August 2010 Newsletter, Written by Alan Westlake. Chairman of the Association
Shootings in Cumbria
I would like to offer on behalf of the Sportsmans Association’s Council, our deepest sympathy to the many people affected by the recent mass murder and woundings in Cumbria. Nothing that I or anybody else can say will do anything to put right the wrongs done or the lives ruined by the actions of one Madman.
I will refrain from saying anything further until all the facts and reports have been completed and are available for all to see, so that anything said can be as a result of knowledge of the facts and not as a result of emotional fervour.
Re-enactment
The sportsman’s Association has many re-enactment groups and individuals in our membership. Some join to support the Association and its aims, realising that we are probably the only association likely to fight their corner if undue restrictions are being suggested by the Government on their use and possession of Firearms. The other Associations have other interests as their core business, whereas we were formed solely
to fight for “Fair and effective firearms legislation”. While others just need insurance for when they go out “re-enacting”, and have probably not fully considered the implications of what else we do for our members.
Maiden Newton at War
I met a couple of Re-enactors who visited my stand during the Phoenix meeting in May. They take the part of German SS Troopers and mentioned that they were going to Dorset in a few weeks to “Maiden Newton at War”. Maiden Newton is a small Dorset village about ten Miles from Dorchester. Subsequently, while visiting Shield Ranges at Litton Cheney, to deliver some Buckmarks, combined with a visit to my Brother who lives in a village close by, I saw an advert for “Maiden Newton at War” at the side of the Road near Dorchester and this spurred me to look it up on the web. On hearing that there would be World War 2 Tanks and Trucks and Soldiers, my Grandson Jim (age 6) decided that we would go.
Tanks and Trucks
We knew that the Tanks and Trucks would be leaving at 10.30 to go to the Dorchester Carnival, so we arrived at 10am and walked from the Car park at the top of the hill above the Village, down a narrow lane past all the Trucks and Jeeps and Half Tracks and Tanks not to mention dozens of motor cycles. We sat on the wall at the bottom of the hill and waited for them to start up and move off. Having served as a Tank Mech. in a REME LAD with a Tank Regiment, (Centurion and Conqueror), I knew what to expect when they all started up. Jim did not, and his face was a picture, big round eyes and open mouth.
After the Vehicles had left, we went to look at the static displays of vehicles and equipment, both Allied and German. Jim was able to talk to people in authentic period uniform and equipment and to handle it as well. For instance he was invited into a sandbag Sanger containing a Bren Light Machine gun and did some dry firing with it. To his credit I noticed him looking into the breech first.
Living History
I have never given much thought to Re-enactment, I have always been a Competition Target shooter and it never crossed my mind what an important part of our children’s education this living history is. In this case it was solely WW2 period, but it would equally apply to re-enactors from other periods in our country’s history. Where else could our Children see the weapons and equipment our Fathers used? Where could they talk to so many people who have researched and studied the subject and were so knowledgeable about it? Certainly not in today’s Schools, where the very thought of someone turning up with a Lee Enfield and Bren gun for the children to see and handle would throw the average Teacher into a state of hysteria.
Having been round all the static displays it was time for some food at “Renes Cafe” where the staff were dressed as per the TV series, this was next to the Radio Control Warship tank, where Jim spent some time piloting a radio controlled Tug, as I talked to my friends from Bisley who were dressed as SS Troopers and were taking part in the “Battle” that afternoon.
Jim had a good look at their Machine Pistols and we explained how they work. Well he wouldn’t miss the opportunity, would you?
The Battle
The “Battle” was due to start at 2pm (1400hrs) in military speak. So Jim and I made our way to the Display ground in good time. Imagine if you will, a tree lined lane, leading downhill from left to right, on the other side of the lane, behind the hedge is an open field, sloping down gently in front of you for about twenty five meters, to a white tape on electric fence stakes, positioned from left to right at the rear edge of a level strip about ten meters wide and about forty meters long, at the far edge, as the slope dropped away into a valley about a quarter of a mile wide forming a superb natural arena, the Germans were dug in, facing down the hill. Jim and I sat on the fence line at the right hand end of the German line, where they had an Anti Tank Gun dug in. At the other end of their line was an Anti Aircraft Gun, with the infantry between the two guns, in trenches with sand bag cover on the downhill facing side. They were forming a protective screen for a Panzer regiment stopped in the village behind, due to lack of fuel, and were expecting the Allies to attack from across the valley.
Strangely enough, smack on 1400hrs, British Paratroopers arrived, advancing from the right flank, to position their Fire Observation Officer (FOO), who would direct the Artillery fire as required. The Germans spotted them and opened fire, some of the SS troopers moved to the right flank doing a leopard crawl fire with movement, past a wide eyed Jim only a few yards away. The Morter on the left flank fired over the heads of the German Troops on to the Para position below and to the right, which erupted into a series of violent explosions, with clouds of flying dust and dirt. The Paratroopers were repulsed, and evacuated their wounded on a Willys Jeep.
The FOO however had remained hidden in position and directed Artillery fire onto the German line. The explosions in the valley just in front of them were BIG, I was most impressed, especially when they hit the Mortar position on the left flank and sand bags flew about twenty feet into the air.
After the Artillery had done their work, American Infantry arrived in three Half Tracks and commenced a Frontal assault. This was also repulsed by concentrated fire and stick grenades from the German trenches.
At this point the RAF arrived in the form of a Spitfire, which made strafing passes along the German line from about two hundred feet or less, This occupied the Germans for long enough for the Americans in front and the British Paras from the right to be able to get in amongst them and roll up their flank and take the field.
This was a really superb display, in a wonderful natural arena, of how the weapons were used during the Second World War, and far from “Glorifying” War, I felt quite moved by it. It reminded me that these soldiers in front of us, These German Soldiers who from the start we knew were going to lose, were, like our soldiers then, and like our soldiers now, were fighting not for the Fatherland or for the Politicians, but for each other. Soldiers may be sent to war by Politicians, sometimes for all the wrong reasons. The Soldier does not have any choice in the matter. But he fights for his Mates not for some Power hungry Suit in Westminster. The experience of Soldiers has ever been thus, you can rely on your Comrades but not your Government. I hope that will change in the future.
I would like to express my thanks (and Jim’s) to the organisers and all the People who worked so hard and spent their hard earned cash equipping themselves and gave their time, to make the weekend such a memorable experience for so many people. I am just so amazed that a Sleepy little Dorset village could present such a superb event. I suppose the Great Dorset Steam Fair started rather like this, and look at it now. I wonder what Maiden Newton at War 2020 will be like?
Firearms authorised to be purchased or acquired on your FAC
When I was in the Army I met many Quartermasters, these are the people who look after the Units equipment supplies, from Bullets to Boots, or the Technical Quartermaster looked after the supply of Vehicles and spares. I found they generally came in two types. The first type would only issue equipment if you could convince him that you were authorised by regulations and were in dire need. “If stores were here to be issued out they would be called Issues not Stores!” The other type would say” Right, you have convinced me you need it and I know of no regulation that says you can’t have it, so here it is”.
I find much the same pattern with Firearms Licensing Office Managers. Some understand that we are the Public and that they are a Public Servant, so they try to administer the Firearms Act in an efficient and reasonable way. The others seem to have a belief that their job in life is to reduce the number of firearms in the hands of the general public, regardless of efficiency and cost to the shooting public and the taxpayer.
For instance, some forces have a “Policy” that if you have a variation on your FAC that has not been used when renewal of the FAC is due, they will not allow that variation to be passed on to your new certificate, but you must re-apply after the new certificate arrives, costing you a further fee and themselves further work. This is “Policy” mind you, NOT a requirement in Law. It’s not even in Home Office Guidance to the Police. (This is the “Bible” they use, which says what they would like the law to be, but not necessarily what it is.)
If you have been borrowing a firearm but have not purchased one, you may have purchased ammunition to use in your borrowed firearm, because you are authorised to hold the ammunition by your open variation on your FAC. If this variation is removed on renewal, you are suddenly in possession of the ammunition that you didn’t use up last time you went shooting, without “Authority”, unless the police issue you with a” Permit to possess a firearm and/or ammunition” which of course is more work for them, and, because you have no firearm in which to use the ammunition, and no variation to get one, the permit will have the condition on it that ‘The ammunition to which this permit relates is for disposal only. It shall not be fired”.
What an absolute waste of taxpayers’ money and police time.
