Choose an Event
to jump to...

2010 Events List

First World War Event - 31st July & 1st August
Great War Weekend

Ninety-six years on from the start of the Great War, re-enactors and living historians will be taking part in this year's event.

Things to see and do include displays of WWI guns, fullsize replica of a WWI trench, memorabilia, drill displays, battlefield archaeology and a Dog Fight between a Nieuport 17 and a Fokker Triplane on Sunday at 3 pm (time approximate, weather permitting). Presented by the The Great War Display Team. Website: www.greatwardisplayteam.co.uk

Fokker and Nieuport 17 and Fokker Triplane Dogfight (Photo Credit: Harry Cruickshank)

Nieuport 17 and Fokker Triplane Dogfight
Photo Credit: (c) 2009 Harry Cruickshank

Munitionettes

The Royal Gunpowder Mills at Waltham Abbey was one of the most important suppliers of explosives and propellants to the British Armed Forces. WWI brought a huge upsurge in demand. The Mills increased staff 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.

Participating Groups and Displays

The Rifles Living History Society - The only UK based group which remembers the history and traditions of the British Rifle Battalions of the Great War 1914-18. Our traditions date from the riflemen of the Duke of Wellington's Peninsula Army, our motto for the thinking soldier is "Swift and Bold". (Next to the Saltpetre House) www.t8hants.tripod.com

Great War Display Team - Witness an aerial dogfight between a Nieuport 17 and Fokker Triplane with full size replica aircraft. (Sunday only, weather permitting) Aerial display.

www.greatwardisplayteam.co.uk

14-21 Society - 1914 - 21 - Portrays the armies of the First World War on the Eastern & Salonika Fronts and the Russian Civil War. We are the only UK based WWI re-enactment group that specialises in the war in the East. (Camped on Queen’s Mead) www.c20warfare.org

Croix De Guerre - The Croix de Guerre Living History Group represents French military and civilian life from 1913 to 1940, centred around its extensive collection of original weapons, kit and uniforms. Based in the south-east, the group has displayed at major WW1, WW2 and multi-period events around the UK, as well as across Europe and runs regular, succesful events in France and the UK. Members of the group have mounted an exhibition about the Fall of France which is in its second year at Newhaven Fort and are experienced public speakers to schools and clubs. Visitors will find an interesting display of artefacts and authentic cookery not often seen outside France, presented by re-enactors in uniform and costume unique in this country. (Next to the Tower) www.c20warfare.org/croixdeguerre/CDGmain.htm

Pipers from Bedford Pipe Band - Performances of evocative music of the Great War by the Pipes and Drums of the Bedford Pipe Band. Bedford did have a particularly strong association with the Highland regiments during the Great War as it was a training & transit camp for the Highland Regiments on their way to the front. Sadly a number never made it, dying in Bedford from measles against which they had no immunity, coming from the remote parts of Scotland. The Bedford Scots Society hold an annual service for them the week before Remembrance Day. (Next to the Grease Store)

Great War Society - Soldiers representing the French Army 8e ligne, an infantry regimnt from the Calais region in the Great War. www.thegreatwarsociety.com

16th Hessians - Great War rifle section of the Birmingham Pals of Imperial German soldiers portraying Großherzoglich Hessisches Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr.116.

Imperial Camel Corps - Meet Jasmine the camel and Trooper Martin in their role with the British Army fighting in the Holy Land against the Turks. (On the eastern side of Queens Mead)

7th Dragoon Guards - An informal group representing British Cavalry on the Western Front in the Great War, aiming to show that the cavalry of the period was far from obsolete, and provide a bit of glamour and entertainment at the same time. (On the west side Queen’s Mead)

Esprit De Corps & Munitionette - A British Army Recruiting Office, along with information on the role of women at Waltham Abbey during the Great War, brought to you by Esprit de Corps, and Elaine English.

Thomas Barker

Thomas Barker - He portrays a soldier of the 8th Essex Cyclist Battalion and has a bicycle in the configuration of the period and a small display of kit for the soldier of 1914.

Non-uniformed displays are also presented in the Saltpetre House:

Western Front Association - www.westernfrontassociation.com
Essex Society for Family History - www.esfh.org.uk
No Man’s Land Archaeological Group - www.no-mans-land.info

Grymm Tooms

Grymm Tooms is a UK based historical re-enactment group consisting of Grymm's World of Wonders, Tooms Medical Marvels and the Grymm-Tooms Picture Company, covering the Victorian era from 1860 - 1900. The late 19th century was a time of incredible discovery, invention and change and it is our intention to illustrate a broad spectrum of experiences throughout that period. Many of our exhibits are unique and hand made by us. We are not a 'medicine show' or 'flim-flam' artists, we are a museum, and much of what we show is about man's place in nature, his effect on it, and interpretation of it throughout the Victorian era.

www.grymmtooms.co.uk