This meeting was held at the National Army Museum on Saturday 19th October. A total of 22 people attended, the majority of whom were members of the Napoleonic Association. All the Association application forms on display were taken, so there is a good chance that the non-members present will soon join!

Two very good papers, both demonstrating a high degree of research were presented. Stephen Petty related ASPECTS OF CAMPAIGN LIFE 1809-1814, drawn from the reminiscences of Peninsular veterans, while Robin Thomas presented COMMAND AND CONTROL IN THE FIRST COALITION: THE DUKE OF YORK IN THE LOW COUNTRIES 1793-94. This paper looked at the involvement of British forces in this campaign, under the command of His Royal Highness. The first part of the latter appears in this issue of Napoleonic Notes & Queries. Stephen's paper will be published after his article on Skirmish Lines.

There then followed a general discussion involving several very good ideas from Napoleonic Association members. John Grehan presented the following:

"The Napoleonic Association in conjunction with Partizan Press are investigating the possibility of publishing a series of Napoleonic booklets. It is our belief that a series of uniform guides in particular would find a ready market on both sides of the Atlantic, and we propose to re-design the old NA booklets published in the early eighties and to extend the series to, hopefully, cover almost every uniform worn on the Napoleonic battlefields.

In order to achieve this we need you, the NA member, to research and write the booklets. Anyone who would like to contribute towards the series should contact Paul Chamberlain, informing him of the subject they would research for the series. Once Paul has compiled a list of people and the subjects they intend to cover he will pass on the list to me. I would not presume to edit another person's work but will co-ordinate the individual projects and advise you on content and format so that we can maintain a standard design throughout the series. I will also arrange the illustrations for those authors unable to provide their own. I will see each book through to completion and then send it off to Partizan Press. I sincerely hope that the authors of the original series will be prepared to re-write their books along the revised lines. [If any other Partizan Press subsciber, wherever you are in the world, wishes to contribute to the series we'd advise them to join the Research Group and liase with Paul and John.- Eds]

It is envisaged that the books would be approximately 30 to 60 pages in length, with perhaps a dozen illustrations. Artists wishing to contribute their skills are welcome. Partizan Press can also provide artists for those authors who require them".

Dave Hollins proposed the formation of Study Groups within the Association. I reproduce here a letter I received from him detailing the ideas presented at the meeting. He suggests that such groups be formed to provide detailed research on various Napoleonic subjects:

'...it is variable what each group should cover and aim to achieve. For example, the numbers interested in Austria are few enough to cover the whole military force in one group, but a 'British' group would have to be more specific in what it may cover; say, the War of 1812, colonial wars etc. There may, of course, be members interested in one aspect that is multinational, for example, navies. It is very much a case of individuals sounding out the initial support for a group and developing it from there.

The publication of Napoleonic Notes & Queries presents an instant audience way beyond the NA itself, and as such, although encouraging Association membership and being an activity of the NA, these groups would have to arrange their own finances and activities.

There are common aims such groups can aspire to:

a) They would enhance the flow and availability of information, perhaps achieved by establishing an informal library list, with no obligation on a participant to lend out their own material.

b) To present more 'gap-filling' articles for NN&Q.

c) To act as a starting point for those getting interested in the hobby, but unsure what to read, or those wanting to find out what the period has to offer. It is not possible for NN&Q to cover a huge subject such as the Austrian Army or its political background, and I suspect many may give up if they feel they cannot contact someone for guidance of a more general kind.

d) Each Study Group would be able to supplement the work of the Research Officer.

e) To keep the flow of comment on new books etc. going for those who are interested. The number of books we can expect as the Bicentennials arrive would probably fill all the NN&Q space available! There will be a lot of nonsense to be separated from the worthwhile material. Groups may wish to run their own informal newsletter or meetings, progressing into those who will give talks and represent the Napoleonic Association.

f) In some cases it would help to pull the sections of the NA together. Re-enactors meet three or four times each year, but others get less opportunity and, of course, it will encourage links with re-enactment units.

g) Essentially the old Napoleonic Association journals have only run as a result of about 25 people bothering to write articles; partly because many people do not have the courage to write or have a gap they are unable to fill. Study Groups would be able to pool resources.

h) Many re-enactment uni!s have contacts across Europe who can access real goldmines of information, but nobody else realises they can tap into this. Napoleonic researchers and re- enactors can benefit from closer links with each other. Those with language skills are especially welcome.'

Dave Hollins has certainly provided food for thought here.

Notes for Contributors

As part of the general discussion, a letter from Dave Ryan was read out regarding articles for Napoleonic Notes & Queries.

'Ideally submissions should be on AMSTRAD PCW Discs, either 8256 or 9512, or on 3 1/2" IBM-compatible disc saved in ASCII format. This will ensure fairly speedy inclusion of your article. However, 'back of fag packet' articles for those of you who shun the daemonology of things run by 'elektrickery' are also welcome. If written or typed, doublespaced or lined is acceptable.

Any subject within the given period is acceptable. Appropriate illustrations should be sent but beware of breaching copywrite, on which we can advise. We have pet artists who can provide sketches to accompany your articles.

The most popular piece in English Civil War Notes & Queries is the 'Terribly Obscure Battles' series. These are three or four pages descriptions of a small action, and are a very good way of easing writers into tackling larger projects, as a couple of original or reprint sources can be used to good effect to write a very acceptable piece. Apart from the short notes or brief specialist articles, these battle reports are the only articles that we will accept with less-than-usual exhaustive research, full footnotes and bibliography."

General Comments about the Meeting

I was impressed by the amount of enthusiasm there is amongst the members for actively becoming involved in the research side of the Association, and I have since had a number of letters in which the authors are of the same opinion about the meeting. There is an interest within the NA for promoting study of the Napoleonic period, and I believe that we have a sound basis for encouraging this enthusiasm.

A combination of Napoleonic Notes & Queries, Study Groups, Publications and regular meetings will make people realise that the Napoleonic Association is not just a re-enactment society, but is also an academic group as well. These activities will serve to attract non-re-enactors into the Association, to further promote interest in the period.

The meeting was a success on the day due to the efforts of Robin Thomas, Stephen Petty, John Grehan and Dave Hollins. Thanks must also go to the National Army Museum staff for allowing us to use their facilities and being very helpful and cooperative on the day. just as important were the members who filled the seats in the Lecture Theatre. Thank you to all who supported the meeting, and I hope to see you all in those same seats at future meetings.

On the subject of future meetings, a tentative date for the next one is Saturday 4th April 1992, again at the National Army Museum. Watch this space for further details.

More Dusty Archive

Proceedings of the Research Section Meeting
Books in Review
The 1805 Club
Odds and Ends