Intel on the Warag ’24 show

Something of a tradition has built up surrounding military shows in the United Kingdome, with organizers trying to theme their show to incorporate a local wartime connection. Of course, this is not always possible, but one show which has managed this is the annual event known as WARAG, founded in 20216 and held on the site of a working farm. The site has the remains of a former operational airfield within its boundaries, located in Westonzoyland in Somerset, England. It was an instant success, but unfortunately, just as its popularity was growing it had to be suspended because of restrictions imposed by COVID-19. However, not only did the show survive the crisis it came back stronger, and this year’s show, held over the weekend of May 25-26, was the best yet.

So why the title WARAG for the show? During the war the British Government established War Agricultural Executive Committees (WAR Ags) to supervise food production from 1939 to 1945. The county of Somerset has always been an important agricultural area for food production and never more so than during WWII. Much of what happened at this historic site is still within living memory for some families in the area. By combining agricultural, military and social history the organizers have created a truly unique event which attracts re-enactment groups, military vehicles and militaria dealers, to present a broad scope of British wartime history for all ranges of interest. With the site’s historical connection due to its wartime role, WARAG is a unique event.

The airfield, known as Station 447, dated back to 1922 and during WWII the No 16 Squadron RAF operated Lysanders from the site and later Mustangs. The airfield was extended in 1943 for the RAF Transport Command and in 1944 the U.S. 9th Air Force began operating from the site. After D-Day the US IX Troop Carrier Command operated in support of the Normandy Campaign. Incredibly, enough of the original runway still exists, running across the farmland, to allow light aircraft such as Auster spotting airplanes to fly in during the show. A number of pillboxes built for the defense of the airfield still survive and some of these have been incorporated into displays by re-enactment groups since the very first show in 2016.

The show has grown but still remains manageable to allow visitors to see most things, including the arena mobility display and battle re-enactment, along with some of the trade stands. Vehicles lined up this year included a range from the war years through to post-war period with an Austin “Champ”, Ferret Scout Car, “Green Goddess” fire engine and Land Rovers. The most unusual vehicle on display was a Jeep converted to run on a railway track by having its road wheels removed and replaced with hubs lacking tires. A good length of track was laid specially for this conversion to demonstrate its handling and towing capabilities with trailers attached.

The farming and agricultural side of things were not overlooked, after all this is meant to be about that side of the war as well as military, included a line-up of vintage tractors including Fergusson, John Deere and Fordson. In this section a threshing machine had been set up to show it in operation using a belt driven by a tractor’s flywheel. This was the biggest display on site and a far cry from how things are done today, but the method worked and was probably “cutting edge” technology in the 1940s. Some of the older visitors as youngsters would have seen such machines working on farms to prepare the wheat. Several young ladies were seen wearing the uniforms of an organization called the Women’s Land Army, WLA, who were volunteers to help work on farms driving tractors and milk cows by hand. Their presence added to the atmosphere and reminded visitors of the role played by the WLA during the war.

Re-enactment groups depicting American, British and German units were allowed to “dig in,” giving them the chance to create displays of weapons pits for machine guns and mortars to show the public how such emplacements were prepared. They also laid out their static displays of kit and equipment, including medical instruments, looking like some open-air museum exhibition. Tents and wooden crates completed the scene, which included some light-heartedness with laundry hanging out to dry. The British “Home Guard” was also depicted by a small contingent displaying for the first time a replica copy of a weapon called the “Blacker Bombard”. This was a spigot-operated anti-tank weapon of such a weight and size it was never popular, and at WARAG it showed something different apart from the more familiar weapons.

Traders offered a range of collectibles to cover most interests from books and documents to medals, badges and items of kit. The aircraft, even when parked up, drew a lot of attention and when they took off lots of heads were turned towards the skies. Back on the ground the vehicle mobility and battle re-enactment displays saw lots of camera attentikon. Re-enactors and vehicle owners alike were engaged in almost non-stop conversation with visitors of all ages asking questions and posing for photographs.

WARAG is one of the earliest shows of its type in the season but it is fast gaining a following of loyal fans as its reputation spreads through social media and good, old-fashioned word of mouth.At the time of writing, the organizers are were still clearing the site and putting things back to normal, so the date for next year’s event has not yet been finalized. The event has a Facebook page where lots of messages with news and views are exchanged along with photographs. For more information on the event, visit www.warag.co.uk.