Come and be part of the amazing Victory Festival over the weekend of the 19-21 September 2023 here on the South Coast here in Lee on the Solent, Hampshire.
Victory Festival 2023 event brings:
Commemoration - Commemorates 80th Anniversary of VE & VJ days, and British Armed Forces in service around the globe.
Education - To ensure that the bravery, lives and memories of our courageous veterans from all conflicts are maintained and shared with the younger generation.
Enjoyment - Delivery of re-enactment, living history, music, dance, aircraft, vehicles and a 1 mile parade; all providing a spectacle for all to remember and enjoy.
To make the event a success we are wanting the following event information:
We welcome
you to the Victory Festival LGH event. A festival designed to commemorate
British and Commonwealth Military victory from WW2, especially VE and VJ day,
but to include all theatres up to modern day. This year’s event
is going to be bigger and better than the last one, with the team having decided
to focus massively on the re-enactment/living history sector.
The living
history field, based on the historic WW2 Daedulus Airfield site at Lee on
Solent, means that we have more than ample space within a secure, fenced area
on the airfield. And includes both grassed and hard stand areas with multiple,
monitored, gated, entry/exit access for vehicles.
Within this area
we are looking too be showing Military vehicles including Trucks, recovery
units and Armoured units (Tanks, Half Tracks, Ferrets, Saracens, Scorpions,
CVRT’s, Scammels, ANTARS etc), plus war time Commercial vehicles such as
Trucks, Fire Engines, Vans etc and period Cars.
Therefore, we
are looking for groups and individuals, with or without vehicles, and in
particular for those who would like to be more interactive with the public.
One set up
with high interest shall be a fully Immersed 1940s area. Planned to be a step
back in time to sense, feel and experience 1940s wartime England. For the
public, to be given the opportunity to sense the smells, sounds, equipment and
clothing that came at such an important period of this country’s history.
Groups representing and depicting units involved in the second World War (1939-1945). Groups which maintain a high standard of historical accuracy, respect and professionalism. Groups with dioramas/developed static exhibits. We are also accepting post war regiments/groups/cadets to come along to be involved with the event to show and demonstrate their offering.
With this we
are looking for individuals and/or groups to come forward, so that we can have
an interactive, fully immersed area in the field. We want to
make this this the opportunity for you to showcase your hobby and show, at the
Lee victory festival weekend, so feel free to contact us with.
What we don’t expect - Groups representing units linked to atrocities or war crimes. We regret that due to the current hostility’s in the world we cannot accept any Russian or soviet group bookings into, also as a Victory Festival celebrating the armoured forces of the UK and her allies we cannot accept combatant axis force groups. However if you are part of an axis group that would like to attend feel free to come and tell the story of the thousands of German and Italian POWs that worked the land around the Lee on the Solent area.
PLI (Public Liability Insurance) - All Reenactors must have public liability insurance.
Exhibiting is Free - Reenactors will not receive any form of reimbursement. The Show does not pay specifically for reenactors or living history groups to attend. The organisers may, at its own discretion, assist with costs for groups which contribute significantly to the show. (As an example, help with transport costs for large Items of equipment)
The Offer - Groups with dioramas will be allocated a pitch as close to the specifications they request as possible. Reenactors will be expected to fill the space allocated to them. They will also be entitled to “plastic camping” in a separate field for members not able to be accommodated within their groups LHE.
Digging in/ Fire Pits/Clear up - There will be no “digging in” permitted in the event area ground or at the “plastic Camping” location. Any Fires must be raised on fire trays/Bricks to prevent damage to the Field and all precautions must be observed as described in the show Standing Orders. There will be a £100.00 fine for any damage caused. All rubbish is to be cleared from the site; the organisers are not expected to look after any items brought on to the site for them to dispose of, this includes pallets and machinery items.
The “Victory” Parade - A parade will be held on Saturday including Formed Groups/Units of serving members of the Armed Forces, Cadet and Armed Forces Veteran organisations.
Reenactors will be given the opportunity to form up and parade as a unit. With historical military vehicles forming up the rear of the parade.
Representation of SS / Nazi will not be allowed. Reenactors portraying AXIS forces should not parade in uniform (any Veterans from those groups may Parade in civilian attire with Medals and Regimental Head dress).
We would encourage any reenactors who are also veterans to wear their own medals on their uniform for this parade. We would also invite those medals awarded to a relative during the Second World War (Only) to be worn on the right breast of the uniform out of respect for that family members service during WW2.
Medals worn by reactors should only be worn for the duration of the parade. Regulations for the wearing of medals will be as laid down by the Royal British Legion, only Medals that have been awarded should be worn, those who Insist on wearing self-bought commemorative medals will be asked to remove them. We have a zero-tolerance policy for “Stolen Valour”.
Like all well managed and organised event we do have a set of Standing Orders which are in place, please take a couple of minutes to take a look at them, these can be found by clicking on the following link: https://www.leevictoryfestival.co.uk/livinghistorystandingorders