What I'm doing between shows...

So to keep busy and upset my Mrs as much as possible I've been picking up some odds and sods...

Here is the bible of the week by Gordon L Rottman. It's a great book that's very detailed but not overwhelming with information. 

A batch of 1/2 pound TNT blocks I'm working on (first attempt) and a German a 35 switch for a sock mine I have on the way.

Here is the repro S-mine I bought and prongs I put together that go into the ground to simulate a buried mine.

I have an original Stock mine on its way (below) and I'll set that up with a trip wire alongside a stick grenade on the correct mount (below, below)

Lessons learnt- I found some repro mines and grenades online that I'll get next month with a crate marked as 'EXPLOSIVE' and I think my display will be complete. (As if)

Bye 

LC

Temple at War 2016 - Away from home, alone.

Finally my first show. 

Temple at war 2016 at Cressing temple was a nice show in its second year this being my first visit and certainly not my last.

So day one, I set up with the help of another group because the rest of the lads couldn't make this one until Sunday (part timers).

My area of knowledge has been leaning toward mine clearance, booby traps and obstacle clearance. I only had a 20ft x 10ft area to pitch a tent and a display so I used my Dragons teeth, minefield marker tape marking S-mine prongs protruding from the ground. 

You'll need to pardon the positioning of the teeth, the organisers made me shift things about.

Here's the basic set up on the Friday evening, right on the main path into the site they said (until the organisers parked a truck shadowing me)

And here's the final set up, with marked out mines and odd infantry kit around.

I spent 2 days basically on my own patrolling around my area with the mine detector a SCR-625 H and speaking to the public about the various nasties that the Germans had hidden away for the allies during the war, offering a repro S-mine to handle.

Chris did pose for one photo though 'and the pub is ... here'

Unfortunately there aren't any pictures of me 'working', probably because I jumped on everyone before they got a chance to take a shot but I'm sure one will pop, up at some point. 

Lessons learnt... Well I enjoyed being on my own thats for sure and I came away with some ideas on how to develope my display like rather than build a bunker or more teeth (always a possibility) I think I'll put together a vineyard as described in many accounts as nightmares for infantry in Italy as they were always booby trapped and I could lead the public through the display.

LC

Who, where, when and why?

                     

Hello. I'm (Sgt) Liam Collins of the Rugged few - US 36th Combat Engineers living history group (LHG).

We're a small group of reenactors based in the South East of England that have been reenacting US WW2 history for many years now (12 in my case) with the last 8 of these being as the 101st airborne 502nd PIR. 

   This was us plus the Durham gents at North Weald

Last year (2015) it became clear that we needed a change of direction for a few reasons. One, that the average age of the group's members is around 35+, far to old to portray young fit airborne troops and that there are loads of airborne reenactment groups out there, probably more than were here in the 1940s.

So I thought, what isn't being portrayed, who's history are we neglecting?

The 36th Combat Engineers. Builders, Hole diggers, explosives experts, mine field clears and so solid as regular infantry, the 2nd rangers requested them to support their landings in southern Italy. 

So this blog will show you my view of the 2016 season. The group pulling together set building, purchases we make and the history of the battalion we represent from leaving the States to invading Europe. 

    These are from the first photo shoot as the 36th 

Thanks for reading and I hope you'll be back soon.