Stanstead park

 After nearly two years since the last event.. green lights have been given to several shows.. this being the first, hosted by the light dragoons. 

It was at Stanstead park, a country house with connections to Lord Ponsonby, the cavalry commander killed at Waterloo.  It was the estates first open day since covid too.

It would be my debut as a Westphalian doctor attached to the French brigade, after a few years of pondering a role where drill is not required. It was perhaps apt that I nearly had to leave the house in a cloak after struggling to get a coat on, but just managed amidst gnashing of teeth. 

After so long it was amazing how quickly old habits and routines re-asserted themselves with everyone.

The troops marched out to go through the moves and I remained to look after the camp with a few other non-soldats.

I wanted to champion the age as one of medical improvements and the beginning of the modern era... But engaging with the public I soon had to resort to humorous opening lines "Vaccinations here, your choice of knife." *Holds up small scalpel or fairly large curved knife* or just (still holding scalpel) "Have you had your vaccinations?" 

 People often know about Edward Jenner and it's a quick jump to mentioning the Napoleonic connection. The two met and Napoleon gave him a medal to recognise his scientific achievements. 

I had expected more of a partisan crowd given that it was a very 'British' occasion, with cricket, the band of the Grenadier guards and the looming football game but surprisingly there were relatively few 'French jokes'. 

The first modest battle.. a brief clash of cavalry then our two French infantry units versus two British. 

My plan was to dash to casualties, check they were not dead (and soon started asking if they wanted to stay dead, which was most often answered with a yes)..  and apply my tourniquet with it's corkscrew tightening device which I hoped looked intriguing, then reveal a clean bandage before swapping it out for a bloody one. I may even start hiding one up my sleeve for some sleight of hand action.

It went pretty much as intended except I found the straps needed tightening as arms are deceptively narrow. 

The French were meant to win but apparently no one told the British and there is a point where someone has to give or it all looks a bit silly as no one is dying/running away. 

This was put right on day two when the British were actually defeated.. on a Sunday!

       The sophistication of reenactment.
 

                                Er.... yes. 

How was the experience of being a Doctor compared to a fusilier?  

I had a bit more time on my hands but then this was often taken with talking to people by a small display of medicines and paraphernalia. 

I felt I didn't see as much of my comrades as usual, the comraderie is more apparent when you're marching and fighting together, and firing a well loaded musket is always satisfyingly.

But the freer reign was also pleasant at times and a British officer even bought me a drink! 

As with many events at country houses I got to enjoy a stroll around the grounds before the general public were about. 

An enjoyable weekend, only a bit wet to start off with, and it looks highly likely that a bigger event will be held there next year. 

..and speaking of bigger events it is only a little over a week to Crouch ridge, Essex, where Napoleon and a ship full of French troops have been blown ashore to be confronted near the estuary where the ships are being repaired.. 

Watch this space!