This past weekend, the Redline Home Guard took part in The Great Tommy Sleep Out at the stunning and historic Howbery Park – and what a weekend it was! Not only did we brave a freezing -3°C night under canvas, but we also put on our largest public display to date, drawing in hundreds of visitors and raising an incredible £1,130 for Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) to help support homeless veterans.
Sleeping Out for a Worthy Cause
We set up our 1940s-style encampment in the shadow of the grand Howbery Manor House, recreating wartime conditions as authentically as possible. With only vintage canvas tents, thick woollen blankets, and period-correct kit, our team faced the chill head-on – and didn’t just hunker down for the night.
In true Home Guard fashion, we ran a night stag rota — two members on sentry duty at a time, keeping watch in two-hour shifts right through until morning. It was cold, quiet, and absolutely part of our commitment to living history — experiencing just a taste of what our wartime predecessors would have endured.
Before bedding down, we all shared an evening meal of hot stew, cooked and heated through on the wood burner – simple, hearty, and very welcome as the frost crept in. The next morning, after a long, cold night, we thawed ourselves out with a proper Saturday fry-up – sizzling sausages, eggs, and bacon to warm the bones and fuel us for the busy day ahead.
Stepping Back in Time
Across Friday and Saturday, visitors were treated to a truly immersive wartime experience. Our encampment stretched further than ever before, thanks to the space afforded to us at Howbery Park, and it was absolutely packed with kit, weaponry, and specialist displays.
On show, we had:
- Spigot Mortar
- Vickers and Browning Machine Guns
- Bren Guns, Lewis Gun, and a B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle)
- A full bomb disposal and medical equipment display
- A range of personal weapons and equipment, including rifles, Sten Guns, and Thompson SMGs and radios.
It was our most ambitious display to date, and the reaction from the public made it all worthwhile. It was brilliant to see so many people – of all ages – exploring the displays, chatting with us about the equipment, and hearing the stories behind the history.
The Pillbox: A Hidden Gem Revealed
A major feature of the event was the WWII pillbox, recently uncovered by the Redline team after being hidden beneath decades of undergrowth. Perched beside the River Thames, it was once part of Stopline Red and now serves as a living relic of wartime Britain.
We restored the interior to reflect its wartime role, with Bren gun positions, paraffin lamps, and ammo boxes. We even played an authentic sound recording in the box to offer visitors a rare opportunity to step inside a real defensive structure and experience a taste of what it would’ve been like during Britain’s darkest days.
Thank You!
A huge thank you to everyone who came down, chatted with us, took part, and donated. Your support helped us raise over £1,130 – and donations are still open for anyone who wants to chip in:
https://socialsync.app/fundraiser/cr-5lv43zdmly4y5
Massive thanks also to Howbery Park Estate for welcoming us and giving us the space to bring history to life on such a meaningful scale.
One response
Magical event, I am proud to be a member of this group