Walk through history at this year’s White Horse Military Show

The White Horse Military Show, described as “an immersive living museum” by organisers, will see over 40 living history groups, vintage traders and military vehicles all head to land near Keevil Airfield on Saturday 19th August to Sunday 20th August for a weekend full of fun for all history and military lovers.

The show, created by military enthusiasts, offers people the opportunity to truly step back in time and embrace military history throughout the world from different time periods as there will be members from living history groups that include the Napoleonic War, WWI and WWII, post-war and even the America Civil War.

Richard Dalton, who created this non-for-profit event says there’s plenty for people to look forward to at this year’s show. “There’s lots for people to get involved with,” he explained. “You will be able to walk through time – you will be able to visit the American Civil war group and the Wyoming’s Authentic Western Society frontier town and displays.

“Attendees will be able to experience what a WWI trench is like and meet some of the troops there before travelling through time to see some of the WWII front-line groups of British and American forces, before heading to the German area where we will have our very own copy of a German U-boat conning tower.

“Perhaps you’d like to travel along the home front visiting families who will be telling their stories of wartime at home, maybe you wish to visit our Rialto cinema where you can sit and eat popcorn purchased from our foyer and watch period films and newsreels shown on genuine reel-to-reel projectors.

“You can also visit the Garrison Arms and enjoy the feel of a vintage pub and listen to all the music acts in the next-door marquee. In this marquee you will be able to listen to 11 different acts during the weekend and there are also dance lessons you can join in on. On the Saturday there will be two couples renewing their wedding vows! On Sunday morning there is a service of remembrance with a visit from the Archdeacon Alan Jeans and we will round off events on the Sunday with Salisbury Big Band!

“Don’t forget to pop in to see the ladies at the Women’s Land Army where we have 16 land army girls working on the farm. See the great work they are doing to keep the nation fed!”

There will also be many arena events and displays taking place over the weekend with a battle taking place each day co-ordinated by the company History in the Making who create the battle for Bovington Tank Museum ‘TankFest’. There will also be a one-to-one scale copy of the top of Bath Abbey where the Royal Observer Corps are on the lookout for enemy aircraft.

New to this year’s show will be the immersive theatre where each decision you make will impact you later on. Richard explained, “A new idea we are running this year is an immersive play which will take you through history throughout the site and you will be met by different characters and you must choose which one to follow at each junction. Each decision will lead to a different outcome, and this is a great way to learn history in a fun way.”

There will also be Vietnam groups to visit at the show as well as vehicles and equipment from the Cold War as well as a 1980s Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes shop selling general goods. There will also be many vintage traders including a 1940s barber shop called Gaslight Barbers and a vintage sweet shop called Sweets in Time.

For advance online tickets go to whms.org.uk