The Napoleonic Association is part of a vast Napoleonic reenactment scene that extends from Spain throughout Europe to Russia and the Ukraine, and crosses the Atlantic to incorporate Canada and the USA. All of these groups participate in recreations of famous events such as Austerlitz, Borodino, Jena, Leipzig and Waterloo, and as the bicentennials progress no doubt we shall see such conflicts reenacted again, alongside some of the other famous battles of the era. In the early 1980s the Napoleonic Association was invited to participate in events at Waterloo in Belgium. At first they were just parades in and around the town alongside a number of March-ing Societies from France, Belgium and Germany. These organisa-tions dressed in Napoleonic uniforms and formed local Honour Guards and Bands for special occasions. The Waterloo pageants rapidly developed into small skirmish battles on the various sites in the area (but nor the actual battlefield), with the Napoleonic Association providing the main battle reenactment input because of its unique (at the time) experience in this field. The Napoleonic reenactment scene on the Continent has changed considerably since then. As the years have progressed the battle displays have become bigger and better, and are now fought on the actual battlefield itself. The events have encouraged groups from around Europe to come out of the shadows, as it were, and participate fully in European Napoleonic reenactment. Many such groups, particularly in the old Eastern block countries, have been in existence for many years but never knew of the presence of other like-minded societies until the publicity about Waterloo reached them. The Napoleonic Association provided the battle reenactment expertise in the early days. Now there are many groups in Europe with similar experience and obvious talent for organising battles. The big battles of the Napoleonic period are certain to be recreated in a spectacular fashion, and it would be well worth linking your holiday abroad with such an event (spouse and/or bank manager permitting!). As an example of how big and spectacular such battles are, in June 1990 the event at Waterloo involved 2,300 participants from throughout Europe, Canada and the USA. Three days of parades and marches culminated in a three-hour battle on the original field, entertaining somewhere in the region of 150,000 spectators. In June 1995 there will be another such event at this famous site, which promises to be even bigger. Details will be publicised in First Empire and it should be well worth a trip to Belgium just to see this reenactment. The Napoleonic Association has publicised its many units in the pages of this magazine, and so the reader is aware of the regiments portrayed in the U.K. Many European countries have a simi-lar organisation. In France for example, there is La Grande Armée, an association of groups portraying the infantry, cavalry and artillery of the Napoleonic period. In Germany the Napoleonische Gesellschaft consists of some twenty regiments with approximately 350 members from all regions of the Federal Republic. Its Prussian Brigade consists of Line, Landwehr and FreiKorps units; it has a Northern Brigade of British affili-ation with the King's German Legion, Brunswick troops and the German section of the 42nd Foot (Royal Highland). The French Brigade consists of the Emperor's Guard and Line Regiments; whilst the Confederation of the Rhine is represented by Saxon, Hesse and Baden regiments. All such organisations belong to the European Napoleonic Federa-tion, which promotes and coordinates major reenactment events across the Continent. In the USA and Canada the emphasis is on the Anglo-American War of 1812, with recreated units of the 33rd Foot, 49th Foot and the Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada, plus United States infantry of the period. All these groups participate in the 'big one' at Waterloo. So the next time that you witness a Napoleonic event in this country, remember that the units you see are part of a worldwide hobby of Napoleonic reenactment. A hobby that unites people with a common interest, namely, the Napoleonic period. A hobby in fact, that produces some amazing and spectacular events through-out Europe and North America. A Reminiscence Sergeant Laharpe halted his weary troops. Only a small group now remained. The ranks of his proud Company had been devastated by the battle the previous day. "Peloton halt" - "Serrez les rangs". He dispatched a Corporal with a few of his more experienced veterans to form a picket line, whilst his men gained some much needed rest. Men ! Many were just boys - Marie Louises who had never fired a musket in anger until yesterday. Now struggling through an endless forest he had rounded up those he could, and would try to regain contact with the Bataillon. A shot rang out, and the spent ball whistled through the branches overhead. Austrian jagers had caught up them, and were diving in his outposts. through the smoke he could make out the steady ranks of Austrian infantry advancing - Soldiers of the "Hoch und Deutschmeister" more than a match for his raw recruits. They were slow to move in for the kill though. Clearly they did not know his true strength. The veterans in the ranks led the recruits skillfully. En tirailleur the French withdrew disputing each tree and moving to create an impression of strength. The forest opened and Laharpe was forced into a clearing... it could only be a matter of time. The French continued to withdraw, they would sell their lives dearly. The Austrian line deployed and confidently advanced, when it happened. A thunder of hooves. Flashes of green, and red as horses charged passed the startled French fusiliers and on towards the Austrian line. With no time to form square the Austrians were scattered, and the French were able to move to the offensive and round up the survivors. Now with a resplendent cavalry escort of the 1er regiment de Chasseurs a Cheval, Sergeant Laharpe formed his Company. En avant, pas ordinaire, marche ! Laharpe would fight again! Confidently striding out they re-joined the ranks of the 21 de ligne, and the Ist Corps of the Grande Armee. Germany 1813 ? No Grimsthorpe Castle and Estate, Lincolnshire 1994. Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #17 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1994 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com