JOHN SEIDTS wrote:
> So you are all saying that even in the UK there are parallels to the
> American McDonald's-Sculpted Abs, Budweiser-hewn arms, and general bovine
> physique of the typical military collector? Unfortunately, a good few of us
> overlook the most important of military vehicles in history- the Roman
> Sandal, the Brogan, or the Jump Boot. You can't really appreciate your
> deuce, jeep, or weapons carrier until you have actually done 20 miles with
> 85 lbs, ferried only by one pair of Boots, Combat.--
LMAO!!
Good one, John, and Amen to that!
I actually spit beer all over my keyboard the day I read a plaintive email from
some good ol' boy who was desperate to find a 'XXXXL battledress and web belt'
so that he could re-enact a WW2 para! My reply was polite, however... :-)
Aside from obesity, unearned rank badges, unearned decorations and unsanctioned
unit insignia, one of the things which really drives me nuts with some WW2
re-enactors is long shaggy hair and/or inappropriate facial hair and the
inevitably total lack of military bearing (which also applies to many more). If
you're going to do it at all, do it right, people! It's a mental thing (aside
from the gauntness of fear, bad food and lack of sleep, which you'll never
capture)...
John, it scares me a bit, but I kinda miss the good ol' days of towing a
fully-laden sled (crew-served weapons, ammunition, survival kit) uphill
(bothways!) in the middle of the night, through six-foot drifts, on snowshoes,
temperature -30F... sheesh!
Now, I like to RIDE, and tend to hibernate in winter... :-)
Herr Oberstkettenkradfixennführer schrieb:
> You are right, too. Not only the people, some vehicles, too were overloaded
> with every kind of equipment the owner has.
Andreas (and Robin), I agree to some extent, although you have to admit that
some of the 'kitting out' was outstanding. I refer in particular to displays
such as that put on by the LRDG boys, as well as individual vehicles such as
Mike Ebeling's superb Otter Reconnaissance Car.
Overall, at least at Beltring, I had no reservations about most of this
activity, given that it (mostly) represented a total commitment to the subject
at-hand, and was (mostly) researched, assembled and displayed at the cost of a
great deal of time and money. For better or worse, I'm one of those who would
rather see a vehicle kitted out as it would have been used - and preferably by a
specific unit, with documentation - rather than one which is displayed in the
form (or better than) in which it left the factory.
Andreas, that you were willing - nay, eager - to get your mount FILTHY, meant
everything! Kudos also to the guy who took his halftrack through the mud bog
every day as well - there are the fellows who truly ENJOYED their MVs!
Regards,
Geoff Winnington-Ball
MAPLE LEAF UP! ==>
Zephyr, Ontario, Canada
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Maple Leaf Up - The Canadian Army Overseas in WW2
http://www.mapleleafup.org
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1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment
http://www.1cacr.org
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