tired Iron Truck Services Trophy
Best U.S. Vehicle

Winner: Ben Mitchel for Pierce Arrow WWI

The Dougie Preece Award
Best Presented Stall

Winner: Johnsons of Leeds
Runner Up: Anchor Supplies

The Jake Elliott Trophy
Best Young Exhibitor

Winner: Johannes Jeppsson of Feldgendarmerie ’39-‘45

The Audrey Award
Best Ambulance

Winner: John Guppy for K2 Ambulance
Runner Up: James Redman for Humber Pig Ambulance

The Antonie Rijsterborgh Award
Best Jeep

Winner: Keith Richardson for Willys MB
Runner Up: Don Burtenshaw for Ford GPW

The Classic Military Vehicle
Magazine Trophy

Best Heavy Vehicle

Winner: Rolling Thunder for Rio
Runner Up: David Ashby for Chevy C30

The Tor Chambers Trophy
4x4 Heavy Vehicle Trials

Winner: Graham Germany for Scammell
Runner Up: Paul Chenery for Scammell

The Norfolkline Award
Best Amphibious Vehicle

Winner: Phil Bashall for LRP
Runner Up: D Buatright for Alvis Stalwart

The Military Machines
International Magazine Trophy

Best Wheeled Armour

Winner: Richard Cole for Daimler
Runner Up: James Gosling for GM Fox

Best Small Living History
Skirmish Award

Winner: Royal West Kent
Runner Up: 4th Indian Division

Best Large Living History
Skirmish Award

Winner: 514th QMTC – Red Ball Express
Runner Up: British 8th Army – There and Back Again

Best Bicycle

Winner: Kevin Marchant for Raleigh Trade Bike
Runner Up: Mervyn Pizzey for Philips Gent’s Bike

The BSA Parabike Award

Winner: Tony Lawrence for BSA Folding
Runner Up: Rory MacKean for BSA Para Bike

Best Motorcycle

Winner: Patrick Gillet for Norton 16H
Runner Up: Ian Forwood for Harley Davidson

Best Canadian Vehicle

Winner: Luke Stone for Ford F15 AGS
Runner Up: David Ashby for Chevrolet C30

Best Axis

Winner: Bruce Crompton for SDKFZ 7 Cargo
and 88mm Gun
Runner Up: Bruce Crompton for SDKF2 251/1

Best Light Vehicle

Winner: David Ward for Ford 21C Pick Up

Runner Up: David Hines for Austin 10

Best Medium Vehicle

Winner: Tobin Jones for Humber 8CWT

Runner Up: Peter Dobinson for Fordson WOT 2H

Best Tracked Armour

Winner: Chris Till for M18 Hell Cat
Runner Up: Gavin Coleman for M4 A2 Sherman

The Visitors Choice
Any Vehicle or Display on Site

Winner: Ellwood von Seibold for Dodge Command Car
Runner Up: War and Peace Collection for Sherman Barv


 
PASSION FOR PASSCHENDAELE REVEALS HIDDEN HISTORY

PASSION FOR PASSCHENDAELE REVEALS HIDDEN HISTORY

A ROYAL Marine from High Brooms, Tunbridge Wells, has shaken off the sand and dust of Afghanistan to exchange it for the glutinous mud of a First World War trench.

lee_hanmore_in_ww1_uniform_resized.jpgLee Hanmore and his father David Hanmore of Dynevor Road, will create the trench, together with a muddy shell hole, at the War and Peace Show at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood in July.

It will be a tribute to David's grandfather Stanley Hanmore and great uncle Ernest, both of whom fought in the Great War. Stanley came through but Ernest died of wounds.

The display will include authentic First World War weapons, including an artillery piece, Vickers and Lewis machine guns and rifles.

There will also be at least one horse drawn WW1 GS wagon, which has been beautifully restored by a member of the group, Nigel Bristow from Tonbridge. Nigel, whose great uncle also died in the War, hopes to have a second wagon ready for the show.

Members of the group will camp in an army style bell tent during the Show, and will wear uniforms created to the exact specifications of the 7th Battalion Royal West Kents, David's grandfather's old regiment.

"We want the display to be a tribute to all the men who died in the Great War," said David. "But we also want it to be educational, showing visitors how infantry soldiers coped with the mud and mess, in the days leading up to Passchendaele."

It was Lee Hanmore who came up with the idea for the display following a seven-month tour of duty with his Mortar Troop, 42 Commando, in Afghanistan.re-enactors_with_the_gs_wagon_resized.jpg

David is a member of a re-enactment group that is usually involved with the history of the 10th Essex Regiment, volunteer infantrymen who formed part of Kitchener's volunteer army.

While camped with the group in Belgium he had an experience that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

"One of the people I was camped with had a book with records of men who had died in the Great War," he said. "From this we learned that my great uncle Ernest had been camped at the very farm we were staying at before he was mortally wounded.

"But what really hit me was the discovery that he had been there 90 years ago to the very day that we were camped there."

Ernest Hanmore, who served with the 12th Royal Sussex Regiment, died of wounds at a regimental aid post at nearby Du Hallow. He is buried in the military cemetery there.

david_hanmore_at_the_grave_of_his_great_uncle_resized.jpgDavid and his fellow re-enactors were able to perform a simple but authentic wreath laying service at the graveside.

For further information contact Jacqui Curtis, Marketing Executive on 01622 870804 email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Peter Cook on 01795 536915/07796 172680 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Family tickets to the War and Peace Show can be ordered at a discount from www.thehopfarm.co.uk

 
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