Quote:
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?
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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
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