Tuesday 1 November 2011

Our World Tuesday - A Step Back in Time - Pickering War Weekend Part 2

WWSS 109
Sunday morning I set off walking from our village to the next one, roughly a mile away, to catch the bus into Pickering.  It was promising to be another lovely day in spite of the not so promising weather forecast.  Pickering was already busy with tourists and re-enactors in their costumes and uniforms.  The first photo I took was of the group on the right, then I finally spotted a German uniform, the man wearing it posed for me , then told me he represented an
WWSS 114
                                                               SS Panzer Tank Commander, Heinz Joachim Meyer, who had commanded tanks on the Russian Front for three years before being sent back to France, where he was finally killed at the Battle of the Bulge.  He looked remarkably fit and well for a ghost.  Then I met three more German soldiers, in the photo below, all SS Panzer tank drivers.  It seems most of the German contingent were at LeVisham that day. (Levisham turned into an occupied French village for the weekend!)

WWSS 111






Then I spotted my favourite car, of all the lovely old vintage cars on show during the weekend I had fallen in love with this beautiful cream coloured open topped Bentley.  I was offered a glass of wine by one of the Officers standing around it, but had to decline, I have enough problems with camera shake as it is!


WWSS 115
 It is a gorgeous car, if I ever win the lottery...!

The next photo is of the wonderful old traction engine, The Iron Maiden.
We have a traction engine show in Pickering every year, usually in September.  I remember seeing old steam rollers as a child, but nothing as splendid as this vehicle. 
WWSS 118
 There were several old style 'coppers' - 'bobbies' - policemen about, this one was keeping an eye on things with his ARP colleague, and it seems an interested lady was keeping an eye on them!


WWSS 119

WWSS 120












This Home Guard soldier is carrying a basket of Messenger (Carrier) pigeons.  During the war over 7000 pigeon fanciers handed over their birds to help with the war effort.  These heroic birds carried messages in special containers far and wide, they often flew in extreme weather, sometimes under fire, and they saved countless servicemen's lives.  Every military aircraft leaving Britain was recommended to carry two birds, in watertight baskets, in case they needed to ditch in the sea.  Pigeons were often dropped by parachute to help the war effort and large numbers died through starvation, exhaustion, exposure to harsh conditions, or killed by enemy fire.  So next time a pigeon does the dirty on your car, don't curse him, bless him instead for his ancestors invaluable service to our country.

WWSS 122

The beautiful old Chrysler in the next photo caught my husband's eye, I think he would like one just like it.  A Bentley AND a Chrysler, now that would be nice...!



WWSS 124
 The soldiers lounging on Platform 2 look rather tired, too exhausted to bother chatting up the WAAF standing beside them apparently. 
WWSS 126
The lady singing on Platform 2 was one of the many entertainers taking part in the weekend, a lot of the old and well known wartime songs were heard in the streets of Pickering, and on the station's re-enactment programme.











WWSS 131

The Combat Soldier below looks ready for action, I think he really means business and I'm glad he is on our side!  I just hope the pins in those grenades are not loose!





 The Airmen studying the map look like they just parachuted in and don't quite know where they are!  During the war most place name signs and road signs were removed, so that if the enemy succeeded in landing an invasion force, hopefully they would get lost!  I wonder how many of the indigenous population found it very hard to find their way around the country.


WWSS 130













WWSS 154

This beautifully restored wooden carriage transported travellers to Levisham (excuse me, I mean LeVisham!), Grosmont, Goathland, and Whitby during the weekend, pulled by one of the steam engines.  A lot of restoration work on carriages and engines takes place at Pickering Rail yards, carried out by dedicated volunteers and NYMR workers.  Anyone interested in getting involved should contact the NYMR Office in Park Street, Pickering.

WWSS 182




I caught up with the young Home Guard soldier who had been playing his ukelele the day before when I took his photo, camera shake, or rather wobble, caused it to come out blurred, so I took this one, I think he was on his way home.

Many men and women who gave service during the war did not receive recognition for a great many years.  The Merchant Navy and the Land Army Girls are two branches that spring to mind.  Also the women ferry pilots who delivered aircraft but had no means of defending themselves if attacked by enemy planes.  There were many others doing diverse jobs, factory workers, munitions workers, farmers, firemen, nurses and doctors, and the ordinary people who carried on and pulled together in a time of great devastation.  We owe these people and our Armed Forces a great debt of thanks for their service and sacrifice. 



Memorial Garden - Pickering Station

Memorial Plaque dedicated to Railway staff
I have made up a slide show of a number of the photo's I took over the Saturday and Sunday, of people, station scenes, steam engines and vintage cars.



For more photo's from around Our World visit


http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com



16 comments:

EG CameraGirl said...

I'm amazed at how real everything looks! I can see everyone takes this seriously...very seriously.

Gaelyn said...

Nice to see so many people participating in this deserving tribute.

I'll take the Bentley.

Vilt og vakkert said...

Heisann!

Oh, this is the event you told me about! I like this kind of war history, not the facts written for studies.
It was so nice meeting you and your husband for the first time. My eldest son came home for some hours this afternoon... when I showed him the book you gave me, he immediately sat down reading and looking at the pictures. He has a master in World Heritage from Glasgow.
Good to be home again... but no rest, 'lectures waiting' tomorrow morning.
I will join the cat blog site next Tuesday ;:OD)

Reader Wil said...

Yes! That was indeed our world! Though I was in a Japanese concentration camp in Indonesia. We were rescued by the British and escaped on English ships to Singapore in November 1945. So that's why I became Anglophile!

Arija said...

Jackie, this is such a wonderful post!!! What a tremendous turnout of historical costumes and cars. I remember the war very well and the only thing that does not ring true are the bulging paunches in those familiar uniforms. No-one, especially in a uniform, was so well nourished at the time.
Bow if you got the Bentley and himself got the Chrysler, just think of the splendid outfits you could invest in to match both of them!

Carver said...

Great shots of the reenactment. Very interesting tour from your world.

NatureFootstep said...

great shots!

Ebie said...

I love the sort of "reenactment", the classic uniforms and the old cars. It reminded me of the movies.

Hi Jackie, I am sorry about the trouble you had on my blog. Sometimes, the server is too busy, or if not, I was working on a post on my blog (maybe it has nothing to do with it). I hope it gets sorted out.

Thank you for your patience.

Hugs....
Ebie

genie said...

The young Home Guard boy is so cute all dolled up in his uniform and his uke in hand. This sounds like a wonderful get together. I would love to be there to experience it in person. My daddy was in WWI, and he never got over it. He rode horseback in helped build road and trenches in France. I was a little child during WWII, but have not studied it like WWI. Love your post. genie

Anonymous said...

What an amazing turnout! And what amazing treasures you've found - especially all the old vehicles.

Stewart M said...

Hi there - more good shots and words - although I'm surprised people want to dress up as members of the SS! Takes all sorts I suppose.

I have used up more than a few hours sitting on the beach - or just wandering the shallows looking for fish. It’s a splendid place!

Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Amazing Jackie. Do they have a re-enactment weekend every year? Seems like a wonderful idea. More fun and educational than most other events.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jackie said...

To anyone wondering, the comment I removed was from a cowardly misogynist who has been spreading his vile spam on several blogs.

LindyLouMac said...

It all looks so real, the only give away the fact the photos are in colour. Hi Jackie, I am playing catch up after the olive harvest! There was certainly lots to read and enjoy here. Guess what I have started a separate blog to share more of my photography, I hope you will be interested.

Unknown said...

Sadly the type of individual you see dressed as Germans wandering around Pickering give genuine reenactors a bad name.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...