Our final scheduled event of the season saw the Redline Home Guard attend Wallingford Back to the Forties weekend. The event gave us another fantastic opportunity to set up our field office display. It allowed us to transport visitors back in time to the Home Guard’s role during World War II.
Bringing History to Life
Our field office display was once again the centerpiece of our setup. It was packed with authentic WWII-era equipment. The display included weapons and supplies used by the Home Guard during ww2. Visitors had the chance to explore a variety of artifacts, providing a glimpse into what life was like for the men who stood ready to defend Britain on the home front.
Northover Projector Demonstration
One of the highlights of our weekend was demonstrating the Northover Projector in action. For those unfamiliar, the Northover was a simple but effective anti-tank weapon used by the Home Guard during WWII. We fired off a few ‘bangers’ as part of the demonstration, and the reaction from the crowd was fantastic! People gathered around to watch the demonstration, many intrigued by this rarely-seen piece of equipment. The bangs certainly caught the attention, drawing more and more people to our display.
This demonstration was a great way to showcase just how resourceful and inventive the Home Guard were. Visitors loved seeing the Northover Projector in action, and it added an exciting, dynamic element to our display.
Patrolling the Steam Trains
Another standout feature of the event was the vintage steam train rides throughout the day. Redline Home Guard members took on the role of wartime patrol officers, riding the trains and inspecting passengers’ ID cards—a practice that was common during the war. This added an immersive touch to the entire experience, and it went down incredibly well with the public! Many passengers played along and showed their wartime identity cards with a smile. This created a real sense of camaraderie between our team and the event-goers.
Our patrols on the trains added to the authenticity of the event, and it was wonderful to see families and fellow reenactors getting involved and enjoying the experience.
A Weekend of Wartime Spirit
Overall, Back to the Forties was a brilliant weekend packed with history, fun, and community spirit. The event offered us the chance to educate the public about the Home Guard’s crucial role during the war. It also allowed us to engage with fellow re-enactors. They are equally passionate about preserving this part of history.
We’d like to extend our thanks to everyone who stopped by our field office, watched our Northover Projector demonstration, or interacted with our train patrols. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. It’s always rewarding to see people—especially the younger generation—gaining an appreciation for the history we’re keeping alive.
A special mention goes to the event organisers for putting on such a well-run and atmospheric weekend. The steam trains, 1940s music, and everyone dressed in period attire, really made it feel like we had stepped back in time.
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