DORSET CONVOY REMEMBERS US VETERANS
Every year owners of former World War II military vehicles gather in Dorset to commemorate the Allies and the US military contribution to the D Day invasion.
As many US military left from Weymouth and Portland the drivers take their vehicles back on the road along the routes that the forces used in 1944.
This all becomes part of an annual veterans festival held in Weymouth and Portland at around this time in mid June. This spectacle draws in visitors and holidaymakers from all over the world to witness this unique parade.
The logistics of getting around 60 vehicles to the county falls to people like Jack Beckett who along with a huge team of fellow helpers make this event happen every year.
Jack Beckett one of many involved in making this event happen in Dorset.
From Sherman tanks down to the little Willys Jeeps there is a huge range of vehicles to been seen on the roads as their convoy makes several planned trips around the county.
CONVOY IS A ANNUAL SPECTACLE
Many US troops embarked on landing craft and many types of Navy ships in the harbours of both Weymouth and Portland and every year as well as remembering that contribution of the British service men and women of that period also they never forget that of the US service personnel too!
A half track vehicle at Castletown Portland next to the port where the soldiers left from.
Called ‘Armour and Embarkation’ the owners of what are now fairly rare military vehicles ensure they are in tip top running order so that they can bring them from all over the UK to Dorset to take part in this unique military celebration and act of remembrance to those many thousands who died getting a foothold on the beaches of Northern France.
It could almost be 1944 again! Volunteers join in the make it as real as possible for the public watching.
This year I was offered the chance to ride on one of the vehicles in the convoy so I could record what happens at their temporary base camp which this year was near Broadmayne and trace one of the routes with the trucks that the US soldiers would have taken back in June 1944.
Many join in to make the event very special for those watching.
The vehicle owners and helpers dedicate a huge amount of hours in order to make this happen and not only the time but the fuel bill can get pretty steep too, with it getting close to £20,000 for the two days that the vehicles are on the roads.
http://www.armourandembarkation.com
