Matthew's Military Moments

12/06/2026

A Lance Bombardier of the 53rd (Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment, RA in walking out dress on a brief respite after the Normandy Landings.

❗️ A historical recreation intended for educational purposes only ❗️
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Armed with the M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer, the 53rd Airlanding Light Regiment first entered airborne operations during the Normandy campaign. Because there were not enough suitable transport aircraft available, only 211 Battery participated in the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944. The Regimental Headquarters, along with 210 and 212 Batteries, arrived later on 14 June on the Seaborne Tail.

The deployment of 211 Battery on the evening of 6 June was historically significant, marking the first occasion a Field Battery had been airlifted into combat together with its guns.

After the rest of the regiment reached Normandy, the batteries were mainly assigned to counter-mortar operations in support of Airlanding and Parachute infantry units. 211 Battery remained in Normandy until most of the 6th Airlanding Brigade was withdrawn in early September 1944.

📸 - Leit Photography, 2026

10/06/2026

Troop Target

HE 117 Charge 3 Load

Bearing 355°

Fire By Order

Elevation 25°

2 Rounds Gunfire

Standby....

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🎥 by Garrison Artillery Volunteers from our trip to Normandy this past week.

08/06/2026

Tracks and Tanks passing through Audrieu, France.

Some great lads these guys, great to see some Carriers as well!

05/06/2026

5th June 1944 - Airborne Assault

On this day, 82 years ago, members of the 6th Airborne Division and the 6th Airlanding Brigade took off from airfields across Britain. Codenamed Operation Tonga, Britains Airborne forces were key to the success of Operation Overlord as they were tasked with securing the eastern flank of the invasion area.

At Merville Battery, several artillery pieces were encased in bunkers and could fire onto the soldiers and armour of the 3rd Division landing at Sword Beach. So, it was planned that 3 Platoons of A Company, 9PARA as well as Engineers with Explosives to blow open the casemates, would land by a Coup de Main Glider Assault on the battery, whilst the rest of the battalion would land by Parachute and come up to reinforce the company which had landed by glider.

In addition to this, A Coy, 1st Candian Parachute Battalion also landed alongside 9PARA to provide flank protection and cover their withdrawal. As well as this, on the main DZ, a section from 4th Airlanding Anti Tank Battery with 6pdr guns, engineers from 591 (Antrim) Parachute Squadron, and medics from 3 Section 224 Field Ambulance. The 6pdr guns were a backup in case the doors to the gun case mates couldn't be blown open by explosives.

Meanwhile, further inland, at the Orne River and Benouville Canal (later Pegasus Bridge), would be assaulted by D Coy 2nd (Airborne) Battalion Oxs and Bucks Light Infantry, in a Coup de Main op, who would be reinforced by 7PARA, who would arrive 3-4 hours late.

The first casualty of D-day and what was to become the Battle of Normandy Lieutenant Herbert Denham Brotheridge at the Benouville Bridge (which would later become Pegasus Bridge). A British Army officer who served with the 2nd Oxs and Bucks LI. He was struck in the back of the neck by Machine Gun fire and died of his wounds in the earlier hours of the 6th of June. His body was laid to rest in a civilian graveyard in Ranville Churchyard.

26/05/2026

A few from a rather hot May Bank Holiday Weekend at the Chiltern Open Air Museum with the Napoleonic Association and the 95th Rifles, 2nd Bn. Rifles Living History Association as well as many others.

22/05/2026

NCO Vehicle Commander

11 Troop, C Squadron, 43rd (Wessex) Reconnaissance Regiment, C. April 1944 on Exercise prior to the Normandy Landings.

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❗️NOTE - This is a Historical Recreation designed for education only❗️
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This Vehicle Commander is dismounted, and is seen here with the following:

- RAC Pattern Steel Helmet and Liner
- Standard British Army Battledress
- Blanco No.103 coloured stripped down pistol order consisting of Belt, Ammunition Pouch and the RAC Pattern Dropleg holster with a shortened strap taking it off of the leg, with a .38 Webley Revolver and additional rounds.
- Dust Goggles
- Binoculars and Map Case

As well as his Regimental insignia and Beret with 2" Green Square behind the Reconnaissance Corps Cap Badge, as was worn by the 43rd Recce Regt.

He also sports a Yellow and Green Lanyard worn on the left arm, this was an unofficial piece of Regimental insignia but nonetheless there is evidence that this was worn.

20/05/2026

The legendary British 17-pounder anti-tank gun was built to take on Germany’s most feared armour — the Panther and Tiger tanks. 🇬🇧💥

In 1942, the first 100 guns were rushed to North Africa before a proper carriage had even been designed. To get them into battle fast, they were mounted onto existing 25-pounder gun carriages, creating the improvised 25/17-pounder or the “Pheasant.”

These powerful hybrid guns first saw combat in February 1943, proving Britain could match German heavy armour head-on. The fully developed 17-pounder later became one of the most effective Allied anti-tank weapons of the war, first entering widespread service during the Italian Campaign.



Footage from Authors Collection taken at Tankfest 2023 at The Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.

14/05/2026

This Memorial sits just set back from the intersection of the Brussels-Charleroi and Braine-l'Alleud-Ohain road at what was the centre of the Duke of Wellingtons position at the Battle of Waterloo on the 18th June 1815 and is dedicated to the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot.

Raised from the defenders of Enniskillen in 1688, the regiment carried a proud Irish tradition into one of the most decisive battles in European history, and significantly was the only Irish Regiment present on the day!

After exhausting marches from Ghent through torrential rain, the Inniskillings reached Waterloo on the evening before the battle. Positioned in the centre of Wellington’s line (see square marked 27 on Image 2 just below the crossroads on the left hand side), they endured hours of devastating artillery and musket fire while holding formation under repeated French cavalry attacks. Their steadfast discipline in square formation became legendary, despite horrific losses.

By the end of the battle, the regiment had suffered approximately 65% casualties — 486 officers and men killed or wounded out of a strength of 747. This was among the heaviest losses suffered by any British regiment at Waterloo. Witnesses described the Inniskillings “lying literally dead, in square,” still holding the line after the fighting had passed over them.

Their sacrifice helped preserve the centre of Wellington’s army at the critical moment of the battle. Wellington himself later declared that the 27th “saved the centre of my line at Waterloo.” The regiment’s courage and endurance became a defining part of the legacy later carried forward by The Royal Irish Regiment.

06/05/2026

Looking Forward to this! It will be my first time back in Normandy since 2019!

The Garrison Artillery Volunteers will be in Normandy at the beginning of next month for a few days.