Like minded pursuits.

It is a given when you get into reenactment that your fellows will have certain shared interests.. most obviously the era you portray.. and probably military history in general for the soldiers maybe a larger slice of social history and domestic practices for the non-combat roles.. most love the whole era, why else would you want to emerse yourself in it?

This is of course the off season and some friends in another unit regularly have war gaming days as a time to meet up and do something both Napoleonic and sociable.  It is something I have done for over twenty years and many people in reenactment seem to enjoy it, it is one of those like minded pursuits and many a friend at events as sidled over and said 'So you like wargames too?' and a discusion of what, who and where I play develops, and who are the best miniature makers, and game systems.. etc etc

 Since I started out in the 45eme I have naturally painted a number of my French troops as such and knowing the uniform inside out has changed the painting.. how ever did I think that cuffs were green or just fill in the blanks with whatevr colour felt right. TCH.
I had also wondered how in wargames blocks of troops could move diagonally without becoming entangled, not forward, about face, then forward again.. now I know for sure, I've done it in drill and when I move a battalion off at an angle I see all these feet going 'Left foot Step forward, Step out right 45 degrees, step forward, step out right 45 degrees.. step forward..  etc.  It all goes together.

A chap called John being Napoleon at Salute, at the time I didn't know I would one day be marching behind him through the streets of London.

Another hooby has come out for me since starting is my own modest collection of nik naks from the era.. coins, buttons, musket and pistol balls..  I am fascinated by where they might have come from. If only they could speak!  One coin is Russian and from 1812, how did it get to England? Maybe its story is completely mundane and it just passed to a merchant for some potatos and got carried back in amongst other coins by mistake. or maybe it was freshly minted in Moscow just in time for the Grande Armee to occupy the city and got carried back on the grim retreat inside the seam of a soldiers coat, only for him to be sent to Spain in 1813 and be killed in action, only for a redcoat to cut his jacket open for loot and take it, eventually back to blighty, and eventually to an antique shop.. and then to me..  Who knows?

There is also a map that was given away with an American newspaper so its readers could follow the war in Europe in 1809, and a 45eme button.. which strangely sell for more than a lot of other units.. a medallion issued for the return of Napoleon's body and my recent 'Waterloo medal' given out free by the Royal mint. The box I keep them in was made by a French prisoner of war, a prisoner with a craft would make things to try and raise some pocket money by selling them on to locals, bone and straw were common free materials and I have seen some wonderful things made of them.. like a finely carved sailing ship complete with human hair to make the rigging and rope lines..

My favourite item is a snuff box sent from Spain, I got it cheap because the lid is missing and plan to try and fashion a top myself. It is made from bone and has been etched/painted in a style called scrim-shaw and it is the picture that gets me, a man walking away from a woman, as if he has turned his back and must make a long voyage.. was this the actual man who carved the box and his wife? The costumes they wear are apparently typical of Holland/Low countries.. was he conscripted to fight with the French and sent to spain where he became a prisoner?  What was his ultimate fate? This sort of thing really connects me with the people and their lives.

Somewhere near Aachen at the moment a Prussian cannon ball is sitting in a courier depot waiting to wing its way to me. Found in the 80s by a German school teacher apparently in park land almost equidistant from Waterloo and Ligny. Which battle was it fired in?.. or was it one of the last shots of the day on 18th of june as the French fled the field? or maybe just abandoned by a lazy crewman on the muddy road..  again, who knows.

If I ever win the lottery (I suppose I'd have to buy a ticket first) I'd love to collect Swords and pistols and curiosities.. and maybe have a private museum in one wing of the house. Until then I shall enjoy my little box of nik-naks. 

Keeping up appearances.

There was a grand event last week called 'The Duchess of Richmond's Ball' (named after the one preceding the battle of Waterloo) which was the same date as the Napoleonic Associations AGM, replacing the usual evening do for most purposes. It would have been tricky to get to and I'd just been in Bury St Edmunds the week before for the 45eme AGM.. but I feel I would not have wanted to go anyway.. because..

A) I'm French.
B) I'm a regular soldier.
C) I'm a scruffy so-and-so.

Of course it is for fun and a private event and there is nothing to stop a private French soldier or an Eygptian Mamaluke or a hairy Cossack or an Austrian Lieutenant General from attending but I just wouldn't feel right. As I said before I do tend to take on sympathetic views from being a regular soldier.. like Cavalry are a load of flash gits and the Old guard are a hugely overpaid mob who get the best of everything and half the time just stand at the back and look important..

Some people do have more than one uniform, possibly just for such occasions and possibly one of higher rank, or a civilian outfit or posh frock... and I confess after my brief turn as an acting Officer at Amherst I was tempted to get a fancy hat and a Swarzburg-Sonderhausen Captain's uniform jacket incase anything like it happened again or as a just-for-fun-social-ocassion-non-regiment outfit. It might be fun if a unit like the 79th Highlanders were having a (French free) event I was free for to pop along and be a German officer on Liason.
Swarzburg-Sonderhausen were a minor German state that formed part of the Confederation of the Rhine, they fought besides the French but changed sides in 1813... Also no one reenacts them so I would not be treading on anyones toes or have to worry about anyone pointing out if I'd got the cuff buttons wrong etc.

I could also go to the ball and swan around as a 'proper officer' and put on a bad German accent.  Maybe next year!

Also my uniform is very much not suited to a dress occasion, with patched up trousers and currently a few missing buttons.. uniformity was brought up at our unit AGM and I felt for a bit like I was running against my inherent views by encouraging uniformity.. mainly that the overall look of the unit would be improved by everyone having black gaiters and chords/pom pom on shako. A few folk seemed to think this meant parade ground uniformity but NO, that was not it at all, and I hope that got across. I love the little differences and accoutrements people carry. When we set up a camp we shouldnt be looking like we live in a brick built permanent barracks. We are troops in the field!

I was also not aware that Napoleonic is reenactment is considered to be (relatively) one of THE MOST EXPENSIVE eras to do, and that when someone doing English civil war or Confederate Americans proposes doing Napoleonic it gets greeted with comments about 'Deep pockets' and 'second mortgages'. Having come straight in to Napoleonic I never really thought about it, suits of armour are incredibly expensive (and so is a German half track..) but I suppose most medievals start off with just the togs, a halberd and a helmet.

..anyway if you excuse me I have to record my measurements for future events as the King of Bavaria...

Authenticity III

I do feel I am a 'good' reenactor, I have made an effort to get kit together and do it as authentically as I can (yet without being an authenticity nazi, or stitch nazi.. see below), get to a reasonable number of events each year and be keen to help out, and talk to the public. I wouldn't mind being an NCO in some distant future, I like looking after people, helping with kit, straightening things out, and I'm quite happy to shout in public but I'm not sure if my mind would ever hold onto the commands/maneuver techniques.

So what would a bad reenactor be? I suppose someone who unapologetically turns up in a pair of trainers, dosen't do their turn at washing up and most importantly is unsafe on the field, pointing/poking their musket/sword/horse/tank about and not being mindful of what/who is around them.

        "Ach, it is meant to be 1945 and this coffee has neither sawdust or ground acorns in it. Enjoying  it is making me very sad."

Stitch nazi is a term I heard yesterday, it goes beyond having the exact regulation kit into having it made from exacting materials, by hand, sewn in the right direction, probably by candlelight. This should be applauded but I ran into such an individual on line the other day when someone was asking about where to get kit, amid helpful links and advice the stitch Nazi was insistant on '100% museum relica quality, hand sewn, or it is simply no good.' and questioning every link posted.
This is fine. Good for him, his standards are high.. but people are already put off reenactment by the idea of it being a very expensive hobby, such demands would make a full kit ridiculously out of most peoples price range.

..and basically his tone was insulting. Everyone else is no good. Fools who want to play at soldiers and are ONLY interested in getting cheap gear.  Just enough to get by so they can run about going bang bang.  

Who do we do the hobby for?  ourselves. We love the historical period we adopt and enjoy the life at events with like minded people. We want to be authentic for ourselves and for our comrades in the unit, and wider society, but to me the stitch nazi ideal is someone only doing it for themselves. The majority of other reenactors will be almost as oblivious to the fact someones shirt is made from cotton weaved by hand by maidens in the south of France and that the inside hem of his trousers are sown counter clockwise instead of clockwise.. who is going to know? only the wearer.

I have seen several reenactors in their underpants.  What has been seen cannot be unseen.  and I dont think they were authentic 1809 undergarments, and thinking about it I dont actually know if people wore socks at the time...   Should we follow the young man belows example?  it is harder to flash in French fusilier kit though.

Quick google does not shed much light on this but I did find this on 'Russian socks' that date back to the Seven years war. Do you think it will catch on?

Just off to source some 1756 Lithuanian cotton (for summer) and Ukrainian flannel (for winter). At least I dont have to do any stitching!

A date with M Haricot.

Do I want to stay at Fort Amherst for a weekend of documentary film making (with Sean Bean!) with lots of friends, and an evening out.. YES PLEASE! This seemed like an event to look forward to, even the prospect of sleeping in an unheated brick and cobble guardroom in January seemed more of a challenge/experience than an unpleasantness. Off to Chatham!

So why, after the event, did I generally feel discontent.  Of every reenactment thing I've done this is the only one that generally left me with a feeling of disatisfaction afterwards, and I'm not entirely sure why.  There were many good times. This blog is meant to chart a journey into reenactment, and what long journey dosn't have ups and downs?  It would be remiss not to mention the odd down.

Now, I have done a little film work before and heard tales from others of standing about and being chivied from pillar to post so expected re-takes of everything and lots and lots of waiting. There is always  a lot of 'Hurry up and Wait' going on. Even having all marched up to a field at the top on a cold morning and then marching back after just standing about for three and a half hours didnt bother me. I'd had two free breakfasts.

                                                                waiting in a field.

The filming schedule was indeed a bit annoying and sometimes non sensical and even two breakfasts couldn't stop some grumbles even from me.. who had earlier chided others for moaning. They wanted a scene with a big French column marching out of the smoke with Mr Bean (not that one) in the middle but insisted on filming small interviews and such that could be done any time.. whilst it grew dark and people had to start leaving to get home. Then as we stood in the dark waiting we learnt Mr Bean was doing the whole photos thing now (instead of later as scheduled) and we arrived just in time to miss it. I tell myself I am not someone who cares about celebrity and never ask people for autographs. But I did feel more disappointed than I would care to admit. Which obviously I just have.

                        Sort of evidence of Sean Bean sighting. He doesn't half jump when a cannon goes off! I did later say Hi and he was amiable, he's really not one for small talk, or for that matter, talk.

But even without any of these I think my disatisfaction comes from having more than my usual number of feeling like an idiot moments. I expect most reenactors have them when they are starting out. One chap in our group had a mishap that burnt his hand whilst firing and was noticably shy of doing any firing for a time after that. But I should be beyond that.  It's been two years now. I should be able to follow commands, even in French, without my mind going blank or have to get the gist and copy everyone else. I usually recover from such moments but this did knock my confidence.

                                              Waiting in a cafe.

There were certainly many good moments too. Like watching the 45eme playground assault course and a dog that liked my beard, and getting to know some of the group I have not been at many events with more, and did I mention two breakfasts?

                                                                   not waiting, dancing.

I did sleep well, right through, in the luxury of a bunk bed with my big coat on, untroubled by cold or snoring. 

I was pleased to have the honour of carrying the Eagle throughout the weekend, which should be simple enough, but it has a habit of swivelling round to face the wrong way, being top heavy, and looking up during maneavers means a moment of distraction where if you dont hold your shako on at the same time it will fall off backwards, you also have to watch out for anything overhead, including everyones bayonet tipped muskets as they swing round and I did indeed learn which moves caused the most potential prangs and started countering them. (demi-turn to the right, fine. Demi-turn to the left; carefull!) The potential to carry the Eagle again would certainly give me an excuse to buy a sabre briquet (infantry short sword) after all if I must defend it with my life being armed would help, right?

                                                                      Waiting in a room.

On this occasion the only defending I had to do against the British was verbal.

'Could I just hold the Eagle for a moment and take it over to show those chaps.'

'No'

'You know me, please, Ive been bet a tenner I can't go back with it.'

'No.'

Having the Eagle is also good if your a short arse and want to see where you are when it comes on the TV!

That will be the reward of the weekend, seeing us in the show, I only hope the footage is good and dosen't make us cringe. We shot an attack in column on day one with some Prussians baulstering the numbers.. whom on day two we supplied with French kit, but they then decided not to re-film so im sure history bods will be sat in front of the TV pointing out how wrong it is having Prussian landwehr with the French! or out of three takes they will show the one of people going the wrong way. never mind, it is now all in the hands of the editors!

Back to the future.

So gentle reader, tis the cusp of a new year, so pour yourself a brandy and join me in looking into the past and the future...

Gear wise I think I can now tick everything off the list, having yesterday received a pair of Brogans (shoes) from Mcfarthingbowls . Who were actually also the first company I ever bought anything from, a canteen, bowl and spoon. It was almost this time last year that I got the 45eme tattoo, yes, marked for life now.

Hoogstraten was the foreign adventure of the year and Fort Amherst the most novel, as in adventure novel, rife with anecdotes.  Who knows what the new year will bring? well, here are some clues...

                                                                 WATERLOO.
                                           (que dramatic Dino Laurentis music)

is the elephant in the room when talking about 2015, the almost last battle of the bicentinials and of course a very anglocentric one. there was already talk of it when I started and it was doubtless a contributing factor to me getting involved whilst some of the 200 year events were not yet passed.

Generally there is a lot of moaning about it.

The gist of such complaints it is that the tourist board has taken over the event as a money spinner, and the reenactors are expected to be in full on camp mode from 9 to 5 and then fight the battles in the evenings (separate tickets are required to see the camps and then the battle), by the end of which it will be dark. Some add to this the fear that this will seriously cut into drinking time.

Personally Im still looking forward to it. The organisers may be seriously trying to marshal everything but they are literally dealing with three armies and a bigger army again of tourists/visitors. We can make our own fun, we will be there with friends on a historic occasion and there will be good company, food and drink. Participants can be grumpy or try and make the most of it, personally I am hoping for the best, and people like moaning, especially on the internet.

Experienced reenactors everywhere can be heard saying 'Oooh, it wont be like Waterloo '98, that were a fine year that was.' 

One thing that does niggle me slightly is press releases and newspapers talking about it being the biggest reenactment EVER when im sure some Gettysburgs have been HUGE and Leipzig had more participants than the maximum numbers for Waterloo (you had to apply online to get a place for Waterloo, which incidently no one has yet had verified but having been involved in 'The road to Waterloo' events and the British Napoleonic Associations main French unit puts us in good stead).

Whatever happens we can say 'We were there.'

and then?   in a way which events are organised/attended once it is over will become freer, not being overshadowed.  Could go anywhere! For the French forces it will be nice to go back to the years of victory.

I do worry a bit about age in general though, in ten years time most of the 45eme will be, well definitely beyond the average age of even veteran French soldiers and most of our new recruits are not much younger, indeed our youngest are the children of the regiment.  I think being a French unit in England contributes to this as older (and wiser!) folk are more open minded and less prone to peer presure, you want to fight for the Emperor you do so! Younger reenactors are often idealisticly patriotic and less willing to put up with 'froggie' comments.

Older Napoleonic enthusiasts had the film Waterloo with its fairly even handed portrayal of armies, and a sympathetic Napoleon, then there was the Duellists (with French protagonists) and Colonel Chambert, there was the adventures of Brigadier Gerard and the Seven men of Gascony. The era of the French hero on stage, screen and literature, though history books, more than historical novels, informed the multitudes.
As mentioned previously we now have Sharpe, on TV and in novels, as well as Hornblower and Master and commander.. all beating the French for King and Country and maybe this really has had an effect on recruitment. The 85eme are a 'French' group with lots of Dutch and Belgian members and they seem to have a lot more young faces in the ranks.

                                                           and I still wield two battle axes!
                                                                (so dont call me Gandalf)

One of the biggest Napoleonic events in the UK is the battle of the nations, this year at Wollaton where I turned up for my first ever event in great coat and bicorne and everything in a sack. The campagne de la Bossiere-ecole is another temptation, an international campaign in France with everyone out under the stars and living out of their 'pack.  I am in the throes of getting a potential new job, or possibly my old job, and either way I can see myself turning up on day one with a long list of holiday dates 'already booked', yeah.. I cant really do ..  June. 

                                                        EN AVANTE! MARCH INTO 2015!

Marchons! Marchons!

   The Lord Mayor's parade! A quick jaunt up to Blackfriars and stroll across to the rendezous point.

                                      The Lord Mayor personally welcomes us to the occasion.

                                                            What it actually looked like.

Before and after the event the streets seemed strangely empty, granted it was about 8.30 or so when I arrived but there was barely anyone but Police and stewards to be seen. not even people who looked like they were in the parade until I clapped eyes on a couple of Highlanders and a fusilier and knew I must be in the right place.

Many salutations followed and people trying to sort out their backpacks, stow gunbags and balance blankets/greatcoats. Given the possible downpours I brought my greatcoat (for afterwards) which made a bigger, heavier bundle than the usual blanket and I used a handkerchief to further try and keep it in the right place and not sag untidily, and it seemed to work quiet well.

We were off! Drums beat, bugles sounded, bagpipes parbleblaabled. All set in formations we naturally were given the order to stand down for about twenty minutes.
Then away at a surprisingly thrifty pace and we were soon in the thick of it, a good turn out of people, cheering and occasionally booing and flag waving! occasionally with French ones but this may have purely been due to random flags being handed out by some company or other. Union flags and whistles could be bought from one of the many street traders before the police made them clear off.

There was much singing, mainly inspired by a young Dutch chap amongst us from the 85th who has a lovely singing voice, Jaunty Alloette being the most popular as more of us could actually remember or pick up the words, although the onion song got a few renditions.
I have tried learning songs but can only ever remember the chouus, I think being in French and often at a slightly odd metre makes them hard to remember.. plus a song in English presents visual reminders to what comes next.. if you think of 'The grand old Duke of York..' you tend to see his ten thousand men being marched up to the top of a hill, and down again... and rhyming with it.

Then there were the hearty 'VIVE L'EMPOREUR!'s generally given three times everytime a particularly crowded stretch was passed.  We certainly made more noise than the British and think this gave as a nice gallic swagger. Apparently John Snow said he liked us best.

That swagger did sag a little it must be said as we approached the half way mark, the songs went quiet and the Vives were fewer and far between. The straps of my pack were biting somewhat but I managed to bash the back of my shoe back on when someone stepped on it, no one fell out during the march which was all good. The half way break was much welcome, and many a Japanese tourist politely bustled up and asked very politely for a photo with us.

                                            Is that the Prussians? Grouchy isn't answering!

Again it was form up and wait. Then we were off again, roughly back to where we had started, and once more with some songs. As said there were occasional groups of boo-ers who were usually met by a counter cheer or vive L'France from us although I did find myself pondering the situation of being a group representing French would-be invaders in a very traditional British occasion with lots of union flags fluttering and on the eve of Rememberence Sunday. One call for a mass Vive L'France fell a bit flat as most members probably were not sure of it's appropriateness. By now my throat was getting dry again and couldn't really get a bottle of water out and the top off whilst holding my musket in position, so it had to wait.. and then without ceremony it was all over. Wisely groups were dispersed to different break up points.

 Bayonets were stowed, Water taken, and the pleasant promise of going for a pint mooted. They seemed to have hidden all the pubs until we found an old tavern tucked away down a narrow predestrian side street. My crackly voice was repaired by a smooth Guiness. It's good for you you know.

It was a grand day out and the last event for the 45eme of the season. The weather held for the most part until I was literally five minutes from home. The rain and tight straps leaving two pinkish stripes on my shirt and today I have slightly stiff legs, and many good memories.

Roll on next year. Big things await.

Dover III.

Third time off to Dover!  I had been working late the night before so this meant I had not been able to go for the Saturday and camp over, and so was arriving on the Sunday morning as were the rest of the 45th, already set up by the British as I arrived..

I said my hellos and sorted out some last bits of kit, trying to find a convenient place to stick my bayonet (other than in an Englishman), I still need to get a proper holder. Then their was a march up to the top display area and a bit of drill infront of the crowd. Then marched back for a spot of lunch before the afternoon skirmish.
Food wrappers/plastic bottles are starting to become a bit of a bugbear for me when people are eating, because it is usually just as the public are milling around. Drinks at least could be poured into tin cups or appropriate holders and food emptied onto plates but other than whipping away empties I would feel a bit awkward making a fuss.

The usual redcoats (79th Highlanders, Highland Light bods, and 1st Footguards) were joined by a few Riflemen, including two friendly faces from Amherst. The rifles make up a large number in the British camp but also draw a lot of flak because they often outnumber the redcoats and Sharpe gets blamed for their popularity! I was surprised at how much a member of public disliked them and said they'd come to take over the event. I would never have joined the Rifles personally but they are not going to turn people away and I'm sure there are some amongst them who also tut at would-be-sharpes just as US Airborne re-enactors proably tut at people who joined up to be in 'Band of Brothers' yet find themselves refering to the show when explaining things to the public.

                                         Actually re-enactment Riflemen are never this scruffy!

The afternoon skirmish was pretty much a re-play of last time, we emerge and take out the guards before seising the fort.. I got to do my 'Rise up people of Dover! Let me hear you cheer!' speech which went down quite well. It was a good crowd given the only sunny day that weekend. We then skimished with the British coming on.

After my first shot I seemed to misfire every other attempt and considered changing the flint but thought most of the brief battle would be over by then. Duncan and a couple of the others chased the rifles off with a charge then said 'When you've fired, you can follow us down.'  I nodded. then thought he said 'When they've fired you can fall down.'  Which was it?    I was half way up a big grassy embankment so falling down seemed the more apt and so after a couple of shots did a dramatic death, rolling down to the bottom of the slope.

With plenty of cartridges left over a couple of us chose to fire off a few rounds for fun, I changed my flint and promptly fired four shots in a row. I wished I'd done that before the skirmish and in future will put in a new flint everytime. Will ask for a bag of flints for Xmas.

                                                     Oh Non! we've missed the ferry home.

Soon after it was packing up time. It all seemed over quite quickly but definitely worth turning up for. My last firing event of the season so gave the musket a good clean and bit of extra oil although she will be coming out for the Lord Mayor's parade next month...