The Desert Rats
7th Armoured Division
Thetford Forest Memorial
Association

 

 

This show is an annual memorial event for 7th Armoured (Desert Rats) veterans from WW2 right up to the present day, held every year at the Desert Rats Memorial in Thetford  Forest, Suffolk (where they were based during the war)..

  This event was first attended by the SBG in 2004 after the organisers asked the SBG to put on a display for them at very short notice. We were invited back for a repeat performance by the show organisers for 2005, and with more than 48 hours notice (which was all we got the previous year), we were able to put together a much more professional display. In fact, it was quite impressive….

The SBG managed to put on two living history displays with an array of original kit the like of which East Anglia has never seen!. Various members depicted the legendary Afrikakorps, whilst other members had an equally impressive display of 3.kp LSSAH next door. Dietz’ DKW and extensive radio collection created an enormous amount of public interest. Almost as much in fact, as the array of original underwear displayed on the DAK washing line!!.

 

 

The high point for us though, as always, was to meet and chat with the veterans (although for some reason I always meet Burma veterans????). The highest honour of all followed when Lt. General Sir Anthony Mullens, KCB, OBE came over to our displays and was so impressed he wanted to meet each one of us and shake our hands personally. (It was quite funny when Reidel (being ex-army himself) was introduced to the general, he wasn’t sure whether to shake hands or come to attention and salute!!). He said he wasn’t aware that such groups existed and was very impressed with our authenticity and attention to detail.

 All members present made sterling efforts at realism and professionalism and were a credit to the SBG. It was a highly successful event and a letter of appreciation was sent to the SBG chairman immediately after the show.