Who is The Garrsion?

The Garrison is a volunteer hobby group of historians whose passion is the Royal Regiment of Artillery. The group has three sub – sections; Field and Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery as well as a Searchlight unit and we undertake historical displays depicting all aspects of life in the Royal Artillery.

The Garrison concentrates their efforts on portraying three Royal Artillery Battery's, 489 Bty, 124th (Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA (TA), 82 Bty 25th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment RA, both of which where in 50th Tyne Tees Division and 301 Bty, 93rd (Mixed) Searchlight Regiment RA (TA) which was part of Ack-Ack Command. This regiment was famous at the time for being the only all female regiment in the history of the British Army.

The Garrison has also on request re-enacted scenarios of the Royal Artillery outside of the European Theatre. The group's Far East impression is of 1st Bty (The Blazers), 28th Jungle Field Regiment RA was re-created during the 60th anniversary of the end of the war in St. James Park. While for the Maltese Artillery regiment we visited Malta recreating the 12th Field Regiment RA and 4th Searchlight Regiment RA.

The Garrisons main HQ is in the historic Tilbury Fort, Essex. This is where the concentration of our field guns are based - Members however come from all over the UK - the Ack Ack and searchlight section is based mainly in the West Country around Bristol and Swindon.

Our main aim is to promote awareness of the events during the Second World War, a period important in our nation's history. We also educate the public in the role of the Royal Artillery and Auxiliary Territorial Service gunner in war and in peace, in the front line and in garrison. The members create a high standard of historical correctness and we try to do justice to those who served their country especially those who did not return, without glorifying war.

The Garrison's members feel it is important to keep alive the memory of the servicemen and women that fought in the Second World War. So we portray every aspect of the time, from the uniform an ordinary soldier wore to their equipment and military life. This allows members to appreciate some understanding of the friendships, discipline, hardship and life changing experiences service personnel had in the six years of the war. It can be hard work, sweating away in battle dress and jerkin operating the 25 pdr, Bofors and searchlight equipment, but it is interesting and fun! We do have a social and learning side to our programme each year, meeting veterans who reminisce about life in the services, giving talks at museum, historical sites or to groups and schools demonstrating everything from uniform and personal kit, to battle tactics, orders and firing 21 gun salutes!

The Garrison is proud to say we can work in partnership, as every army needs to do - often meeting up, and working with other Second World War re-enacting groups, portraying other arms of the services. One of the great parts of re-enacting is going round the country (also France, Holland and Malta); there is always something more to learn about at each venue or monument we visit.

The Group has done many events to be proud of from Firing the Royal Salute for the Queen on her arrive in Jersey for the 60th anniversary of it liberation, the Living Museum in St. James Park through to supporting the Armed Forces of Malta with their anniversary event, just a few of those special events more of which you can see in the past event section.

At Tilbury Fort; we have barracks, stores and some space to display our vehicles and artillery, thanks to English Heritage. The Field Section has access to 4 x 25pdrs (a troop) x 4 ammunition limbers and x 4 tractor units. Members also own a range of other war time vehicles, three bikes, 15cwt Morris-Commercial, Jeep, Austin Tilley and a 3 ton Bedford. The Ack Ack Section has a 40mm Bofors, 150cm Searchlight plus various Towing Vehicles, Staff Cars and Motorbikes.

Members spend many hours researching the wartime history of the Royal Artillery and attached Corps. There are also a number of keen collectors of militaria in the group. This is another part of the hobby; there are many things to collect from uniforms, military vehicles, sweetheart badges and Second World War civilian clothes. Every re-enactor has a collection of something no matter what period they do. This means we do other re-enactment - Royal Navy and Royal Air force as well as Home Guard and civilians!

Do you want to join the group? Look at the membership section!

Do you want to see us in action? Look at the Events diary!

Do you want to learn more about the regiments and the equipment we use? Look at the history and equipment sections!

The Garrison is a non-profit making organisation governed by a Constitution and a set of membership rules. Join us and help recreate the past for the benefit and education of all our audiences!