DAYS OF DEFIANCE - A FREE EDUCATIONAL DAY OUT FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN - 20th July 2010

A DRAMATIC display bringing to life the courage and determination of Kentish people during Britain's time of greatest danger is being offered to schoolchildren completely free, by the War and Peace Show. The Show takes place at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Kent, in July.

Called "Days of Defiance", the exhibition will be an interactive walk through the dark days of 1940. Events featured will include the evacuation of Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, the blitz and its impact on children, formation of the Home Guard and anti-aircraft defences.

It's being created by Battlefield Partnerships, comprising TV historians Andy Robertshaw of the Royal Logistic Corps Museum, Surrey, and David Kenyon of the Royal Gunpowder Mills Museum, Essex.

Rex Cadman, organiser of the War and Peace Show, said: "The the resilience and defiance of people in the County of Kent played a crucial role in helping Britain survive the dangers of 1940 and to go on and win the War. We want to reflect that and make a contribution that will ensure their efforts are never forgotten."

The exhibition will feature:

• Four full size replica aircraft - a Hurricane fighter, two Spitfires, one with engine roaring and guns blazing and a Messerschmitt 109.
• A range of military vehicles from the time of Dunkirk
• A display which tells the story of the paddle steamer that rescued 7,000 men from the beaches
• Re-enactment groups
• A cooking display to show how soldiers were fed during the War
• Two 3.7 anti-aircraft guns manned by re-enactors

"Days of Defiance" will give children a chance to meet and question veterans of the Second World War and former child evacuees.

As well as live demonstrations and re-enactments there will be displays of historic photographs from the early War period.

The exhibition will take place on 20 July, the Tuesday before the War and Peace Show opens officially. After they have visited the exhibition, children will be allowed to visit the many other attractions of the Show. They will also be given a demonstration of the pyrotechnics used in re-enactments.

Up to 3,000 children will be able to attend. Full health and safety provision will be made and War and Peace staff will be on hand as escorts. However it is expected that pupils' teachers will also attend.   Click here for the Schools' Day Information Letter and here for the  Schools' Day Application Form

Students who attend will be given evacuee-style labels entitling them to a free return visit, provided they are accompanied by a full-paying adult.

The War and Peace Show is the world's biggest annual military history show. Now in its 27^th year, it incorporates military vehicle displays, mock battles, fly-pasts by historic aircraft, living history displays, the world's biggest stall market specialising in military collectables, and a full and varied wartime entertainment programme.