Armour & Embarkation

Follow the story of how this show went from friends with an idea, to one of the world’s largest tank events.

2010 – Where it All Started

Armour & Embarkation began in 2010, started by Jack Beckett and Jim Clark who thought, instead of parking tanks in a field for a weekend, why don’t we take them on the road, and replicate the build up to D-Day here in the Dorchester area. With massive help from Dorset Police, Dorchester Council and friends, this unprecedented event actually became possible! Base camp was situated above Maiden Newton, with the convoy leading through the village to Dorchester town to head up the town’s carnival. It was supposed to be a one off….

2012 – Round Two!

The second Armour & Embarkation took place in 2012. There was such a buzz and support for it in the historic military vehicle world, that Jack and Jim just had to do it again. The convoy had grown as the word of the event had spread. The format was the same as the first and again we headed up the Dorchester Carnival.

2016 – Third Time’s a Charm

Armour & Embarkation, or A&E as it became known, came back in 2016 after a four year hiatus. The team had grown and Adrian Scott, Steve George and Graham and Jacqui Cole joined the team. All got to work making the event bigger and better than ever. Base camp was moved to Broadmayne, where it still remains today (albeit a field over). The format got more ambitious and became a two day event.

2022 – Round Four

With Covid-19 out the way, the A&E team returned with the addition of Abbie Clark in 2022. This time with an even bigger convoy, more participants than ever, and a new field! A large social media push in the run-up to the event put it on the map in Dorset, and helped to draw in the biggest crowds A&E had ever seen. People lined up along the routes to watch the convoy go by.

2024 – “The Last One”

A&E 2024 was the most recent, and nearly the last time the event took place! A&E 2024 continued the streak of continuous growth in fun and event size, with an estimated 15,000 people coming out to watch the convoy roll in to Dorchester.

2026 – ….

Planning for Armour & Embarkation 2026 is well underway, and the organisers are looking toward the biggest and best year yet! Dorchester, the Tank Museum and the village of Martinstown awaits…