A few years ago I was asked to investigate and come up with a pattern for the British Army Bell Tent as used during the Napoleonic Wars. The 68th D.L.I. display Team of which I am a member had come to the stage in its development when authentic (that much quoted re-enactment word) tentage was needed. Tents of the Lewis Lochee pattern as used in the American War of Independence, could easily be obtained off the peg or made.

But, as Bell tents were the only ones used by the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars (there is some evidence that old A.W.I. British wedge tents were used in Canada during the early years of the 1812 war), particularly during the later years it was decided that Bell Tents were the only type of tentage that would be acceptable. I was thus given the task of finding the pattern (thanks lads).

Anyway, dear readers, you will find in the next few pages the sum of my research. Though there are some questions that still need to be answered; the final pattern settled on has been found to be largely acceptable and has drawn favourable comment. If anybody has seen the 68th's Bell Tents pitched together in camp they will probably agree they can stand comparison with any period prints. If any further information is found concerning the Bell Tent which will affect the pattern then all present tents will be altered accordingly and any future tents made to the new pattern.

One further point which might be of interest is the amount of people and gear that can be comfortably fitted into them. We have found by experience that eight 'soldiers' with full marching kit is acceptable. After that it gets very tight and friendly. A case of when one turns over, and pity the poor lads near the door because besides the draught they get trampled on all night.

Having talked with old soldiers from World War II who used Bell Tents (A German Army Dictionary 1880 states that British Army Bell Tents were nearly obsolete. We were still using them in World War II!) they found that the most comfortable number they could fit into a Bell Tent was eight. It's nice to know that things don't change.

Notes Concerning Bell Tents