Normandy 44
Normandy44
WWII Re-enactment association
The Association was formed in October 1999 by a group of like-minded WW2 enthusiast’s who, decided that they’d like to be part of a group that was tailored to meet their needs and aspirations. The group already held a strong core of friends who re-enacted the 2nd Rangers Battalion and they decided to use this as a building block in the formation of Normandy44. Despite popular belief, this club was not formed on the back of the “Saving Private Ryan” phenomenon. Members actually portrayed the 2nd Rangers at the premiere of the film in Edinburgh. When Normandy44 was initially formed they only owned a couple of vehicles, this has now grown along with the club and they currently own nineteen WW2 U.S. Army vehicles. Amongst their collection they have some very impressive kit including; 2 x M24 Chaffee tanks; 3 x Half-tracks; 1 x White Scout Car and a Weasel. They have formed two other new units within the association; the 102nd Cavalry who man two tanks and the 5th Rangers Battalion; who are a brother unit who fought alongside the 2nd Battalion in Normandy.
Their Mission statement is simple and underlines their willingness to respect and Honour the dead and injured of all nations during WW2, whether they be military or civilian alike. They will endeavour to keep their memory alive and try to give the modern public a brief insight into the everyday lives of the Servicemen and woman that sacrificed so much on our behalf’s. They do this by displaying the vehicles and equipment in an accurate and educational manner and are always willing to talk to the general public and answer their questions. They try and be proactive and inclusive in their display’s and often invite the public to sit down and listen to their display team as they talk about issues relevant to the Rangers. They have amassed a very large collection of original WW2 U.S. Army tents and equipment and this acts as a perfect backdrop to their talks and has the feel of a real working camp.
As well as taking part in static displays they also do more mobile impressions such as re-enacting WW2 battles and skirmishes for the general public. They often hold training weekends specifically for the membership where they teach them important things like weapons safety and fieldcraft.
https://www.facebook.com/Normandy44-476435215738629
https://www.facebook.com/groups/59749921716
