World @ War – Fort Nelson

Way back in 2006 I purchased my first digital camera, a Canon PowerShot S2 with fixed lens. The first event where I used the camera was the World @ War, hosted by the Royal Armouries, Fort Nelson, Porchester,  this being an annual living history event with the focus on World War 2.

Held for three days over the Easter Holiday weekend this was in my view one of the premier events of its type, being filled with a fascinating collection of reenactors and authentic period vehicles. Artillery firing demonstrations were very much a part of the entertainment as was a battle between Germans and Allied troops to close each day.

Looking back at my notes for the 2006 event the highlights were:

• Burma displays – including a Chindit Mule
• British Sexton self-propelled artillery
• Underground German hospital
• British searchlight, a Bruce Peebles Mk 1.

All of the above, and more,  are featured in the images below so please take a moment to get a better idea of what this event was about.

Fort Nelson
Fort Nelson is one of 5 forts built in the second half of the 1800s against an invasion by the French. The invasion never came of course and as such these defences became know as Palmerstone’s Follies after the prime minister at the time of their inception.

Naval gun 14 inch Mk VII, used on KGV class battleships – British

14″ practice shell – British

Fort nelson,looking South West

Around the Site

K Rations

Opel Blitz 1.5 ton truck, 1943 model – German

Metropolitan Vickers Projector Mk 5 – British, 1939

Morris Commercial Mk III No 5 Tractor 4×4 field artillery tractor – British

BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun – British

Somewhere in the Ardennes

German filed hospital – WW2

Sexton & 5.5 inch Medium Gun

Sexton 25pdr self-propelled artillery – British

International built version of the M3 half-track, designated as an M9A1 – American

Sexton 25pdr self-propelled artillery – British

German filed hospital – WW2

German filed hospital – WW2

German filed hospital – WW2

BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun – British

Mercedes truck – German

RAF LAC Auxiliary in Heavy dress Uniform – British

Cavalry man – Russian WW2 with Cossack style hat and sabre

Big Red 1, Easy Company HQ – American

International built version of the M3 half-track, designated as an M9A1 – American

Sexton 25pdr self-propelled artillery – British

Big Red 1, Easy Company HQ – American

Morris Commercial Mk III No 5 Tractor 4×4 field artillery tractor – British

Bruce Peedles (searchlight projector) Mk 1 – British, 1939

Willys Jeep – American

Sexton 25pdr self-propelled artillery – British

International built version of the M3 half-track, designated as an M9A1 – American

Mercedes truck – German

German filed hospital – WW2

Dodge T211-WC18 Ambulance – American

Jeep, licence built by Hotchkiss – French

Bruce Peedles (searchlight projector) Mk 1 – British, 1939

Morris Commercial Mk III No 5 Tractor 4×4 field artillery tractor with 25 Pdr – British

GMC CCKW-353 Deuce and a Half – American

Sexton 25pdr self-propelled artillery – British

German infantry with Panzerfaust

Morris Commercial Mk III No 5 Tractor 4×4 field artillery tractor – British

International built version of the M3 half-track, designated as an M9A1 – American

Meg the mule representing mules used in Burma by the Chindits – British

Jeeo – British

Mercedes truck – German

International built version of the M3 half-track, designated as an M9A1 – American

Jeeo – British

Jeep – British

German infantry with Panzerfaust

Kaiser Jeep Corp REO M35 with M109 Shop Van body – American, c1950s

British convoy, Jeep x 2 & International half-track – British

Jeep – British

Chevrolet CMP 4×4 – Canada

Bedford MWD 15-cwt truck – British

Mercedes truck – German

Morris Commercial Mk III No 5 Tractor 4×4 field artillery tractor with 25 Pdr- British

Bedford MWD 15-cwt truck – British

Bedford MWD 15-cwt truck – British

Bedford MWD 15-cwt truck – British

Supermarine Spitfire
Very welcome was the prototype Spitfire replica ‘K5054’ owned by Solent Sky and representing the first machine to fly from Eastleigh airfield on 5th March 1936.

Battle
Taking place over all three days of the event, the battle was located somewhere in Northern France in the second half of 1944 following the Normandy invasion. British, American and French Resistance faced units of the German Wehrmacht fighting for control of the northern ramparts of the fort. The battle was evenly balanced with German forces ‘winning’ on the first day but then leading on to Allied success on day two and conclusive Allied victory on the third and final day.

And finally….
After 2006 the show was dropped for reasons I can only guess at, but cost and health and safety seem likely culprits. I have very fond memories of the World @ war event and have enjoyed reviewing these images very much.

And as for Fort Nelson, it is still very much worth a visit housing as it does a port of the Royal Armouries collection and still playing host to other varied living history events.