Napoleonic Newsdesk

Mother of All Re-enactments

by Ed Parker

The 1st and 2nd of August at Kirby Hall English Heritage promoted, its now annual festival of Living History, The Napoleonic Association took its place along with some 51 other Societies, featuring over 2000 participants in this festive occasion.

And a glorious sight it was too! Living history encampments representing eras from the Saxons, Vikings, and Normans to the 1940's were spread around the whole site. From the hill overlooking the site, the view of the enormous tented village was spectaculars and in the NA camp we were constantly entertained by songs from the colonies, by our nearest neighbours the American civil war brigades. But then the whole weekend was like this - a constant voyage in time through History. And apart from our own splendid turnout is was a great experience to see other societies at work and play. I think everybody had a ball and I also think we learned quite a bit from others as to how differently they do things. I can also tell you that we received a lot of compliments from other societies about both our turn out, discipline and displays - So you can all give yourselves a pat on the back.

Many of us who arrived to set up on the Friday evening awoke at about 6.00 am to the rain hammering on the tent. And it carried on, and on, and on. But despite this spectators started arriving on site at 9.30 in the morning so for once the period camp had to be ship shape pretty early. Mike Freeman, Andrew Morgan and myself trooped our way to the early morning meeting with the English heritage management and despite the depressing conditions and lots of dripping re-enactors the show was on.

As the arena acts were conducted more or less in chronological order it was around 1.30 before it was the NA's turn and wonder of wonders it had by this time stopped raining. We had to produce a re-enactment to fill 30 minutes and our French contingent set off around the Hall to the far side while the British made for the main assembly area. Once the previous display had departed (I think it was the lace wars), and the commentary had completed its historical introduction we were on!

Our light brigade drew up in skirmishing formation to meet the initial French advances, supported by artillery fire. After being hard pressed by two French infantry advances the British won the day with the help of the 71st Highlanders, using their initiative, outflanking the French and supported by the advances of the Navy ground forces and their Cannonade. We all filed out to a well earned applause and paraded in column back to camp through the mud. Come 5.00 pm we took our place in the column of 2000 erectors to take part in the finale. Drawn up between the lace wars and the American civil war troops we marched onto the field and took our bow along with everyone else. Our salute to the crowd included a rolling volley from the British and the final volley by all the renactors was a great experience.

Sunday dawned clear and once again our period camp was in full swing by the time the public started to enter. Our afternoon display was welcomed with an equal amount of applause but followed a very different plot with the destruction of the British squares by a combination of French artillery fire, cavalry and infantry advances. Once again we filed out from the arena, the British led by the senior service HMS, who had given us great support all weekend . The final parade was a highly enthusiastic occasion. Those members of the NA who stayed to support this finale were in for a treat. The formed up re-enacteors were in party mood, keeping the crowd entertained by their cheering, salutes, Mexican waves and volley fire. Perhaps one of the many highlights of this great weekend was the final parade from the arena, as re-enactors from all eras created an avenue of saluting and cheering people through which we all filed. It was a great feeling to be amongst your peers - so many people representing many different tastes but above all, everyone with a feeling for the occasion and a sense of history . A weekend well worth the experience.

The NA performed with great credit, as did the staff and organisers. Over 22,700 spectators came in over the 2 days and with such a large number of participants as well every one concerned with the event organisers and participants alike deserve much credit.

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