Our Civil Defence reenactment at Wicksteed at War event , 25/26 September 2021

 

 Wicksteed at War event 

25th/26th September 2021

On a very fine weekend in Kettering, we put on our largest reenactment display to date. Sadly we ended up short on numbers so the Welfare section  and Womens (Royal) Voluntary Service parts of our original plan had to be dropped. 

The event, hosted by the Military Vehicles Trust, was held at Wicksteed Park and was free entry. They estimated that around 14,000 people came along over the two days.

 Our setup, the collapsed kharzi (Rescue section display), the white tent at the back, (HQ section display) and on the right, the Forward Medical Aid Unit display.

Our casualty in the collapsed kharzi.

Over the first couple of hours we developed a background story for our rescue display.  On hearing the four minute warning, Arnold (an original late 1960s male resusci annie) got scared and needed to nip down the garden to the kharzi which collapsed when hit by the blast of a nuclear strike.  

 

Fuelled by tobacco and gallons of tea, the Rescue section are ready to leap into action!

 

Left: Using the Tirfor winch to lift a beam of the casualty.

Right: a quick bit of first aid before moving the victim.

 

 

 

Getting Arnold on the stretcher and strapping him on with manifold webbing. Another successful rescue!

 

 

Our National Hospital Service Reserve doctor at the  

Forward Medical Aid Unit.

 

Originally we intended to set up a small First Aid Post but ended upgrading it to a Forward Medical Aid Unit. Next time we will bring more medical kit!

 

We have been invited back for 2022 and the event hopes to move back to its usual second weekend of June date. So 11th/12th June is the provisional date for next year - We'll keep you posted.