Voted “Best in Show” at the Victory Show Cosby

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The first example is centred around our bombed out building. This was built by the group and is a centrepiece for a number of our displays. Built from plywood and Polystyrene, the building is 3 dimensional and is built to a Film prop standard of realism. We’re proud to say it won best display at the Victory show, Cosby - as voted by a panel of Wartime Veterans who were doing the judging. The whole construction breaks down into seperate panels which pack away into a small box trailer. The trailer acts as the anchor for the building which is built around it and suitably disguised. The display itself features a French Refugee family complete with handcart and all their worldly possessions, being assisted by members of the Battalion who are enjoying a period out of action, behind the line. 

Hill 112 was a pivotal battle in the Normandy campaign. Operation Jupiter saw 43rd Division tasked with capturing and holding the dominant high ground in Normandy. At the same time, the Germans had just moved 2nd SS Panzer Corps up to this sector, having transferred them from the Russian front, with orders to mount a major counter attack against the British/Canadian sector to drive them back in to the sea. This was the 43rd Divisions first major Operation and the two forces clashed on and around Hill 112 in brutal fighting for several days. Finally, after taking fearsome casualties, the British forces prevailed and the ground was taken and held. It was a fine fighting achievement by 43rd Division and marked them out as one of the outstanding Infantry units for the rest of the campaign. 

“The Island” represents a forward position in Holland just after the failed Operation Market Garden. Once 1st Airborne were withdrawn, the British occupied a salient and the 4th and 5th Wiltshires in particular, occupied an area of land between the Rhine, Meuse and Waal rivers - named The Island. The Wiltshires suffered heavy casualties here whilst engaged in close quarter fighting with German Parachute troops. 

The Winter of 1944/45, across Northern Europe, was particularly hard and our representation depicts 4th Wiltshires in a Cold, Snowy, Frosty scene - doing their best to keep warm amongst the shattered buildings and landscape along the Dutch/German border. Various pieces of warm weather clothing are worn by members of the group, including the specialist Snow camouflage uniforms issued at this time. The Snow effects we use are completely bio degradable and perfectly safe for the environment - and members of the Public too of course ! 

One of our displays features a representation of a Regimental Aid Post complete with Ambulance Jeeps, Stretcher Casualties and Medical Equipment. Usually we again use the building as a centre piece and various members of the group act as Casualties who are being worked on. The group’s female contingent are able to play the roles of Army nurses alongside those representing Stretcher bearers and RAMC personnel. 

As Collectors and Military History buffs, we also enjoy paying tribute to the wartime Royal Air Force. The group can  produce a really effective display depicting RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. The display is a representation of a forward Squadron of Spitfires or Hurricanes in 11 Group, on an Airfield waiting at readiness for the order to “Scramble”. We have deployed this display at major Military shows and at the request of the RAF themselves, to support key events at Stations such as RAF Lyneham, RAF Colerne and RAF Brize Norton.
The group is also very open to working with authentic period Aircraft owners if you would like some “live” dressing to take your Aircraft display to another level. 

We are also very proud to be able to pay our tribute to “The Bomber Boys” of RAF Bomber Command, through our display scenario which focusses on the Dams Operation of 16 May 1943, by the newly formed 617 Sqn - lead by Wing Commander G.P. Gibson VC DSO DFC. 

The display includes original Bomber Command Aircrew and Groundcrew uniform and equipment together with a full size replica Upkeep Mine, Bomb trolley, detailed models of the Dams and various airfield accessories such as a Fordson Tractor, Compressors, Ladders, Oil drums, Fire equipment and much more. All we need now is a full size “Lanc”, to top it all off !