ALDERSHOT GARRISON SHOW 2011
Review and all photography by Simon Fenwick
To access full photo galleries, click on the coloured links below:
To access full photo galleries, click on the coloured links below:
In the early years of the 20th Century, the British Army came together in Rushmoor Arena at Aldershot, the Home Of The British Army, to give massive displays with riders on horseback, displays of precision and patriotic splendour. These shows eventually developed into the Army Shows of the 1960s and 1970s when Aldershot still had a massive garrison. Being of a certain age, I still well remember the huge displays on Queens Parade where the whole array of Regiments would show off their wares with all the vehicles in the inventory. Centurion tanks, Saladin and Saracen armoured cars, Stalwarts, Ferrets, they were all there along with the more mundane but equally necessary Land Rovers and the famous Bedford RL three tonners. As a boy I tried to hard to do as the soldiers did and haul myself up into the back using the rope that always hung from the top.
These days, as we are all aware, times are very tight for the British Forces with constant Defence Cuts and heavy commitments, not least in Afghanistan. For that reason, despite having been revived in recent years, the Army Show was dropped in 2010 due to those commitments. However, in 2011 the show made a comeback in the form of the Aldershot Garrison Show. Held over a single day and with free entry, there were high expectations for a big crowd on the day. The organisers must be overjoyed at the overwhelming success that resulted with the car park totally full and thousands of people of all ages milling around.
Most of the branches of the Army were represented. Infantry, Royal Engineers, REME, Royal Artillery, Royal Armoured Corps, RAMC, Royal Logistic Corps, Guards, Royal Signals. All had brought along examples of their assets. Those assets, in the shape of Challenger Main Battle Tank, AS 90 SPG, Warrior and Scimitar could all be examined ‘up close and personal’ with some being fully open for kids of all ages to clamber over and into. There were also examples of the mighty vehicles used by the RLC to keep the Army and its vehicles provisioned.
If there weren’t vehicles to look at, there were demonstrations of medical operations to squirm at, and assault courses to tire yourself out on. The RD Dive Team brought one of their training dive tanks and held the children’s attention with a diver playing noughts & crosses! It was a delight to meet and chat to Pte Way and his IED dog Mr.Evs who was fresh out of training and will soon be out there sniffing out those perilous weapons laid to trap our gallant soldiers. Just across from meeting them, you could see for yourself exactly what an IED is. The Royal Engineers had one on display and there was a constant crowd of onlookers as it was described.
Elsewhere, one could meet and greet representatives from the Army Bobsleigh Team and many of the branches of the Army’s love of sports in all its forms.
Elsewhere, one could meet and greet representatives from the Army Bobsleigh Team and many of the branches of the Army’s love of sports in all its forms.
On the other side of Queens Parade could be found rows of stalls where wallets could be emptied buying everything from a camo jacket to a bag of sweets. It was good to see a healthy trade being done by the Help For Heroes stand, leading to yet more funds for this incredible charity. There were also fairground rides and plenty of things to keep the children amused.
There was also a nice selection of Historic Military Vehicles giving a good idea of days gone by.
There was also a nice selection of Historic Military Vehicles giving a good idea of days gone by.
Not far away though was the Trials Development Unit with examples of the Mastiff, Husky and Coyote. The most modern vehicles in the Army’s arsenal in Afghanistan.
On the subject of that theatre, in the car park the RAF had flown in one of their mighty Chinook helicopters from nearby Odiham. The guys from 27 Sqn had permanent long queues of visitors wanting to go aboard and heard the story of this remarkable helicopter. Whether it be taking troops into battle, or flying out injured personnel, they are a vital piece of equipment and their crews and very much unsung heroes of the conflict. Back in November 2010 I was lucky enough to fly with a crew from A Flt on their pre-deployment training. That particular crew have just returned from yet another tour. It is when you know guys serving out there personally that it brings things home to you. Unfortunately, due to flight considerations, they had to leave Aldershot early to get back to their base, but it was a delight to have them there and a big crowd came over to the car park to see them depart. (Hope the pasties went down well guys!)
During the day there was an extensive programme of events in the arena. These kicked off with a parachute drop by the Princess Of Wales’s royal Regiment Parachute Display Team. They were followed by The Coldstream Guards Drum Platoon who had recently played at the Queen’s Birthday Celebrations ‘Trooping The Colour’. Finally before the lunchbreak the Adjutant General’s Corps Band entertained with music and marching.
In the afternoon, there was a display from the Royal Army School Of Physical Training, with their Edwardian Display. Oh how I remember the old PT hall at the end of Queen’s Avenue, when I was a schoolboy at the old and long gone Officer’s Children’s School on Hospital Hill. Those medicine balls were mighty heavy!
Unfortunately, I missed the majority of the Flying Gunners Motorcycle Display as I was covering the Chinook departure, but having seen them in the past I know how much skill goes into their display. I did however catch the final car leap.
Unfortunately, I missed the majority of the Flying Gunners Motorcycle Display as I was covering the Chinook departure, but having seen them in the past I know how much skill goes into their display. I did however catch the final car leap.
When I read about the Aldershot Units Gun Run, I was imagining something along the lines of the famous (say it quietly!) Navy exercises from the Royal Tournament. That is with real cannons! This though was a bit different with huge tyres for the wheels, telegraph poles for the barrels and three 40 gallon oil drums as the frame. Teams from 4Regt, RMP and 10 and 27 Regts RLC competed for the honour of getting their ‘gun’ to the far end of the course, which included clambering through one of the MAN trucks. There they had to rebuild the gun, dismantled it again and load the whole lot into the truck. It looked exhausting and 27 Regt – fortunately, the closest to me for photography, came out the winners.
With the afternoon drawing to a close there were only two more arena events, the first of which was a performance by The Soldiers. These guys have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for service charities through the sales of their CDs and it was great to see them.
Bringing the day to a close was the Armed Forces Day Celebration and Final Parade which included all the bands and units which took part in the day as well as veterans and members of the Royal British Legion. With the salute taken, a fitting end was brought to a very successful day. With there being free entry for all, the show could not have happened without the massive support from many people and organisations. Well done to them for that support. Let’s hope that the success means that the show will return. But more than that, let’s hope for the safety of all your serving soldiers as they serve their country so gallantly.
