Help oversize uniform

[Mike Timoshyk]

Educate, Perpetuate, Commemorate and Remember.


Anything less is all for naught.

We all do it in our own unique way.



Mike Timoshyk in Windsor Ontario

[Gunner]

To our two friends in the UK- question: have either of you served?

My point is that only those who have served may judge... all others may hold their tongues.

Gilles' group is made up of retired artillery non-commissioned officers (you may have noticed that Gilles signs in as "CWO"... RSM to most of us) He has done the time and earned the t-shirt. I would suspect that the same goes for his large friend.

Gilles' group are not civilian re-enactors... they are old sweats who are affiliated to their old unit and are restoring and presenting one of the Regiments' old guns to keep alive the story of the 25 pounder (manufactured in Montreal by the way) for the unit, for the Forces and for the general public. They do this out of a love for the Gunner Colours- The Guns!

This is a forum for old truck collectors and Canadian made vehicle enthusiasts; one of our brothers, one who has a chest full of real medals, asked for help; how did some of us respond- with derision or criticism or both- FOR SHAME!

I am not given to long rants on this net as I feel that its better to educate, support and offer what meagre knowledge I can after 33 years of service and many more as a collector (Dad started me young!). Those that know me personally know that I'm an opinionated and overweight old so and so who has his own chestful of medals and still passes the Battle Fitness Test every year. I take personal umbrage to some of the comments I've read here. Lets get back to useful discussions about CMPs and helpful hints to friends.

Giff- if this barrage is off target you have my permission to delete it.

Gunner out!

[Barry Churcher]

Well said Gunner, Rob and Mike. As an overweight but not obese member of this forum I would ask if it is appropriate if I take my truck to the Remembrance Day services coming up in a couple of weeks. There were not many men my age or weight driving trucks or serving in WW2. Rob I didn't know your feelings on smilies so I will try to use them more.
Cheers,
Barry

[dougiebarder]

No I haven't served. But if I had, I know I wouldn't be happy to see a bunch of posers running around and showing off and pretending to be real soldiers.
I don't think any of the re-enactors I've seen show real soldiers in a good light.
If you want to dress up and make yourselves the centre of attention-choose another subject. Reading a British army site (WWW.arrse.com) the general consensus seems to be that any real ex solders doing it should know better!

I know that I'm massively outnumbered in my opinions, but quiet frankly, I don't care. The general excuse used by re-enactors is that when they meet the old guys who they are pretending to be, they say it's fine. I've seen a few of these incredibly modest and brave men as well, and I think they are just very polite-yeah I know-unlike me, but re-enactors really annoy me.
Please feel free to delete this ASAP.

[RHClarke]

Originally Posted by dougiebarder

No I haven't served. But if I had, I know I wouldn't be happy to see a bunch of posers running around and showing off and pretending to be real soldiers.
I don't think any of the re-enactors I've seen show real soldiers in a good light.
If you want to dress up and make yourselves the centre of attention-choose another subject. Reading a British army site (WWW.arrse.com) the general consensus seems to be that any real ex solders doing it should know better!

I know that I'm massively outnumbered in my opinions, but quiet frankly, I don't care. The general excuse used by re-enactors is that when they meet the old guys who they are pretending to be, they say it's fine. I've seen a few of these incredibly modest and brave men as well, and I think they are just very polite-yeah I know-unlike me, but re-enactors really annoy me.
Please feel free to delete this ASAP.

Matt,

I don't think your last missive should be deleted, it reflects your opinion, which you think is defensible, tho' one can debate whether or not AARSE is an authority on this issue - they tend to spend more time slamming those who do serve (Walts, etc... in your service support, RAF and Cadet Force).

We need open discourse like this to allow others to decide their way forward with regard to re-enacting. Who knows, it may inspire those who do re-enact (myself included) to improve their "poserability".

I have just a few questions for you: What are you doing to improve the situation? Are you just venting for the sake of venting?

[dougiebarder]

Originally Posted by RHClarke

Matt,


I have just a few questions for you: What are you doing to improve the situation? Are you just venting for the sake of venting?

I'm just a collector, I display some of my junk at Beltring, but not particularly in an authentic setting. It is however all genuine, no reproduction etc (which is why it looks so scruffy). If anybody ask's me, I hope I can give them a bit of history, and an idea of how the stuff was used. I think the same goes for the vehicles etc we have-they are the real deal, just like the men that really used them. I just don't think re-enactors can get close to portraying the real troops. (they don't look tired and scared before they go into battle for a start). As I've said before, I think that people would get a much better idea of the history if the uniforms etc were statically displayed on dummies for them to get a good look (and a better range, rather than hundreds of 101 airborne and ss uniforms). Another great idea I think I saw at the bovington tank museum, was a coat rack with a few sets of webbing, filled to the correct weight-that made more of an impression on me than a whole field of people playing soldiers.
I know the argument goes, that it's the re-enactors who draw in the crowds at shows etc, but personally, I think it would be better to get a smaller number of people, who are really interested in learning about the history, that lots who want to see the tanks (and this will probably be anything armoured in their eyes) and guns.
Sorry, I'm going on a bit.
To sum it up, I think there's better ways of showing our forces respect than dressing up and playing soldiers.
(I'd say like buying them a pint, but there might be a stampede )