Boris
De Bisschop
PASSION FOR HISTORY
1939 - 1945
hetbisdom.be
Living History
IN LOVE WITH THE GOOD OLD DAYS...
Raised by my grandparents in rural Liedekerke, grandmother born in 1930, grandfather in 1925. When the horrors of the second world war ended, my grandfather was almost 20. The music of Glenn Miller, Vera Lynn, The Andrews Sisters made a part of my childhood. And it stayed.
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It then started with a collection that started to lead a life on it's own. Everything related with this second world war period attracts my attention. Getting older, this collection became more specific. From the landings on Normandy on 6 June 1944 to VE-Day on 8 May 1945.
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Re-enactment also came in gradually. We portray the Commonwealth troops during WW2 (British Ensign Living History) & the Belgian armed forces just before the German invasion of 1940 (Het Belgisch Leger Waakt). Most of us have the necessary knowledge of Lindy Hop so with the right tunes from then we are guaranteed to be on the dance floor.
Photocorners & Parties
FOR THOSE WHO NEED THE REAL THING...
There are parties and there are parties. The difference is in details, lots of details. When we talk about historically correct parties, we like to pay in Belgian francs, in a totally adjusted setting with correct flags, draperies, adjusted drinks list, correct music & shows. This resulted in ​ VE-Day party, the authentic 1945 Liberation Ball. At other WW2 themed parties, we are happy to take care of the photo corner (Bal Rat Mort Oostende) or we dress the stage (VE-Day party Oostende).
Collecting
SLIGHTLY HIGHLY ADDICTIVE...
Suddenly there is the realization that your living room starts to look like the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels combined with the domain at Raversijde.
But it can always get worse...
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Very often these living room pieces go to the location where a photocorner is built. Thanks to the lively search for new authentic material, these are also different each and every time, perfectly matched to the location and available space.
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
- Winston Churchill -