LARGER SCALE INVASION SERVES AS A REMINDER
22 October 2007
A VILLAGE was taken back in time at the weekend as the haunting realities of World War Two were re-enacted.
Sedgefield, County Durham, was over-run by military vehicles, weapons, soldiers and civilians dressed in wartime clothing.
The whole village became involved in the two-day event, with pubs taping up their windows as was the norm when the threat of bombs being dropped from aircraft was real.
The re-enactment was organised by Sedgefield Village Veterans, a group that was set up two and a half years ago by former servicemen living in the area.
"We did something similar a few years ago, which went down really well, but people said they wanted something bigger, so we have organised this," said Tim Spearey, from Sedgefield Village Veterans.
"We hope it will keep going for a few years now. "We hope we can educate the children that come here so that they realise just how it was back then, and that war isn't actually very nice."
Displays and re-enactments by the 100 or so people taking part were held on the village green and in and around Ceddesfeld Hall.
There was also a fly-over by a Hawker Fury plane.
Paul Bavill, events manager from Foreign Field Events, helped organise the weekend.
"We're trying to bring more events like this into Sedgefield, and we're glad with how it has gone," he said.
"It's important to show how conflicts worked, and this was of course the most famous. The war affected everybody, from young babies of four months old right up to 85-year-olds."
Any one wanting to join Sedgefield Village Veterans, can call 01740-623654 |
