A Military Odyssey

After a COVID-19 enforced break in 2020 Military Odyssey returned to the Kent County Showground for the August Bank Holiday weekend. Apart from the now usual advice to social distance where possible and sanitise hands there was no indication that the content of the show would be affected by COVID-19, regardless I could not help wondering if the show content would be reduced and if there would be enough to Tony, Brian and I occupied for all 3 days.

So what did we find when the gates opened? As usual the show ground was brimmed with reenactment groups and arena displays. Admittedly there was a smattering of open spaces which had been filled in previous years and the number of battles in the Battle Field was limited to just two but this was made up for by an increase in the number of Arena displays. Traders were plentiful and possibly the number was even greater than usual.

As always this page is a vehicle for my snaps, any errors or omissions in the supporting text is entirely down to me and should you spot any please do let me know and I’ll be happy to fix them.

Around the Show

As usual an amazing variety of reenactors were camped both around the show and wandering around among us visitors; these ranged included Queen Victoria, World War I, World War II and Vietnam War, including peace protesters, just to give a balanced view.

The Southern Skirmish Association

SoSKan are an American Civil war reenactment and living history association and a firm favourite at Military Odyssey. The main aims of the group include to educate and to honour those who fought and died. It is important to remember that this was a civil war, in this war there were no bad guys just soldiers who believed their cause was the correct one.

The Battle

Just outside Gettysburg is the small town of Cashtown, where a minor engagement took place on 30th June 1863, just a day before the pivotal main clash we now know as the Battle of Gettysburg. This is what is best termed as a meeting engagement as troops from both sides collided on the road to Gettysburg…

Prison break

Deep in the woods, we find a hastily setup Union prison camp. All seems well until the Confederate prisoners, their moral still high, begin to show defiance by singing one of their battle songs…

The Die Hards

Regular visitors to Military Odyssey are The Die Hards, portraying the life of the Victorian soldier in all respects and not just battles. This year the company were training in and around their camp, showing and demonstrating demonstrating just how well the Victorian soldier was trained.

Very much tied in with the military training was physical fitness and we were treated with a display of original Victorian PT.

Moving on to day two of Military Odyssey, we witnessed the Sunday service, all evidence of just how dedicated the group is to portraying the life of the Victorian soldier.

The Warwicks

The Warwicks portray the Royal Warwickshire Regiment soldier from 1914 to 1918 and also from the South Africa War of 1899-19021, in this case the group was portraying the latter period.

The group were not involved in any battles in the main arena, rather they put on a splendid display of drill and parade around their own encampment. Plenty of time was available to examine closely their equipment and ask questions about the period they were portraying.

WWI

Representing WWI, were two ‘trench experience’ opportunities, one run by the historian Andy Robertshaw as a part of his Centre for Experimental Military. as well as trench systems, a bunker was included, together with an elevated machine gun position and recorded sounds of battle. Both trenches were excellent, with tours from extremely knowledgeable guides and if one stood quietly in the trench in the woods, one could almost imagine and hear the soldiers waiting for the whistles to be blown, before they went over the top.

And Finally….

So that was Military Odyssey after an enforced absence of a year, and was it as good as pre-Covid…? You bet it was, despite being at the show for the full 3 days, we could have stayed for a 4th day and still been enthralled & entertained!

Well done Military Odyssey, and a BIG thanks to all those involved in making it happen, both organisers, reenactment groups and volunteers!