NEWSLETTER July 2010

Hot on the heels of the June Newsletter, comes the July Newsletter; this one is short as it only contains the Warning order for The Royal Gunpowder Mills event

Transport
We urgently need help with the transportation of equipment to Kelmarsh: We intend to have additional tentage by then, so all offers are gratefully received. If you can help, we can only have vehicles on site on Friday evening or very early Saturday, if you turn up later any equipment will have to be transported onto the site by hand.

Twentieth Century Warfare and Living History Society AGM

The AGM of the Twentieth Century Warfare and Living History Society is to held at 6 pm on Saturday 31st July at the Royal Gunpowder Mills.

The agenda will be circulated one week before the meeting.

You have until the Saturday before the meeting at 18:00 hours to submit any business you would like discussed, nominations for committee, to the Society Secretary, Paul Bristow, by the 26th July. Paul may be contacted at croix_de_lorraine@hotmail.com or on 01245 400795

Kit for Sale
Some of you may know Craig from the Russians; he currently has the following kit for sale:
· 3 plain imperial style gyms 48 chest £10 each
· 1919 Red Army Engineers Commander Gym, with full insignia, 40in chest £25
· WW1/RCW Kornilov Gym (Machine gunner insignia) £25
· WW1 Meshok backpack repro £10
· WW1 early Russian Gasmask Repro £5
· WW1 Russian shoulder bag repro £5
· 1915 e-tool and repro leather cover £30
· 1908 water canteen and cover £15
· Repro grey infantry budynoka size 60 £10
· Repro grey cavalry budynoka size 60 £20
· Repro summer infantry budynoka with separate stars size 60 £15
· 1918 Red Army peaked hat size 57 £10
· Cold war internal security? Peaked hat size 56 £10
· Imperial peaked hat size 59 £15
· Imperial peaked hat size 57 with original NCO cockade £15

Craig will be at Kelmarsh with his stuff: The items marked in red have already been sold.
Craig can contacted on 01724-737172, or if you prefer, you can contact me on 0208-482 6124 or by e-mail on ianskinner@blueyonder.co.uk

Forthcoming Events

2010:
17th -18th July English Heritage Festival of History Kelmarsh: I cannot get away early on Friday, so if anyone can get there early, please let me know. Last year, the beer tent was a bit of a rip off, so bring your own alcohol if you would like a drink in the evening. The shop on the Plastic Campsite; does not sell milk in one pint containers last year, so bring your own. Don’t forget that there are showers on the plastic site; the best time to use these is probably mid afternoon.

Please let me as soon as possible if you intend to come as we need this information to plan our display

Kelmarsh is one of the two most important events in our calendar, so it is vitally important that we put on the best possible display, as we are being paid. We have been thwarted in are aim of buying a new patrol tent, so we will have one two patrol tents and the officer’s tent, together with the old bell tent to provide additional accommodation and storage. If numbers permit, we will have a separate Austro-Hungarian display; a first in UK re-enactment. We are being joined by the Russians and some guests so it should be fun.

As we are not doing a skirmish or drill display, we have offered to help out the Heilbron Commando with their battle; this is open to all those with live firing rifles or carbines; if you don’t have one of these and would like to take part, please let me know.

July 24th – 25th: Glenham Hall Suffolk. We have been invited to this large Multi-period event by Event Plan support of ‘Help for Heroes’; However, as it falls between two of our most important shows of the year, we will not be putting on a display, instead, Croix de Guerre have kindly invited us along; if you want to go, I shall put you in touch with them.
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31st July -1st August: 1914-21’s WW1 event at the Royal Gun Powder Mills (Warning order enclosed ) Numbers permitting we hope to have some people portraying Arabs to tie in with the Camel .

Please note that we will be enforcing a “no anachronisms” rule; that is to say we do not want anyone randomly standing in the middle of anyone else’s display unless they would have actually been there historically: For example, an Austro-Hungarian could be in the middle of a Russian campsite as a POW, but he would not be wearing full weapons and equipment, whilst a Frenchman or Briton could be in an American display, if say, he were acting as an instructor: I hope this makes sense; It is not meant to stop people chatting with their mates on other displays, but if you wish to do so, please stay on the edge of that display.

Please let me as soon as possible if you intend to come as we need this information to plan our display

8th -9th August 2010 Blasts from the Past; As those of you on e-mail are aware, we shall not be organising a presence at this one; however, Croix de Guerre have kindly invited us along; if you want to go, I shall put you in touch with them.

8th -9th August 2010 Stratford Armouries: We have again received an invitation from the 116th Hessians to this site in the Midlands; as I reported last year, the museum is slightly strange, but we are guaranteed a warm welcome from the Pals and a nice trench system to play with. There is extensive camping adjacent woods Inc water points and toilets on site Bar and local pubs. Clay pigeon shoot for shotgun and black powder. The military museum has an "interesting" collection of items including a War Elephant Stratford Armouries; Stratford Armouries Gospel Oak Lane, Pathlow nr Stratford -on- Avon, just off the A3400.
Warks CV37 0JA tell 01789 262 468 www.stratfordarmouries.co.uk

August Bank Holiday:
In the Name of the Rose Festival Rasnov, Transylvania, 28-29 August 2010.

All places on this are now booked; if you are going and haven’t got in touch with me regarding your travel arrangements, please do so as soon as possible.

Events in the UK: If sufficient numbers, i.e. one person, would like to go to Detling; I will endeavour to arrange an invitation. .

25th-26th September: Multi-period event at the Royal Gunpowder Mills: please note change of date; this is due to an error on my part in earlier newsletters.

2011:
30th April- 1st May Schonenburg fortress Maginot Line: Those who have not gone before will not be aware what an amazing site this fortress is and that it is well worth a visit. For those not bringing authentic tents, accommodation will be in a hostel in the nearby town of Seibach and is likely to be free or at minimal cost.

2012:
28th- 29th April Zonnebekke (exact date TBC)

2014: Centenary of the Outbreak of the Great War
26th 27th April Zonnebekke (exact date TBC)
22nd-24th August 1914 Fort Liezele Belgium: One of the ring of forts defending Antwerp, sounds like a good event.

Ian Skinner
Events Co-coordinator
ianskinner@blueyonder.co.uk 0208 482 6124

1914-21

The Royal Gunpowder Mills
“1918”
31st July-1st August 2010

For the fifth year running 1914-21 and the Rifles shall be staging a World One event at this historic venue.

New attractions this year include a dogfight in the skies featuring period aircraft, a live camel and we shall again have a display by British cavalry.

We shall be hoping to focus on the Middle Eastern Campaigns and the War in the Air as well as our usual displays.

As has become traditional, we shall be staging a Barbeque for all our guests on the Friday night and for those who require it there is heated indoor accommodation. There is ample space for both authentic and non authentic camping and a decent café on site that welcomes re-enactors.

The nearby historic town of Waltham Abbey offers many welcoming pubs and local shopping and takeaways.

A History of the Royal Gunpowder Mills
From the Dutch Wars of the 1660s to 1943, The Royal Gunpowder Mills at Waltham Abbey was one of the most important suppliers of explosive to the British Armed Forces.
Guncotton was developed at Waltham Abbey, patented in 1865, then, the propellant Cordite, patented in 1889. Waltham Abbey became a leading centre of Victorian and later science and technology, but for reasons of security largely unknown to the outside world. 1914 - 1918 brought a huge upsurge in demand. The Mills increased staff numbers by around 3000 to a total of 6230. The 3000 additional workers were largely female, recruited from the surrounding area and this was a significant social phenomenon. Such was the importance of the site that in 1916 it received the only mobile anti-aircraft gun in all of south East England to defend it from Zeppelins.

A few miles away at Enfield, the Royal Small Arms Factory produced the famous Lee Enfield Rifle.

Set in 175 acres of natural parkland and boasting 21 buildings of major historic importance, the site is a mix of fascinating history, exciting science and beautiful surroundings.

Any queries, please contact Ian Skinner on ianskinner@blueyonder.co.uk or on (0044) 0208 482-6124

Directions

By Car – If coming from outside London, you will need to join the M25.
The Royal Gunpowder Mills are just off junction J26 of the M25 - Follow the A121 towards Waltham Cross, until you reach a set of traffic lights. Drive straight ahead at the lights into Beaulieu Drive, at the end of which you will find our visitor entrance.
Alternatively if approaching from the A10 follow the A121 past Waltham Cross towards Waltham Abbey. Turn left at the set of traffic lights by McDonalds into Beaulieu Drive and continue to the very end of the road for the entrance.
Parking - There is plenty of room on site for parking
By Rail - The nearest station is Waltham Cross which is a 25 minute walk or short bus ride to the site. Waltham Cross trains run half-hourly between London Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale Underground stations. There are also rail links from Bishop Stortford, Cambridge and Stansted Airport.
Railway Enquiry Line: 08457 484950
London Transport Enquiries: 020 7222 1234
By Bus - The site is just a 5 minute walk from Waltham Abbey Town Centre which is served by the following local buses:
21, 212, 213, 240, 250, 505 and 517.
Travel line Enquiries: 0870 608 2608