2 para Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Fritton Lake in Norfolk Celebrates D Day The lake was used to train personnel to operate the Duplex Drive Amphibious Tanks used in the first wave of assualts on the beaches. It is planned to have a display of WW2 military and light tracked vehicles, re-enactors, stalls and stands, as well as brass band, slide talks, guided walks and boat trips. We are keen at this stage to hear from anyone interested to display (vehicles / stands / amphibious vehicles / living history). Fritton Lake is a tourist attraction with a play area, rowing boats, horse riding, hotel, lodges and camping. 01493 488288 E Mail Web Site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Pearson Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Fritton Lake in Norfolk Celebrates D Day The lake was used to train personnel to operate the Duplex Drive Amphibious Tanks used in the first wave of assualts on the beaches. It is planned to have a display of WW2 military and light tracked vehicles, re-enactors, stalls and stands, as well as brass band, slide talks, guided walks and boat trips. We are keen at this stage to hear from anyone interested to display (vehicles / stands / amphibious vehicles / living history). Fritton Lake is a tourist attraction with a play area, rowing boats, horse riding, hotel, lodges and camping.01493 488288 E Mail Web Site I am going with my Valentine IXDD if the transport can be soirted. I will be taking it home in a sense........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 para Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 hello mate ,ive been asking around for stuart to try and find some transport for your tank, i work at the lake with stuart. cheers steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I am going with my Valentine IXDD if the transport can be soirted. I will be taking it home in a sense........ Looking forward to seeing it at fritton Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I'll bring the Sherman if help with transport is available. I'm only about 35 miles away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy harleston eng Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 fritton lake is such a fantastic place to visit and the secrets of the lake of which there are many are now starting to come to light. during the war a figure of around 2000 men(not all at once) trained and lived in secret at fritton in the woods and bravely tested the dd valentines and shermans of which were later to be used in battle. i know there will be a talk given on this subject along with all the new top secret pictures and information that stuart has been gathering recently. also during the war there was a mid air collision involving two thunderbolts which both landed in the lake and also a 100th bg b17 crashed just behind. there will be a presentation on these accidents by local author and historian ian maclachlan. the military history associated with fritton lake is amazing and alot of the footprints and clues can still be found. the nice thing about this event is it will also include access to the old site of the secret training area of which other wise would be private. if enough people make the effort to go to this first event im sure it will be a good one, i know that it would be especially nice if the owners of dukws and other amphibious vehicles were to attend, the lake itself is 2+ miles long and over 200 acres tree lined and beautiful. maybe also john will swim the valentine for us all to watch!!!! i remember from before it made it to the waters edge. but we took the plunge in the hagglunds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M5Clive Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 fritton lake is such a fantastic place to visit and the secrets of the lake of which there are many are now starting to come to light. during the war a figure of around 2000 men(not all at once) trained and lived in secret at fritton in the woods and bravely tested the dd valentines and shermans of which were later to be used in battle. i know there will be a talk given on this subject along with all the new top secret pictures and information that stuart has been gathering recently. also during the war there was a mid air collision involving two thunderbolts which both landed in the lake and also a 100th bg b17 crashed just behind. there will be a presentation on these accidents by local author and historian ian maclachlan. the military history associated with fritton lake is amazing and alot of the footprints and clues can still be found. the nice thing about this event is it will also include access to the old site of the secret training area of which other wise would be private. if enough people make the effort to go to this first event im sure it will be a good one, i know that it would be especially nice if the owners of dukws and other amphibious vehicles were to attend, the lake itself is 2+ miles long and over 200 acres tree lined and beautiful. maybe also john will swim the valentine for us all to watch!!!! i remember from before it made it to the waters edge. but we took the plunge in the hagglunds. I brought this event up at the Suffolk MVT Meeting last night after a request for help from the organiser (Stuart I think his name was) and it created much interest. Before turning in last night, i had to go and get my old Ian Mac book out detailing the full story of the Thunderbolt mid air collision and refresh my memory. Sounds like another great event and right on home turf! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Pearson Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 . maybe also john will swim the valentine for us all to watch!!!! i remember from before it made it to the waters edge. but we took the plunge in the hagglunds. You have got to be joking!!!! Water into wheelbearings?? OK if King George is paying but if it is down to me, I can't afford it! I will bring my air compressor though so you can see the screen go up and down. I had a go in one of the Hagglunds on the lake but my camera was duff so I got no pictures. Do you have any of that trip I could have? One of the good bits of that trip in 2004 was a local old codger (but somehow not quite old enough.....?) who came up quietly and asked if my tank was real? Yes, I says. Well says he, you have put my mind at rest after 60 years. It seems he was about 12 years old in 1944 and jumped the fence to see what was going on. He saw four tanks drive past (he was hidden in a bush) and go straight into the water and float away. He never told anyone because he was sure no one would believe him more than fear about admitting he had broken in. Over the years he had convinced himself he must have been doolally because tanks don't float so the relief in his voice when he found out he was sane and his memory was correct was very obvious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 You have got to be joking!!!! Water into wheelbearings?? OK if King George is paying but if it is down to me, I can't afford it! I will not need my water wings then John! Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Pearson Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I will not need my water wings then John!Al Consenting adults can wear what they wish....................!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy harleston eng Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) I had a go in one of the Hagglunds on the lake but my camera was duff so I got no pictures. Do you have any of that trip I could have? john i have just spent the last hour going through old discs but i cannot find any pics,sorry. hopefully we will get a chance for more this summer. Edited February 9, 2011 by jimmy harleston eng spelling mistake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 para Posted February 9, 2011 Author Share Posted February 9, 2011 thanks very much for showing so much interest in this event. i will show stuart this thread in the morning ,cheers steve :cool2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Pearson Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 You could try East England Military Museum (not the East of England Tank Museum) and see if they might be interested? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Pearson Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I had a go in one of the Hagglunds on the lake but my camera was duff so I got no pictures. Do you have any of that trip I could have? john i have just spent the last hour going through old discs but i cannot find any pics,sorry. hopefully we will get a chance for more this summer. Thanks for looking! Cheers John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 para Posted February 26, 2011 Author Share Posted February 26, 2011 there seems to be quite a bit of interest in this event ,anybody made any decisions on attending ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rambo1969 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 I don't normally go to any shows in june, I have just checked my shift pattern and i'm off that weekend so will be up for it! Are post war landies ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy harleston eng Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 we will all be coming.its going to be a great weekend. should we contact stuart at fritton for a booking in form? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 para Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 just give stuart a ring and tell him your attending ,see you all there, many thanks steve :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 para Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 I don't normally go to any shows in june, I have just checked my shift pattern and i'm off that weekend so will be up for it!Are post war landies ok? more the merrier :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rambo1969 Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Might be worth posting this event on this site; http://www.wwiireenacting.co.uk/forum/index.php?sid=dba62e43f67b0395393fd73dedef3f89 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M5Clive Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 I'm certainly hoping to come along with the GMC or Chrysler. I did e-mail Stuart after he asked me to make contact and requested some support from the Suffolk Group, but I haven't heard anything. Time is marching on and people are looking for firmer details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy harleston eng Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 not long till this show, hopefully with the weather we have been having it looks like this could be a great family weekend. check the site www.somerleyton.co.uk for the details. anyone wishing to attend, i have a copy of the booking in form to give out. let me have your emails and i will pass it on. jimmy. amphibious vehicles especially welcome and most wanted please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 para Posted April 28, 2011 Author Share Posted April 28, 2011 looking forward to seeing you all there :nut: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark m uk Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 See you there Jimmy - taking the Replica Schwimmwagen, hope to take the plunge on a maiden voyage.................bring your video, you may make a couple hundred quid from that 'You been framed' outfit on the TV....... Regards, Mark. P.S. If the weather is fine, I'm camping - SAS style...........Stella and Sausage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy harleston eng Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 See you there Jimmy - taking the Replica Schwimmwagen, hope to take the plunge on a maiden voyage.................bring your video, you may make a couple hundred quid from that 'You been framed' outfit on the TV....... Regards, Mark. P.S. If the weather is fine, I'm camping - SAS style...........Stella and Sausage. nice one mark, glad you are coming. am already looking forward to seeing it in (on) the water. see you next weekend. jimmy.. late entries will still be welcome, please contact stuart @ somerleyton for details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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