BEAULIEU - Trucks & Troops - Don't Miss It!

The perfect day for boys, tomboys and their Dad's!

Trucks & Troops
24th-26th May 2008

From the 24th – 26th May, the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu is playing host to Trucks & Troops, celebrating the development of military transport, combat vehicles and soldiering through the ages. Following the tremendous success of the first ‘Trucks & Troops’ show in 2007, this year’s event, staged by the South Hampshire Area of the Military Vehicle Trust, is on course to be even bigger and better.

Joining this year’s show are the Royal Armouries Museum, Fort Nelson, exhibiting both a Sexton S.P. gun along with a 105mm Pak Howitzer, captured during the Falkland conflict.  Both will be fired during all three show days.  Bovington Tank Museum will be displaying and demonstrating a Leopard 1A3, Main Battle Tank. Ross Aylward, co-organiser of the show said:  “Although this is only the second year of the Trucks & Troops show at Beaulieu, we are extremely pleased and excited to have not one, but two prestigious museums exhibiting.”

Over 250 military vehicles are already signed up to attend the show, with everything from push-bikes to armoured and tracked vehicles, ranging from pre WWll to the Gulf War. These include a multitude of types such as Jeeps, Dodges, Bedfords, GMCs, Austin Champs and, of course, Land Rovers. Living History groups, including the Vietnam Living History group Rolling Thunder, will be wearing uniforms and equipment corresponding to the vehicles on display.  They will be talking to visitors about life as a soldier and re-creating camps and situations in which they would have lived and served.  

Undoubtedly, one of the stars of the show will be the legendary Vietnam War Huey helicopter. ‘HUEY 509’ will be flying into Beaulieu for all three day of the show.  This is the first time the Huey has flown this far south and will be accessible for the public to talk to the crew, and see what the inside of a Huey looks like.

The Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will also be joining the show with demonstration flights, on Saturday 24th at 3pm, in a Lancaster bomber and on Sunday 25th at 4pm, in a Spitfire fighter.

On the Beaulieu Arena, visitors can watch a range of shows including parades of vehicles, displays from Rolling Thunder and bands providing musical entertainment. Take time to walk around the militaria stalls with a variety of goods for sale from a gas mask to a Jeep!

Activities for younger visitors include a Commando Assault Course, a Model Boat Pond and a Mini Tank Village.  There will also be an opportunity to dress up in real Army uniform, including camo face paint and radio head-sets, and take part in a Section patrol.

Visitors to the show can also see all the other Beaulieu attractions including the National Motor Museum, Palace House and 13th century Beaulieu Abbey.  Not to be missed is the Secret Army Exhibition which tells the story of wartime Beaulieu and the training of secret agents to work with the Resistance in occupied Europe.

The show is open from 10am each day with plenty of free parking.  For more information telephone 01590 612345, or visit: www.beaulieuevents.co.uk