A long family association with military tents
Nov 13, 2008 | Category: About Us, Military Surplus, Unusual Tents and Tent Hire
Tags: Army, Bell Tent, Canvas, Cavalry, Marquee, Unusual Tents and Tent Hire
We recently came across some old pictures of my two grandad’s and my great grandfather with military tents in the background.
The one above is my great grandfather, George, who was a horseman in the army we think around the time of the first world war (my father is in the process of researching the army’s records). This picture was of great interest to us as it shows my great grandad, George, second from left next to a classic canvas Bell Tent.
Both father and I are familiar with Bell Tents from our scouting days, they made for great patrol tents sleeping 6 comfortably. I always like the way you rolled the sides up to air them and they looked like they were hovering above the ground. I am not surprised that these same tents are now making a comeback at festivals. I spotted quite a few this summer. They are much more suited as you can stand up and get dressed in them and air them easily. Plus canvas is a much more resilient material and can handle the poorer weather better than these cheap throw away tents made of plastics. Plus a Bell tent has one pole and a few rope lines, how simple to put up!
The pictures below are my two grandads, Roland and William
Roland Parker in Palestine circa 1945-46. Looks like a traditional ridge tent behind him.
William Leacock in front of a Bell Tent, North Africa, 1941
And the chip off the older blocks with his compadre’s in front of a British Army GS Marquee Tent, Trystonbury 2005, Windsor.
More info on our Military Tents can be found on our website. Click on link below.
http://www.overthemoontents.com/over_the_moon_military.htm
