Beltring 2002

Small Scale Scene Events Pages-
War & Peace 2002

At "War & Peace" in Beltring

The name of the little village of Beltring may not mean anything to a lot of people, but for the military vehicle enthusiast it has turned into something of a destination for pilgrimage in recent years. Beltring is situated in the South East corner of England, often referred to as the 'Garden of England', in the county of Kent. The nearest major towns are Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone. The Whitbread Hop Farm is a museum and leisure facility, which for one week a year, hosts the gathering of the Invicta Military Vehicle Preservation Society. Over the last ten years or so it has grown and grown so that this year, with a show lasting for 5 days as opposed to the usual 3 before that, and with some 3000 military vehicles coming along to the rally. Held at the end of July it always seems to attract superb weather, and the clouds of dust thrown up by wheels and tracks are a common part of the proceedings.

The area was once at the heart of the business of growing Hops, used in making beer. It is not the business it once was, as mechanisation has taken over. When I was young, being born and brought up only a few miles away, the families from the East End of London would come down to Kent and Sussex for their annual holidays, and spend it working picking hops. I can remember the small caravans kept in Hop Fields on farms around our house where families lived fro those summer weeks. That in itself all seems hard to imagine now in the days of package holidays to Spain being so commonplace, but nevertheless that is what is used to be like. The Hop Farm was a large farm, run by the Whitbread brewery, and where I can remember seeing the buildings full of people during the season. One of the strangest things for my son to deal with was looking at old photos in the museum which I had to admit to him were within my own memory. The surrounding countryside is very much a rural area, with Hop fields still there to this day.

But at the end of July, some other memories must be stirred, with the sights and sounds of Dodge Weapons Carriers, Jeeps, Deuce-and-a-halfs, Bedfords, Scammells and so many other WW2 military vehicles driving along the same country roads that they did 60 years ago. More unusually I suppose though are the addition of Kubelwagens and Schwimwagens alongside Ural trucks which we would not have wanted to see here only a few short years ago. My intention in this article is to give a flavour of what has been there to see over a number of years rather than covering the 2000 show by itself. A show that has grown to what must now be about the largest annual gathering of privately owned military vehicles anywhere in the world.

There are certain elements of the show which go together to make its regular ingredients. As well as the huge gathering of vehicles, filling a number of large fields at the farm, there is an arena which is the stage for vehicle parades, battle re-enactments and the closing spectacular of car crushing by the tanks. Add to this a vast area of traders, where you can buy toys and books, deactivated guns of all types, uniforms, a new carburettor for a jeep or even complete vehicles from trucks to tanks and APCs. There is a fun fair, usually a large modelling tent, the Hop Museum itself along with its animal park for the children, face painting, food and drink, plus the heavy horses of the Whitbread brewery, along with the large drays (Beer wagons). Cart rides and helicopter rides are all regular parts of the show, which can often be a welcome distraction that will allow you to persuade your wife and children that there is something for 'them to do' while you look at the main attraction.

As well as the hundreds of Jeeps, Dodges and GMC 6x6 trucks which are always present, a walk around the fields will always throw up other interesting vehicles on show. Over the years there have always been the unexpected stars which stick in the memory. Sometimes these are armoured and sometimes not. Either way, the opportunity to photograph them in detail is unsurpassed. For the modeller, the chance to see the colours and camouflage patterns that have been faithfully reproduced is perfect. There are many examples which come to mind but let me list a few no-armoured vehicles just as a cross section. A Matador gun tractor in Mickey Mouse Ear pattern; CMP Bofors tractor complete with towed Bofors gun. and, a Morris Bofors Quad to compare with it; WW1 Model T machine gun carrier; M54 armoured Gun truck as used in Vietnam; M923 5ton truck (may be common in the USA but a rare sight here in the UK); complete Scammell Tank Transporter (albeit seen with the strange load of a BMP1!); LRDG Ford and Chevrolet; and all were amazed the restored Sdkfz9 Famo from Kevin Wheatcroft.

Other interesting machines I've spotted over the years have been a Dutch DAF armoured car in white UN finish, Russian Ural 357's, a FROG 7 (though without missile), BTR 60PB, 122mm 2S1, 152mm 2S3, Berlin Brigade markings on both Chieftain and Ferret, GAZ 67 and MAN trucks. Recent years have seen an increase in the numbers of post war US trucks on show, most still in their multi colour US camouflage schemes. Again, for those of us in the UK these are still relatively unusual so a welcome opportunity to get the colour and patterns correct on our models.

For the armour enthusiast it is always equally attractive. Over the years we have seen a Stug III; Jagdpanzer IV; numerous Hetzers (including a rare Pak 40 armed command version in 2000), LVT4(A); Israeli 160mm mortar carrier ½-track; M18 Hellcat: M4A4; M5A1 and M3A3; Leopard 1; and also at the 2000 show, 3 German ½-tracks which must be about the ultimate in restoration. A 251/1D along with both 'Neu' and 'Alte' versions of the 250. Fully equipped interiors made these a joy to see, and also a chance to see them being run around the arena in battle re-enactment.

The arena is always a focal point, with something going on in there all the time. Recent years have seen an expansion of the battle re-enactments, with more impressive pyrotechnics used each time. Seeing the Famo come in and hitch up to a Panzer IV for recovery under fire was neatly done, and US forces coming in with Sherman, M18, M5 and jeeps along with their accompanying infantry. There is usually a Vietnam display, again with trucks and infantry, along with one or two little Mechanical Mules and MUTTSs. In earlier years I remember being impressed by seeing a 50+ year old Scammell dig itself down in the earth to its axles as it managed to pull its more modern counterpart, a 30ton Warrior Recovery vehicle, clear across the arena.

The tanks are kept mainly in the arena itself, though not exclusively, and they always get your attention. I can well remember a Leopard 1 being driven a high speed around the circuit, with turret traversing and blank main gun rounds being fired. I have to admit that the first shot, with no warning being given and the tank very close to where I was standing, made me jump somewhat! The close of the show is always a case of some old cars being towed in and then the tank and other AFV drivers can really enjoy themselves as they use their heavy mounts to crush the 'target' flat - literally! It is always impressive to watch, and in the last couple of years they have changed the area used for the arena so it is now much larger, and there is a high earthen bank down one side for the crowd to stand on and all get a good view.

It has grown enormously in recent years, and there is now no way you could get round and see everything there within one day. Either you must allow more time or be very selective in what you go looking for. I have not by any means included it all, but I hope I have been able to convey a flavour of this huge MV gathering in this quiet corner of Kent each year. If you have any interest in 'green machines', then this is definitely the place to be at the end of July 2003 when the next "War & Peace" show will be held.