Postcard from Dover.

Another year another trip to Dover (actually there are usually two but we were away on an escapade for the spring open day). This one is more a few postcards...

Mini-Western heights. Bit too small for 6mm wargames. Damn shame those large buildings in the centre have long been demolished. Even as late as the sixties I understand a lot more original features remained.

Napoleon has tweeted! 

The skirmish of day one kicked off with us emerging from the cantonments and trading a few vollies before the redcoats retreated up to the main open area with us following, each on one slope we went into open order.. but it began to drag a little as both sides had a few misfires and none of the British seemed to want to die so that we could then advance and capture/defeat the outnumbered survivors, in the end we just went in and their colour was captured! (with prior agreement) HURRAH FOR FRANCE!

As well as ourselves and the British there was a group of various WWII Germans. I chatted with them and one subject was the recent gutter press outrage about NAZIS at the National trust! After ONE person complained about people in German uniforms being at a World war two event. What did she expect? One of the guys here had just been asked some leading questions by a man who was standing there with his phone set on 'record'.

  I recently saw such an event advertised as featuring 'Allied and other re-enactors'. Other? Other?? Wonder who that could be.

 Must be Saturday we don't have our big coats on.

After a trip into town for dinner by the little harbour and quite a dry and mild night the rain came and would pretty much carry on until five minutes after the event ended. The firegrate was moved under the awning causing steam to rise off the top. There can be a certain cosiness to rainy days as everyone huddles under an awning until its time to march out.

The casements became the centre of events especially with their supply of tea and cakes although the tunnels were also dry and worth a visit.. and of course the show had to go on, skirmish at the time advertised! it was still rainy but I managed to get more shots off than the day before but of course it was the Brits time for revenge and we were soon all dead except for the drummers.
..and thus ended the day, and the year for 45eme events. wet tents were taken down, hands were shaken, hugs were given. Next year the drums are already sounding for Eggmuhl in Bavaria (1809), my favourite Napoleonic year!