TANKFEST Programme

TANKFEST 2024: Show Opening

Three modern vehicles show their paces to mark the opening of TANKFEST.

World War One – The First Tanks 

An examination of the conditions that gave rise to the birth of the tank, illustrated in battle re-enactment scenarios. 

The Evolution of British Armour 

A journey through British tank development, from the light tanks and armoured cars of the interwar period to the Cruisers of WWII. 

World War Two: The Tank Comes of Age

An unrivalled display of Second World War tanks used by British, US, Soviet and German forces.

Lunch Break

An opportunity to refuel and explore the site!

NW Europe 1944: World War Two Battle Re-enactment 

An explosive illustration of the battlefield tactics employed by a retreating German force, ready to ambush a probing Allied patrol.

Celebrating the Centurion

The development of the iconic British Centurion. Arriving in 1945, it is often considered among the best tanks of all time.

The Cold War – Suspicion & Stockpiling  

Armour from both sides of the Iron Curtain tell a story of a Cold War arms race that accelerated tank development.  

Modern Warfare: British Army Display  

A display of in-service vehicles used by The British Army’s Royal Armoured Corps and a demonstration of their battle tactics.  

Display Ends

But the site is open until 18:00 – so there is still time to explore.

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Whitchurch MBE – Learning From 1944

Matthew ‘Sticky’ Whitchurch will share his 37 years experience of leading armoured vehicles on the battlefield for the Army and NATO, and discuss his compelling study of battlefields in the Baltics and Ukraine. This talk will signpost good to knows on Tanks in Normandy, Italy and the Eastern Front as seen 80 years ago.

Dick Taylor – Wacky Weapons of WW2

Lieutenant Colonel Dick Taylor RTR (retd) is a well-known and much-published expert on the history of British tanks. His many books include volumes on the Challenger, Chieftain, Matilda and Valentine. Dick’s talk covers the story of twelve incredible but largely forgotten weapons fielded, tested, developed (and in some cases, fortunately abandoned) by combatant nations during WW2.

Lance Geiger – Rampage: Stolen Armour

Armour is made for the battlefield. But, sometimes, weapons of war end up on the wrong side of the road.  Lance Geiger, YouTube’s The History Guy, recounts dramatic stories of armoured vehicles that were stolen and taken where they don’t belong.

Bruce Crompton & Andrew May – DD Sherman Tank Warriors book and the 13th/18th Royal Hussars in WWII

Join Bruce Crompton & Andrew May as they discuss Andrew May’s new book, DD Sherman Tank Warriors, and recounts of the regiment’s significant contribution on D-Day, plus their subsequent involvement in the battle for Normandy, and the fight up through Western Europe into the Fatherland.

Nico Ferrari – Cancelled

Brickmania® Simon Jones – Building History: The Military Lego®

Community

The military LEGO® building community is an intersection for those with a passion for military history as well as creativity and creation! Learn more about this unique community through the eyes of one of the community’s prominent UK members, Simon Jones. This talk will discuss the details surrounding this unique community, its role in teaching history to youth, and how you can get involved!

Jonathan Falconer – Vehicle Waterproofing for D-Day

Jonathan Falconer is a publisher and author whose career has spanned nearly 40 years. His specialism is 20th century aviation and military history. Jonathan’s talk covers how the issue of vehicle waterproofing was addressed ranging from Jeeps to tanks – including preliminary waterproofing trials by the War Office, protecting ignition systems, maintaining an air supply for the engine, and enabling exhaust to escape while the vehicle was in water.

William Suttie – Experimental Vehicles in the Vehicle Conservation Centre

William Suttie worked for the Ministry of Defence for over 40 years and was involved in a wide range of military vehicle research, development and procurement activities. William’s talk is an overview the reasons why some of the experimental vehicles in the Vehicle Conservation Centre were built and a more in depth look at ‘SID’ and ‘ACAVP’.

William Suttie – Experimental Vehicles in the Vehicle Conservation Centre

William Suttie worked for the Ministry of Defence for over 40 years and was involved in a wide range of military vehicle research, development and procurement activities. William’s talk is an overview the reasons why some of the experimental vehicles in the Vehicle Conservation Centre were built and a more in depth look at ‘SID’ and ‘ACAVP’.

Dick Taylor – Wacky Weapons of WW2

Lieutenant Colonel Dick Taylor RTR (retd) is a well-known and much-published expert on the history of British tanks. His many books include volumes on the Challenger, Chieftain, Matilda and Valentine. Dick’s talk covers the story of twelve incredible but largely forgotten weapons fielded, tested, developed (and in some cases, fortunately abandoned) by combatant nations during WW2.

WO1 (SMI) Matt Vernon SASC – Histories Survivors

Matt joined the Army as a member of the Kings Own Border Regt in 2003, before transferring to the Small Arms School Corps (SASC) in 2011. Now in the role of Army Training Regt (Pirbright) SMI, Matt will look at how Second World War armoured vehicles continue to be used in modern conflict.

Brickmania® Simon Jones – Building History: The Military Lego®

Community

The military LEGO® building community is an intersection for those with a passion for military history as well as creativity and creation! Learn more about this unique community through the eyes of one of the community’s prominent UK members, Simon Jones. This talk will discuss the details surrounding this unique community, its role in teaching history to youth, and how you can get involved!

Bruce Crompton & Andrew May – DD Sherman Tank Warriors book and the 13th/18th Royal Hussars in WWII

Join Bruce Crompton & Andrew May as they discuss Andrew May’s new book, DD Sherman Tank Warriors, and recounts of the regiment’s significant contribution on D-Day, plus their subsequent involvement in the battle for Normandy, and the fight up through Western Europe into the Fatherland.

Nico Ferrari – Cancelled

Lance Geiger – Rampage: Stolen Armour

Armour is made for the battlefield. But, sometimes, weapons of war end up on the wrong side of the road.  Lance Geiger, YouTube’s The History Guy, recounts dramatic stories of armoured vehicles that were stolen and taken where they don’t belong.

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Whitchurch MBE – Learning From 1944

Matthew ‘Sticky’ Whitchurch will share his 37 years experience of leading armoured vehicles on the battlefield for the Army and NATO, and discuss his compelling study of battlefields in the Baltics and Ukraine. This talk will signpost good to knows on Tanks in Normandy, Italy and the Eastern Front as seen 80 years ago.   

Jack Bowsher – Forgotten Armour – Tank Warfare in Burma

Forgotten Armour is a new and exciting appraisal of the role of tanks in India and Burma in the Second World War. Often regarded primarily as an infantryman’s war in dense jungle and through monsoon conditions, Jack will show that this is far from the whole story. Beginning with the failure to fully mechanise the interwar Indian Army, and tracing the development of armoured training, logistics and tactics, Forgotten Armour tells the story of the Second World War in India and Burma from the cramped interior of tanks.

Lance Geiger – Rampage: Stolen Armour

Armour is made for the battlefield. But, sometimes, weapons of war end up on the wrong side of the road.  Lance Geiger, YouTube’s The History Guy, recounts dramatic stories of armoured vehicles that were stolen and taken where they don’t belong.

Bruce Crompton & Andrew May – DD Sherman Tank Warriors book and the 13th/18th Royal Hussars in WWII

Join Bruce Crompton & Andrew May as they discuss Andrew May’s new book, DD Sherman Tank Warriors, and recounts of the regiment’s significant contribution on D-Day, plus their subsequent involvement in the battle for Normandy, and the fight up through Western Europe into the Fatherland.

Brickmania® Simon Jones – Building History: The Military Lego®

Community

The military LEGO® building community is an intersection for those with a passion for military history as well as creativity and creation! Learn more about this unique community through the eyes of one of the community’s prominent UK members, Simon Jones. This talk will discuss the details surrounding this unique community, its role in teaching history to youth, and how you can get involved!

Dick Taylor – Wacky Weapons of WW2

Lieutenant Colonel Dick Taylor RTR (retd) is a well-known and much-published expert on the history of British tanks. His many books include volumes on the Challenger, Chieftain, Matilda and Valentine. Dick’s talk covers the story of twelve incredible but largely forgotten weapons fielded, tested, developed (and in some cases, fortunately abandoned) by combatant nations during WW2.

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Whitchurch MBE – Learning From 1944

Matthew ‘Sticky’ Whitchurch will share his 37 years experience of leading armoured vehicles on the battlefield for the Army and NATO, and discuss his compelling study of battlefields in the Baltics and Ukraine. This talk will signpost good to knows on Tanks in Normandy, Italy and the Eastern Front as seen 80 years ago.