Galloping straight up to date for this issue’s charge at the guns of sanity, the warriors in leather and serge (oh, the redolence of ’80s heavy metal!) travelled to Chateauroux, south of the Loire Valley, deep in the realm of the ogre himself.
For the general public, the event was to comprise two battles, a parade, and a living history encampment; for us, however, it was a chance for the British Napoleonic Association to see the 15th in action, with a view to our ‘joining up’. The jury is still out. Ten of us made the trip, eight Hussars, the famous Lorraine, and Stiles, our officer’s batman (I know, I know, he is completely hatstand!). The journey itself was another trip to Satan’s smallest room, where fatigue, driving rain, and curious smells from the back of the minibus all contrived to make the upside-down-in-a-French-dyke scenario (now, I’m sure that’s illegal!) horribly imminent.
We stayed the first night in a 300 year old ‘collection of rooms’ (hotel? I don’t think so!) run by possiby the most anti-everyone (Napoleon, the Swiss, Americans, Italians, and anyone else who wasn’t English) Frenchwoman who has ever drawn breath. She insisted we eat with her and shouted ‘God Save Queen Elizabeth!’ at every opportunity. If she could ride a horse, she could join the 15th, she was that shot away!
Next day we arrived at the period campsite and renewed acquaintances with several units. This is surely one of the most enjoyable aspects of re-enactment; British anti-Euro types should get over there and find out just how much the Europeans love Britain and the British people – and let’s face it, if anyone would have a grudge against the British it would be your average Euro-history buff! The hospitality was superb, and we met up with Jean-Louis and the French 7th Hussars, a well ’ard bunch of Rock Geezers. Jean-Louis was particularly helpful and even upped our horse allocation by giving us use of a couple of his – something that, I’ll wager, our ‘own’ cavalry units would baulk at? Also there were the excellent 71st Highland Light Infantry who always look ‘campaign weary’ (yes, that is a compliment). They drew the order ‘Much respect to the 71st’ from us as we charged past their square, which, no doubt, will have sad people reaching for their drill manuals!
There came a worrying moment in Saturday’s parade when I ordered Dragoon Williams (known as ‘Bully’ because, basically, he ... er ... used to be a school bully!) to ease back the second three in the column of threes to prevent us bunching. He turned to me and said ‘You’re right corporal, a single shell could wipe us all out.’ I looked at him and his eyes were misted over, he was hundreds of miles, no, years away! ‘Bully’, I murmured, ‘... we have to talk’.
Next issue:
GASP!
at the 15th’s clash with the French riot police
CHEER!
at the antics of Shwal Man and Pelisse Boy
and
QUAKE!
at the full horror of Bully’s nasal bagpipes!!!
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