This was the third "Frontline" event at
Sedgefield. My daughter and I were only going to attend on Saturday, but we
did plan to camp over on Friday evening. However a wet forecast for Saturday
changed my mind and I decided to just drive for the day and save having to
pack away a wet canvas tent. As in past years, there were displays and
re-enactors from many centuries. This year however, I didn't take as many
pictures, and few of anything other than the WW2 displays.
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There were a decent number of military vehicles with both WW2 and post war.
There were also classic vehicles on show at a different part of the show
field. While wandering around the large site we caught some of the arena
displays but not all the time periods. The Romans were impressive, but there
were also medieval and American Civil War demos amongst others.
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It was moderately bright across the first half of the day, but quite windy,
which pulled the temperature down. There were a few showers too, so I made the
right choice not to camp, especially just for one night.
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There were quite few German displays, all part of the Northern WW2
Association who also put on the main WW2 battle.
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The North East Land Sea and Air Museum had their Morane Bullet replica on show
too. It is now heading towards completion with the tail and one wing now
covered in fabric.
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At 2:30pm, we took "Jessie" over next to the arena to form up for
the convoy around the arena. The convoy started at 2:45pm and since we were at
the front of the queue, we led the convoy around for four laps.
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Late afternoon was time for the battle, and after some Russian troops went on
patrol, the German forces began to marshal their troops. It was also around
this time that the light rain started to get heavier. We watched from under
umbrellas as the Germans battled the Russians and then the Allies started
advancing across the field with the Chaffee tank and Jeeps. It was then that
the heavy rain became torrential and my daughter and I ran for cover in the
Jeep. The battle continued for a while but the rain was so heavy, and the
crowds were all running away from the arena, the pyro guys just blew
everything up and called the war won!!
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I filmed the Chaffee for a little while to catch it firing, and the fast frame
rate of the video caught a nice sequence of the main gun firing.
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The soggy troops trudged back to their camps and a little while later the rain
stopped and the sun came out. We went for one last wander around the site, and
everywhere we went, re-enactors of all eras were hanging clothes out to dry on
guy ropes and fences. We then packed up the Jeep flags and follow me sign and
set off home, rather tired and needing a rest before the Tanfield Railway trip
the next day.
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