David Whitehouse sees the Internet as an essential tool for mid 18th Century re-enactors, historians and wargamers. The Information Superhighway is, surprisingly, filling up fast with reenactors and living history enthusiasts. (Both surprising and ironic as individuals are often drawn to the hobby to escape the pressures and frustrations of the late 20th Century).

The Internet is vast and growing so quickly that it is almost a fulltime job to keep abreast of the latest developments, applications and software. A recent survey stated that the number of people using the Internet in Britain is currently rising by 60% per year and that some 3.6 million Britons have tried the Net on one or more occaisions. I won't even attempt to map out Cyberspace, but hope to give you a few useful snippets from the viewpoint of a mid 18th Century reenactor.

Recommended reading is Teach Yourself the Internet by Mac Bride or UK Internet in Easy Steps by Andy Holyer, plus special features in Call to Arms, the International Historical Reenactment Directory. [Editor: there is undoubtedly an lnternet for Dummies booklet available on this subject in the USA, as well as many other easy to understand books at your local bookstore or computer outlet.]

ISP Competition

Competition between service providers is heating up and many are now offering free 30-day trials and extras such as free web space, multiple e-mail addresses, additional on-line services and unlimited access (in addition to call charges). It certainly pays to shop around and one of the best deals in the UK must be the Budget Starter Pack from Prestel On-line at £ 3.65 per month plus VAT. Essential software, shareware and demonstration programs can also be found on the floppy disks or CD's accompanying popular Internet and computer magazines.

The World Wide Web ("WWW") is the most user-friendly and obvious starting point for even the most timid technophobe to go web surfing on the Net within minutes of coming into contact with a PC for the flrst time. Virtually everything you need is there - from listings for re-enactment groups around the world and suppliers of uniforms and accessones, to equipment, museums, heritage sites and research institutions, militaria & antiquarian/military booksellers and booksearch services.

The free flow of information is one of the founding principles of the Net and some organizations are quite happy to list your society, activities or events absolutely free of charge - no catch. An increasing number of clubs, societies and non-profit organizations are taking advantage of the free Web space being offered by sites such as the Great Britain Re-enactor's Page.

Some of my favorite Web sites include the following (note: web site URL address is in bold, followed by a brief description of the web page in non-bold lettering):

http//www.reenactor.net LIVING HISTORY REENACTOR NET

http://www.reenactor.net UK Living history reenactor net UK

http://www.compulink.co.uk/~novar/renact.htm Great Britain reenactor's page.

http://alethea.ukc.ac.uk/SU/Societies/deBec/reg18c.html 18th Century Re-enactrnent groups.

http://www.calltoarms.com Call to Arms page.

http://www.erinet.com/bp/sywassoc.html Seven Years War Association Web Page [Editor: this page is managed by Bob French. May I suggest that if you have any relevant SYW news that you call up this page and send an e-mail to Bob so that he can post your news on our web page]

http://web.syr.edu/~laroux/ French & Indian War Home Page.

http://potato.cit.cornell.edu/Bryan/Muster/RollColl.html -The Cyber Master.

http://www.failte.com/nam/ - The National Army Museum(UK) Home Page.

http://www.du.edu/~tomills/military/uk/uk.htm - British Empire Commonwealth Land Forces: United Kingdom.

http://www.multi-medias.ca/Museum/index.html - Re-enactment in Canada.

http://www.multi-medias.ca/Canada-Reenactment/index.html Canadian Re-enactment.

http://www.mnsi.net/~dgeneral/home.htm [Editor: try leaving out evervthiing after the word "general" if the above address does not work for you] The Discriminating General - manufacturers of museum quality reproduction military equipment for the WAS, F&I War, SYW, Napoleonic Wars, British Colonial Wars, and Crimean War.

Jas Townsend & Son Inc. have now put their full catalogue on the Net, complete with graphics and regularly updated with new products. Note: there are still security problems with credit card transactions and it is recommended that payment for orders should still be made by conventional means (i.e. phone, fax or snail mail(post)). A recent fax order to this particular company resulted in prompt delivery (USA to UK) within 12 days. [Editor: I too have been very pleased with the service and delivery that I have received from Townsend & Son in the US] Their web site can be found at http://www.jastown.com/

Electronic Mail (e-mail)

I enjoy dialogue with fellow re-enactors in the States and Canada for no more than the cost of a local phone call. Pictures and photographs, programs, text and sound files can all be attached to e-mail messages and you can send multiple copies as easily as you can send one. Duke Henry Plantagenet, editor of the afore-mentioned Call to Arms, can also be reached by e-mail: admin@calltoarms.com useful for amending listings, change of contact name, address details, etc. [Editor: readers can reach me at JPURKY@aol.com if they have any questions, comments or change of address statements, etc.]

Newsgroups (Usenet) and Mailing Lists

Newsgroups such as soc.living.history and alt.living.history can prove fruitful and fertile, but I prefer the ease and simplicity of the Histrenact List Server. This is an automated mailing list with about 80 members from around the world and used primanly for re-enactment, although as far as topics are concerned, anything goes. The service is run by the ever-obliging and over-worked David Debono, of the Medieval Combat Society. To subscribe to this service, send an e-mail to listserver@novarltd.demon.co.uk with no subject line and the text "subscribe histrenact firstname lastname" as the body of the text. [Editor: newsgroups are electronic bulletin boards in which individuals post a note or letter; other viewers can respond to that letter or add their own comments. One particularly useful user group is devoted to historical miniature wargaming and can be contacted at the following address on the internet: rec.games.mintatures.historical. On can typically find interesting discussions of various rules sets, miniatures lines, uniform or organization information, news announcements or items for sale. This user group is almost worth the price of the internet service in and of itself.]

So what are you waiting for? Come and march with us on the Information Superhighway: "Left, left, left mouse, click..."

David Whitehouse
The King's Grenadiers circa 1759
The recreated grenadier company of the 12th Regiment of Foot (Napier's).

e-mail: mitre@mail.on-line.co.uk
Web Page: http://www.novarltd.demon.co.uk/webpages/tkg.htm