Despite a very long first day, having enjoyed all the merriments of the Blitz Party on the Saturday night, our second day at the Chalke Valley History Festival was a shorter affair, but no less fun and history packed than the day before.
Having been graced on Day One by the U.S. B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B and also two Spitfires on the Saturday, it was a real treat to also get to see the RAF BBMF Avro Lancaster ‘Leader’ close up and in all its glory, as well as a bit of a rarity to see a Hawker Sea Fury – something I had not seen on a flyover before.
The previous day, having spent a lot of time around the WW2 Vehicles section enjoying the living history talks ‘Heavy Metal’ and ‘Tank Crew Leaguer’ which discussed the Sherman Tank and what it was like for the crews who served in it during the Second World War, I focused in on a few of the other wartime related talks on offer.
This included the Red Devils talk with historian Guy Walters, which was of particular interest to me given my fascination with the 6th Airborne Division and our recent trip to Normandy exploring their involvement in this campaign during the summer of 1944.
The other was getting the opportunity to listen to Burma veteran Robin Rowland in conversation with James Holland recounting his experiences of his service fighting in the Far East against the Japanese with Slim’s (often Forgotten) Fourteenth Army.
Another real treat was getting the opportunity – thanks to Paul Beaver – to meet Falklands Veteran and former Vulcan 607 Pilot, Martin Withers who was involved in the raid on Port Stanley in 1982.
– Full Photo Reel Day Two –
Thanks for viewing our Photo Reel highlights from Day Two at the 2018 Chalke Valley History Festival and we do hope you have found it of interest. Stay-tuned coming up shortly we will be speaking further on the WW2 Nation Podcast with Battlefield Guide Mike Peters about the Operation Husky and the Allied campaign in Sicily during the Second World War.
Until then though, why not enjoy the first episode of this three-part series on our Podcast, where we talk with battlefield guide Mike Peters about Operation Husky, the Glider Pilot Regiment and everything to do with the invasion of Sicily by the Allies in 1943.
Chalke Valley History Festival Dates 2019: 24th – 30th June