Re-enacting good or bad?

The only re enactment that appealed to me was the English Civil War (artillery)

I must add the black powder and matches appealed to me the most(back then I think you could order it and store it in your garage if you had a licence)
Needless to say nothing came of it.


On a serous note (actually the above was serious) we have a few members on here who do it well and respectfully. I think we have mentioned before the folk who try and fail whether it be ego or just not enough historical information to carry it off.You will always get the good and bad and you need to apply the filter accordingly.

 

I always thought the bike went when you got married:
"With all my worldly goods, I thee Wed."

 

I 'dressed up' for the first time in Normandy this year (after first getting the 'OK' from Dad who was there in June 1944).

Having decided to take part in the procession of British vehicles in Bayeux on Sunday, I felt that I ought to do my best not to fall into the Dennison / unshorn and unshaven trap and a motorcyclist can't hide inside his vehicle.

Although it wasn't on most people's minds, I paid my own personal tribute to the men who were trying to get out of France four years earlier.

"Comment est-ce que je vais à Cherbourg ?"



Excuses for the grubby Youtube screen shot.

I found all the clapping and cheering more than a little unnerving. It seemed to be the crowds who thought they were really there. I was simply riding an old motorcycle which is what I do for fun. It was a historical pagent rather than an attempt to re-enact.

 

Over the last 25 years or so I have been to many reunions at old airfields, also memorial dedications at WW2 aircraft crash-sites and former WW2 airfields. There has usually been a few, sometimes a lot of reenactors which in my opinion is very fitting.
The only time I wasn't too keen, was at the sight of a 6ft plus, chap dressed as a German soldier of some discription. But then I suppose you need a good mixture.

 

Looking Bloody Good there Rich! Get all your gear sorted in the end then?

 

Re-enactors come the 30th Infantry Division Reunion (among others) and provide a good visualization of what the soldiers looked like. They seem to take great pride in getting the details right and the old soldiers seem to appreciate the re-enactors' participation. In addition to providing clothing and gear for us to look at, they also bring weapons of all variety. This last trip they brought Garands, carbines, a BAR, a grease gun (first I have ever held), a Thompson, mines, grenades, etc. The rifles and BAR were capable of being fired, but the grease gun and Thompson had been rendered non-firing.

Here is one re-enactor that who does an excellent rendition of Omar Bradley. He said he tends to get calls for Bradley more, now that he is well into his 60s. It is hard for him to pass as PFC anymore.

 

Cheers Tom. Not sorted to your standards of course but slowly getting there (and increasingly aware of what needs attention). I was hoping to get hold of some better photos before PM ing you.

(Tom gave some much neeeded advice and moral support at a point where I was seriously struggling.)

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2873570/Battle-Bulge-70-years-Hundreds-recreate-one-U-S-Army-s-bloodiest-encounters-Nazi-forces.html

Some excellent photos.

 

Deacs,

I have to agree with you about some excellent photographs and pretty authentic Equipment on both sides.

Just one mistake calling the German Panther Tank a Jagd Panther.

Regards
Tom

 

Tom it is The Mail and they always make mistakes

 

Yes, I forgot that , I think I have been too Long out of the UK!

Regards
Tom

 

A

If that really is you, are you Don Quiote or Sancha Panza ?

Ron

 

It's too late, Mate ! It's out on the web !

 

Adam,

Are you the guy having a pee in the bushes at the back? Just make you out by the shiny forehead.I think that's your forehead! :biggrin:

Or are you the guy that is thinking he has just invented radar or an early warning devise by fitting big dishes on the side of your head?

Nick