THE ROUTE TO VICTORY EVENT IN MORE DETAIL

Introduction

1. In May 2010 the Kennet Valley area of the MVT and the village of Ramsbury in Wiltshire are organising an event to commemorate the 65th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. The theme for the event is the 21 Army Group during the closing stages of the War in Europe. Like ‘Route to Victory’ in 2008, ‘Route to Victory VE65’ is a 3-day event for both military vehicle owners and re-enactors. For the village and local community a number of ancillary events will take place over the two weeks prior to the main weekend including school visits and talks to the local historical groups.
2. For those attending the event weekend there will be the opportunity for 2-days of historic vehicle convoys, visiting relevant historical sites in the Kennet Valley and Salisbury Plain area. The third day is the big public spectacular in Ramsbury, starting with a parade of armour and vehicles through the village. The day will continue with static living history, arena and flying displays finishing with a parachute drop. The base and show field for the three days is ‘Camp Ramsbury’ a large field at the back of the village next to the primary school. This field was the historical location for the 506 PIR 101st AB Div and was later to become the home of 2nd Parachute Squadron RE.
3. Please note that both Saturday and Sunday’s day-time activities are exclusively for military vehicle owners and re-enactors attending the event. The evening activities are open to the public, as is the main public day on Monday 5th May. The Friday will be the arrival day and to keep those who arrive during the day occupied, the village will be turning the Memorial Hall into the Roxy Cinema to show an appropriate film.

Saturday 1st May Defence of Britain Day

4. The theme for the Saturday is the ‘Defence of Britain’, commemorating the role of the Allied Forces that took part in the defence of Britain, both on the ground and from the air. The Saturday convoy will visit points of interest in the plan to defend Britain such as bunkers, stop-lines and ack-ack sites. This convoy will be led by vehicles of British units, and it is hoped that lunch will be in the form of a hog-roast on route. The convoy will visit a number of other sites during the day, pausing to lay wreaths at appropriate locations. The convoy will finish back at Ramsbury in late afternoon.
5. The evening activities will be centred on the village of Ramsbury starting on arrival back at the campsite where those who have been on convoy will be invited to join in a street party organised by the village, which will accompanied by a 1940s US Forces Radio Show. Later in the evening we are hoping start the entertainment with a burlesque dance show (pay at the door). This will be followed by other entertainments in the village including an evening of ‘songs that won the war’ in the British Legion concluded by a spectacular wartime searchlight display in the centre of the village free to all.

Sunday 2nd May Airborne Day

6. The theme for the Sunday is Airborne Day, commemorating the role of the Allied Airborne Forces that were based or flew out from the Kennet Valley and Salisbury plan areas that took part in Operations Market Garden and Varsity. These were the two main airborne operations that it was hoped would hasten the war’s end. The convoy will visit sites relevant to airborne units of the 1st Allied Airborne Army. This convoy will be lead by vehicles appropriately marked as airborne units to give a real sense of the events of over 64 years ago.
7. We are hoping to be able to plan a visit to Netheravon Camp, an in-service airfield. This location is significant as it was where all parachute and glider borne troops learned their trade. Whilst the convoy pauses at Netheravon, a C47 Dakota will land on the airstrip. This will be an opportunity for participants to see one of the wartime aircraft at first hand, in a historically significant location. During this stop we hope to have a B-B-Q lunch.
8. The evening activities will be again be in Ramsbury with a 1940s dance held in the Memorial Hall (ticket only) with music again provided by the US Forces Radio Show and 1940s singer, plus lots of other entertainments in the village including war films showing in the British Legion.

Monday 3rd May Public Day

9. Monday is the public day.  It will start with a victory parade through the village of Ramsbury comprising British and American tanks and armoured vehicles, flanked by US and British airborne forces up to the show field.  The field will then open to the public to enable them to see close up the vehicles they have seen passing them during the previous two days, as well as living history displays from re-enactment groups portraying units involved in closing stages of the war including the home front.
10. There will be an arena in the show field where there will be displays including blank-firing artillery, tanks and armour movements, and a parachute drop. There will also be flying displays including the Dakota and a dog-fight between a Spitfire and Messerschmitt Hurricane and we hope a flyby by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
11. Ramsbury Memorial Hall will be converted in to ‘Ramsbury at War Museum’. It will be the focus of a number of displays of historic reference material from locals own collections. It will be open all day Monday with free entry and there will be war-time veterans both civilian and military to tell their stories.
12. The grand finale will be a fly-past by the, Dakota, over a parade of all the re-enactors with their heads bowed as the Last Post is sounded and Col Tottenham, veteran of the Operations, will take the salute.