Firepower at the Fort

There will be talks about the guns plus the history of Fort Nelson and its role in the Second World War. Uniformed members of GAV will be on hand to talk about the guns they are firing, and the drills employed. Plus there'll be static displays and object-handling opportunities. 

There'll even be some have-a-go activities and a museum trail for our younger visitors.

Daily programme

10:00 Museum opens

Static display

• Armoured vehicles
• Ammunition displays
• Dodge 6 x 6 gun
• Beachhead Commando 
• 37 mm anti-tank gun
• Second World War rifles
• American Forces - Bloody Buckets’ (28th Infantry division (USA))
• Command post
• Pompey Pals
• Second World War fire engines and fire-fighting equipment

Children’s activities

• Animals in War museum trail 
• Face painting (10:00 – 16:00)
• Have-a-go drills and de-coding (10:30, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00 & 16:00)

Performances and presentations

• 1940’s music from duo Perfect Vintage (10:30, 12:00, 13:30 and 15:00)
• Letters from the Front – presented by History’s Maid
• Weapons of D-Day handling session (11:00 & 13:30)
• D-Day Landings (14:00)
• Tales from the Home Front (rations, evacuees, make-do-&-mend) with join-in activities (11:00, 12:00, 13:00 and 15:00)

Gun Firing Displays

• Second World War gun-firing displays by the Garrison Artillery Volunteers
• Anti-tank guns (11:30)
• Second World War field artillery (14:30)

17:00 Fort Nelson closes (last entry 16:00)