Steam trains and the 1940s

So after going to the last event, I now officially have the 1940s reenactment bug. So the following weekend we went to another 40s event. This time held on a steam train - the Watercress Line. I fully admit to be a real geek when it comes to steam trains - LOVE them. Though I am more interested in the carriages then the actual engines. It was a fabulous event, each station had a different forties theme, and it was such fun riding up and down the line - in first class of course 😊 (every class of carriage was the same price) - getting off at the different stations and seeing what they had to offer.

As we left the first station this lady was singing "Wish me Luck" by Gracie Fields, or it might have been "We'll meet Again" by Vera Lynn. Can't remember which, but she sang it every time a train left the station!!

The carriage

A fellow passenger :)

Dancing on the platform

This station was showing homefront life

Swing dancing at the GIs station

GIs

Each 1st class carriage had a name. :)

View from the bridge across the line

The station master's room

One station had a vintage car display outside

Original 40s childrens clothes

Laundry display

The WVS clothing exchange

Waiting room

Waterloo 200 - The Battles

At last I have got around to the final post on Waterloo! The event started on the Tuesday but the actual battle re-enactments weren't until the weekend - the Friday and Saturday. The battlefield was so big that the whole event, camp and battle, took place on it, but were a good 20 mins walk apart!

The fabulous Aurora marching to battle (with my parasol :) ) 

The battle was held in the same place on both nights - a giant cornfield. Walking through it, to get to the camp followers viewing area, was... well interesting! I'm not sure if you have ever experienced walking through hip-high corn in an empire line gown!! It was a challenge to say the least!! :)

Camp followers viewing area.

Waiting for the battle to begin. The battle was essentially the same on both nights. However, viewing-wise the second one was much better as you could actually see what was going on (when there wasn't too much smoke!).  Unfortunately, on the first night, the soldiers were so far away from the spectators that smoke was all you could really see!!

The cavalry charging

British cavalry officer parading the captured French colours.

Firing the cannons!!

This was without a doubt the best reenactment that I have ever been too (despite the serious lack of traders/shops due to the extortionate price the organisers were charging for trader stands). The whole camp/battles were amazing, but it was definitely the people who made it. I saw so many friends from far and wide, many of whom I had no idea were going to attend, so it was such a wonderful surprise to see them all. 

I finish on a rather sad note, as I felt I couldn't write about Waterloo without mentioning the Canadian gentleman who very sadly died of a heart attack on the second day. None of my friends and I knew him, but it really shook everyone. It was so sad, but I hope he had a happy life, and I am glad that he was able to attend at least part of Waterloo 200, an event that (as a fellow Napoleonic reenactor) I can imagine he very much dreamed of being part of.