Explosion - Museum of Naval Firepower

Spirit of the 40s - 2012

‘Spirit of the 40s’ Weekend at the Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower – 14/15 April 2012.

This April, experience the ‘Spirit of the 1940s’ at the Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport. Come and join us as we recreate the atmosphere of those momentous years in a weekend of living history.

Explosion is located in the former Royal Naval Ordnance Deport at Priddy’s Hard near Gosport, Hampshire. Over the weekend 200 re-enactors will bring the historic buildings back to life and transport you back to wartime Britain. Highlights include the following twice daily demonstrations:

• Final Battle within the Ramparts - watch our own version of ‘Operation Market Garden’ as Allied troops fight the Germans for control of Hell’s Highway! Can the Allies prevail and take command or is it ‘A Bridge Too Far’?
• Naval gunners give a dramatic demonstration of firepower using Explosion’s 4.7-inch gun.
• Head for the shelters when the sirens sound for our 1940s air raid!
• Make sure you are on your best behaviour for the arrival of the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Winston Churchill MP, and his entourage.
• Get up close to a Sexton Self-Propelled Gun, a tracked vehicle from World War II (kindly made available by our friends at Royal Armouries), and watch demonstrations throughout the day beside the green. Be prepared to take cover!

There’s plenty more to do throughout the day, with a display of military vehicles, demonstrations of 1940s life, a WVS tea tent, drop-in family activities and wartime film shows. Your ticket will include free admission to Explosion’s award-winning museum galleries. And for the kids (aged 1 to 99), don’t forget ‘Hands on History’s’ paintball range!

And that’s not all!  We will also be staging our very own, separately ticketed, 1940s dance on the evening of 14 April. So come and jitterbug the night away in our stunning 18th century Grand Magazine.

Please see our website www.explosion. org uk for further details.  We advise that tickets for the evening event are purchased in advance to avoid disappointment. Advance Tickets for the 'Spirit of the 40s' event here on the 14/15 April have gone on general sale. Come and join us as we recreate the atmosphere of those momentous years in a weekend of living history.

Advance Tickets include a 10% discount on the day rate: -

Adult Day - £9.00 (£10.00 on the day).

Concession Day - £4.50 (£5.00 on the day).

Family Day - £18.00 (£20.00 on the day).

Tickets for our seperate evening themed dance are also on sale: -

Dance Adult - £7.20 in advance (Not available on the night).  

Expected Timetable: (subject to change without notice)

10am – Doors Open

10.15am - 4.7 inch gun fire with the Wavy Navy – Naval Gunners give a dramatic demonstration of firepower using Explosion’s 4.7 – inch gun.

10.30am – Site March into the site from the Ramparts – watch as the troops arrive from their camps within the Ramparts.

11.00am – Air Raid on the green - Head for the shelters when the sirens sound for our 1940s air raid!

11.30am – Tour of the Re-enactor Displays within the Ramparts (Head to Collection Point) Visit both allied and opposition camps within our ‘Arnhem’ setting with displays of Street Fighting, Close Combat and House Clearance.

11.45am – Sexton Self-Propelled Gun Display – Get up close to a Sexton Self-Propelled Gun, a tracked vehicle from World War II which has been kindly made available by our friends at Royal Armouries, and watch demonstrations throughout the day beside the green. Take Cover!

12noon – Arrival of Winston Churchill - make sure you are on your best behaviour for the arrival of the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Winston Churchill, MP, and his entourage.

12.30pm - Tour of the Re-enactor Displays within the Ramparts (Head to Collection Point). Visit both allied and opposition camps within our ‘Arnhem’ setting with displays of Street Fighting, Close Combat and House Clearance.

1pm - 4.7 inch gun fire with the Wavy Navy - Naval Gunners give a dramatic demonstration of firepower using Explosion’s 4.7 – inch gun.

1.30pm - Tour of the Re-enactor Displays within the Ramparts (Head to Collection Point). Visit both allied and opposition camps within our ‘Arnhem’ setting with displays of Street Fighting, Close Combat and House Clearance.

2pm - Air Raid on the green - Head for the shelters when the sirens sound for our 1940s air raid!

2.30pm - Tour of the Re-enactor Displays within the Ramparts (Head to Collection Point). Visit both allied and opposition camps within our ‘Arnhem’ setting with displays of Street Fighting, Close Combat and House Clearance.

2.45pm - Sexton Self-Propelled Gun Display. Get up close to a Sexton Self-Propelled Gun, a tracked vehicle from World War II which has been kindly made available by our friends at Royal Armouries, and watch demonstrations throughout the day beside the green. Take Cover!

3pm - Arrival of Winston Churchill - make sure you are on your best behaviour for the arrival of the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Winston Churchill, MP, and his entourage.

3.30pm – 4.7 inch gun fire with the Wavy Navy - Naval Gunners give a dramatic demonstration of firepower using Explosion’s 4.7 – inch gun.

4pm – Finale Battle within the Ramparts, watch our own version of ‘Operation Market Garden’ as Allied troops fight the Germans for control of Hell’s Highway! Can the Allies prevail and take command of this area or is it ‘A Bridge Too Far’? (Head to Collection Point). 

For more information please contact the Museum on 02392 505600.