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Our recreated unit
Troupes de Marin
at Kirby Hall (English Heritage's multi period spectacular) in
1998. Most of the members so far joined are recreating French
Marines but Canadian Miltia and good Native personas are
encouraged.
Members from left to right: Andy
Robertson (Cadet a L'aiguillette), Mike Lowery (sergen), Andy
Burbidge, Steve Davie, Val Czerny, Dave Allen, Richard Duthie,
Tony Carter and Ralph Mitchard (enseigne en pied). This is of
course not a full turnout but when do you ever get that?
We were formed in 1996.
We really only got going in 1997 when a group of people joined
all at once getting us really off the ground. The group had grown in both size and experience
over the last few years (This was for the most part due to the efforts of Ralph Mitchard
who sadly is no longer a member). We keep
on good terms with all the units in New France & Old England
and don't mind if someone moves on to something else - they can
still warm themselves at our fire... and they
will receive an especially fond reception on the field of battle!!
Here we are in 1997 - at the
American Museum, Bath.
Women and Children
At Present women dress as soldiers
but that does not mean that they dont have an equally important role to play.
We see ourselves as a Living History group that
does battles rather than the other way around. The majority of our battles
last about half an hour and an event lasts for a whole weekend.
We want people of all ages and sexes to get into the whole
experience. We have children involved which stops us taking
ourselves too seriously and a good few babies on the way so this
isn't
a macho regiment - more of a family thing which is the true
nature of the regiment or company historically anyway. We try to
cook communally where practical and we enjoy the loose badinage
of the camp fire at night. Theres nothing better than sitting under the
stars with a glass of port and good friends!!.
What Reenactment Backgrounds
Do We Have?
Most of our members have had long years of
reenactment experience before joining the Troupes.
We have a proportion of people who do/have
done English Civil War SK & ECWS (but then what group
doesn't?) , a lot of people who do Jacobite Highlanders for the
'45 (but we don't mix the F&I up with the '45 I hasten to
add) a few American Civil War buffs, Medieval, Napoleonic and WWII.
We welcome anyone who wants to try the period we don't chase people
once they have had a crack. If people want to do this they need to be fairly
self-motivated - one of our members comes all the way down from Aberdeen (god
bless you Richard) - and we all in our own way make sacrifices
for the common good so we expect a little effort in return.
What do we expect?
As we said new members are allways welcome, but
we do ask for a few basic standards to be met.
- All battlefield members (except drummers) should have (or be in the process of acquiring) a shotgun certificate and black powder licence.
- We are not a "Beer & Battle" group, being part of the living history side is just as important.
- Members must take responsibility for the accuracy of their costume and maintain the high standards of the group.
- Pretend to understand the french orders that you get from the sergeant and then get
completely lost when he doesn't do them with you!!.
- Members must think that pauls "Chopin in A Flat" is the funniest joke ever.
We always have plenty of spare kit so new members can be outfitted very easily and
if they like it and if we think you are right for us we'll tell you how to get kitted up.
There are two basic looks we adopt the first is the capot and tuque 'wilderness' look with
leggings and mocassins or shoes. The second is the full Marine outfit, you'll want to get the full
uniform for a more formal and regular look (we encourage members to adopt this look as so as money
and time permits).
If this appeals to you then
e-mail Mike Lowery
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