A surprise army entrenched in the woods

I’ve been to a few re-enactments over the last few years but it wasn’t until the other week that I attended my first multi-period event, set in the beautiful hills of north Wales at Bodrhyddan Hall: No Man’s Land. It was quite an eye-opener. Groups depicting many eras were spread over a wide area and despite attending both days it was hard, quite frankly, to do photographic justice to everything.

After arriving on the Saturday and moseying around, I chatted with some friends from groups I was already familiar with and completed my first ‘lap’ of the site. At least I thought I had. Apparently there was more going on in the wooded area at the top of the hill. I must admit that once I’d spotted the groups encamped in the woods, I found it difficult to go back to the general arena. Three of the four had dug themselves trenches and created great stages on which to perform.

One such outfit was the 284th Rifle Division, a re-enactment group and dedicated living history organisation, committed to authentically portraying the Soviet Red Army during the pivotal years of World War II. They focused particularly on the technical troops of the "Tomsk" division that gained fame for its heroic defence during the Battle of Stalingrad. Their attention to detail was clear to see and they took great pride in prioritising historical accuracy, from period-correct uniforms to the tactical use of the equipment at their disposal. Being a very accommodating bunch they allowed me special access to their base and the freedom to shoot (camera only) from various angles. It was the intimate POVs that made it feel special for me, especially as I was able to witness period specific drill and the small moments that comprised the everyday life of this Red Army group. I was hooked.

As with many re-enactment groups, there’s a strong camaraderie within the 284th but it was great to see that extended beyond the confines of their own ranks. They have close links with others depicting the Second World War and a picture snatched at the end of their display was a salient reminder of this.

Naturally enough - with everything that’s going on in the world at the moment - I overheard one or two disgruntled members of the public questioning whether or not a group representing the Soviet Union should have been allowed to participate, but the 284th look at things in an historic context, aiming to educate people accordingly. They do it well.