Re-enactment
It's Fun,
but ...
Is it History ?
Today
over 30,000 people spend their leisure time recreating over 2,000
years of British History,
which
tests out the theories of academic historians. Events given by these
re-enactment units are hugely entertaining for the thousands of
spectators who see them each year, but is this just an excuse for
dressing up and playing a grown up version of Cowboys and Indians?
Or is it something of genuine interest to the Historian.
left : Paul L Dawson
as Chef de Bataillon of Artillerie à Pied de la Garde
According
to Dr Phillip Elliot-Wright, a lecturer in history at West Thames
College, “Re-enactment began
in Britain about 30 years ago.
At first it was mainly an
English Civil War activity, just a fun weekend, an excuse to dress
up, drink a lot of beer and knock each other about in relatively
safe way”1
Some
re-enactors found this unsatisfactory,
they
wanted to pursue their enthusiasm in greater depth. “Everything
about their recreation must be as authentic as possible, from their
clothes and equipment to their campsites, even the food they eat”2
Thus
‘Living History’ was born;
small
groups devoted themselves to recreating in great detail a particular
period in war and peace. Re-enactment was no longer a lads weekend
away, but a pursuit for both men and women, -and often their children-
as they chose to live history as closely as possible. Authenticity
became the watch word. That said, as Dr Simon James of Leeds School
of Archaeology notes,
some
items of
recreated
uniform and equipment “can
be too fine, too beautiful, and this can give the wrong impression”3
Natalia
Wieczorek, Curator of Costumes Badges and medals at the National
Army Museum, Chelsea, finds
is
useful to try on reconstructed period clothes. “You
discover how comfortable they were”
she says. ”the only difficulty
is getting out of them!”4
La
Garde Imperiale
La
Garde Imperiale is
one such Living History Society , aimed at those with an interest
in the Napoleonic era, who wish to recreate in the finest detail
possible the Grenadiers A Pied de la Garde Imperiale
Anxious
to maintain the
units
high standards of authenticity, Dr Steven Bartle, Lecturer in Military
History in the Department of Adult and Continuing Education at the
University of Leeds, was called in to assist. Dr Bartle recalls:
“At
an early stage they sought my help as a lecturer in military history
with a knowledge of military French and I was thrilled with the
prospect of seeing authentic French Drill of the First Empire being
performed accurately. The school-boy dream had been fulfilled”5
After
much research and hard work, the groups first notable display was
at Roundhay Park, Leeds before a crowd of some 120,000people to
visit the first Leeds Metro, followed by a visit to Lichfield, where
the direct descendant of Lord Uxbridge inspected our ranks before
some 20,000 spectators.
1976
saw La Garde’s first tour of the UK attending fetes, displays and
functions, and established our first links with Warwick castle.
The following year provide to the year that the unit gained acceptance
with the British Army, by being invited by the Grenadier Guards
to the Guards Depot at Pirbrigth on their famous Grenaider Day.
This being a great honour, doing a drill display in front of 20,000
ex-guardsmen and passed unscathed the critical eye.
La
Garde first visited Musee d’Armee in 1978, to thank our French Army
contacts for their help in researching original items of uniform
and equipment. The following year, La Garde returned to Pirbright.
On this occasion the artillery section was also present. Later the
same year we attended a twinning ceremony between Southampton and
Laharve, before the citizens of both cities. We were also invited
to a French Navy Frigate CMDT Riviers, and presented with the ships
plack by the captain. We also visited Castle Howard to great accalaim,
when we were presented with the key to the room in which Napoleon
died on Saint Helena.
After
many years of planning and building the unit in both equipment and
drill standards, our largest challenge was at hand.
We
were invited to take part in the 5th
May ceremony to commemorate the death of Napoleon 1st,
in the presence of HSH Napoleon. Such was our success, we were invited
to parade again in the Cour d’Honoeur, during the famous Son et
Lumiar, and we were invited to take part in the ceremony in the
near future.
‘It
is very pleasing for me to congratulate you on your very fine display
given by the “Sabre Society” at the Invalides on the 5th May 1980,
in the Traditional ceremonies commemorating the death of the Emperor
Napoleon 1
The
appearance of your grenadiers A Pied, their foot drill and arms
drill, are to the honour of your society.
I
thank you and ask you to congratulate Major Mellard and his grenadiers
on my behalf.
Please
accept Mr President, the expression of my most distinguished sentiments
Napoleon’6
1981
saw the Grenadiers and Artillery sections visit Weston Park, as
well as other displays around the country. During the winter months,
training weekends were held on a regular basis, the target being
our return to Paris in 1983.
A
year later we attended Aldershot Army Tattoo, were the Grenadiers
formed the Guard of Honour for visiting French Generals. For this
service we were thanked by HM Minister for Defence and the Armed
Forces. More than 250,000 people are reported to have seen our display
over three days. We also attended the Dover tattoo. On the last
night, the event was filled with French Visitors, who nearly brought
the event to a stop by the entry of our Grenadiers with cheers of
‘Vive la France’. A record of 10,000 visited the show that year.
For
our regiment, 1983, has been perhaps our most important year. On
the 5th
May, General Dibider Governor of Paris presented our unit with our
colours and Eagle, on the site that all French Army colours are
presented. This was followed by the laying of a wreath on the tomb
of Napoleon in the presence of high ranking officers of the French
Army, with the British Military Attache being present. After the
Parade, we were treated to a Champagne and Caviar reception in the
Sal d’Honneur. Full coverage was given by French TV, and we were
front page news of L’monde.
‘You
have embroidered this colour of the prestigious Regiment of Grenadiers
of the Guard of the 1st
Empire.
You have shown for some years a veritable cult for maintaining the memory of this elite unit.
With
remarkable precision you have reconstructed, from you own funds,
the arms and uniforms, and you have trained yourselves to reproduce
to perfection the close order drill practised by this regiment.
In
my capacity as Director of the Army Museum of France, Guardian of
the tradition of arms and admirer of sacrifices and of the glory
of the 1st
Regiment of Grenadiers of the Guard, and in my capacity as guardian
of the tomb of Napoleon and his memory, I congratulate you for your
undertaking and I am happy to present your emblem which you will
serve with honour’
After
the presentation, members were allowed to take part in the ceremonial
High Mass in the Church of Saint-Louis, a previously unwarranted
distinction, awarded to no other re-enactment society.
It
would be through the unit’s friendship with Colonel Paul Willing,
and Baron Gourgaud that the Grenadiers could return to Paris, and
later to visit the Legions depot and museum.
During
1984 we visited Warwick Castle, Chatsworth House, to name but a
few, but hr main event of the year was our return to Aldershot Army
Display. Over the three days we displayed before 350,000 visitors,
and were photographed by the Red Arrows Display Team. Several months
previously we had been approached by Moet & Chandon to reproduce
a manakin in full dress uniform of a Grenadier for an exhibition
to travel the world. ‘Jack’ was duly delivered to Eperney, France.
A year later we again visited Warwick castle on the three main bank
holidays. We also visited Harrods, Knightsbridge, being involved
with Moet & Chandon, when the largest Champagne Glass Fountain
was made, containing no less 1800 glasses. Later that year we were
invited to Ile de Re, Rance to the town of La Flotte to take part
in the towns the fate. On our journey down, were involved in a coach
crash, in which several members were taken to the local hospital.
We were given local newspaper coverage and since that day we have
kept in contact with the village who gave us so much help at a time
of need. We passed through the village a year later, and the entire
village laid on a reception in our honour.
On
our return, our next duty was to lay wreaths on the tomb of Napoleon
III at Farnborough Abbey. We were thanked by the Jacques Viot the
French Ambassador to London:
‘I
wish to send you my sincere thanks and my congratulations for your
devotion to the traditions of the Grognards of the Empire’
1986
saw a third trip to Paris, which was repeated in 1989. In the same
year the Grenadiers paraded with their brother Chasseurs at the
Guards depot Pirbright where they were inspected by General Lennox
VC, and were presented with a plaque to commemorate the day by the
Guards Association, being received by Major Mellard.
Through
our reputation we were again invited to France, this time to Provonce,
to mark the 20th
anniversary of the Musee d’Emperi. The result of which we became
known to the Legion Etranger, and we were invited to their barracks
for the day. Sadly, during our return, Lt Arnold Bennet, our Porte
Aigle died.
Kebworth
Hall was our next venue as the Guard of Honour for the presentation
of the Legion d’Hounour to the Managing Director of Moet & Chandon
(London) Ltd.
Our
second visit to Ile de Re was a great success in 1988. Our artillery
accompanied us, and their display was more popular than ever.
1989
started at Warwick Castle, and our fourth visit to Paris came in
May. On this occaision, the Imperial Prince, in public, thanked
Association Britannique de la Garde Imperiale for its dedication
to keeping the memory of Napoleon 1ere alive. Prior to this we laid
wreaths on the Emperors Tomb. Our French based sister regiment,
1ere Chasseurs a Pied, paraded with us for the first time at this
event.
Other
notable events was our invitation to the Guards depot at Pirbright
as a guest of the Grenadier Guards. Castle Howard was our next display,
giving Artillery and Grenadier displays. Next on our list was the
West Yorkshire Police Day at Leeds, an event to raise funds for
Police Charities. The season ended at Euro Militaire Folkestone.
The
Grenadiers parade at Chateaux Monte Thierry in 1992, and in August
1993 a photographic article on them appeared in the French Magazine
Tradition. The same year saw the Artillery attend the large scale
re-enactment of the battle of Leipzig. 1993 also saw the building
of a 12lb and the units existing 12lb, already 20years old, was
converted into an 8lb.
The Artillery were also present at the re-enactment of Waterloo in 1995, where the units three full size field guns (12lb, 8lb and 4lb) formed with two Russian Guns, and a re-conditioned original gun manned by a French crew, form the first battery of full size guns on the field since the actual battle. The battery was placed under the command of Major Mellard.
In
the same year the Artillery
appeared
in tradition Magazine, demonstrating Artillery drill by the with
the 8lb.
1997
saw La Gardes newest gun being brought into service, a 6inch howitzer,
which was actively employed at the 200th anniversary
of
the Invasion of Fishguard in the same year . It was joined in 1999
by a re-created Lombards Gin.
The
unit also has a strong working relationship with the Royal Armouries’
Museum of Ordnance at Fort Nelson, where the unit displays its
4
full
size field guns at annual displays and events. The unit has also
worked on behalf of the National Army Museum, the Musee de L’Armee
Paris, the Brigade of Guards and other prestigious organisations.
Magazine and film work, including recent work for the Channel Four
Series ‘Arms in Action’,
and
Channel 5 ‘Massacre at Waterloo’. The Grenadiers and Artillery also
appear in Stephen Maughens book on the Imperial Guard recreated
in colour photographs, and on Napoleons Guard Infantry recreated
in colour photographs. Private displays have also been performed
for the Duchess of Devonshire, Lord Howard and Lord Montague.
We
also attend other events such as the Euro Militaire Folkestone
which
we have attended since it began. It was due to the Gardes attendance
at this event that one our members was used as the model for the
Verlinden Models 120mm and for the plate of a Grenadier in Brian
Fostens publication “Napoleons Guard Infantry 1” published by Osprey
publishing. We have also provided film clips to a number of Napoleonic
Computer Games and battle simulations.
Grenadier
and Artillery displays have also been given at Hartlepool Historic
Quay (1996-present), the Wood Hall Moated Manor Project (1997 to
1998) as well as other local events. A notable example being the
Guard of Honour we provided for the French Chef Raymond Blanc for
Bastille day 2000, which was held at his Birmingham restaurant Le
Petit Blanc. The event provided the unit with publicity both at
home and abroad in France, as well as new friends to work with.
The command of the Unit passed from Derek Mellard in 2001 to Paul
L Dawson, who is becoming established as a Napoleonic Scholar and
author.
As
Re-enactors we raise questions, academic historians will always
be able to tell us much more than we can tell them, but sometimes
we can ask was it really like this? And make some historians think
twice.
The events that La Garde has attended in 33years, and the accolades granted to us is unsurpassed by no other re-enactment group. Our dedication to the memory of the Emperor has allowed us to do things that many dream of.
Bibliography
1
Newark T Warfare in Britain.
Harper Collins 2000
2
ibid
3
ibid
4
ibid
5
Pers Comm
6
Pers Comm