I found that for the most part the uniformed types never had to wear a uniform. I had my fill of all that gear. I'd do like you and just wear workwear and chat with the guys like Peter that wanted to look at his old work truck for a lark...
The problem with individuals dressing up as Nazis is that some people find it very offensive and in some countries such as Germany you could find yourself arrested for doing so. At an event last year I met and spoke to a group of re-enactors who were portraying a WW2 German infantry and MG42 platoon. They were very well turned out, wore their uniforms well and the N.C.O./officer gave out his orders in German. I didn't have a problem with this group because they were just trying to portray the average German soldier of WW2, nothing more.
On the other hand, I saw a group of WW1 reenacters on TV at the funeral of a found WW1 body in France. If you're dressing up in uniform then someone should have told them to smarten up a bit, blanco the webbing, clean the brasses, polish the boots - properly and iron their SD trousers and jackets. And if you're going to slope, order and present arms, an hour's practice beforehand might have been a good idea. Mind you, so might an hour's drill rehearsal too......... They just looked shoddy. Maybe this particular group who meant well and deserved to succeed should have had an ex-CSM to lead them
Incidentally, and you're not going to believe this, but that 1st war serge Service Dress, all dated from the 30's was the uniform we wore as apprentices at Carlisle (and also at the other apprentices schools at Armorfield, Chepstow and Harrogate). It was only phased out in 1965 when stocks ran out. Then battledress became the norm. That's todays grizzle out of the way........
Last edited by Peter Laidler; 04-17-2017 at 05:47 AM.
I don't disagree but I suspect none of the re-enactors to which you refer have had any sort of military service, not even in the cadets, so they know no better. It's a pity that the group were not checked out/advised/trained before the funeral.
My answer to that would be if it is their intention as "non" ex military to look like the real deal by spending a fortune in some cases to buy the right kit, then my adage would be "if you are going to do it, do it properly or not at all", no matter how good their intentions.
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
Quite agree, but the problem here is getting them to understand that. You would have thought that at a high profile event like a WW1 funeral/internment that someone would have checked out the "re-enactors" first or better still used present day soldiers dressed in vintage uniforms.
Good point about using current soldiers dressed up as old soldiers. But difficult to get sanctioned from on high. It was done for a big 10 gun Vickers MMG shoot several years ago and as suggested by Gil (thread 15) they went through a week of Vickers MMG gun drill training beforehand. They were pretty good too........ Only 3 stoppages in 40,000 rounds of ammo!
I was on a few firing parties to funerals of deceased 82nd Airborne soldiers in the 1980's. We rehearsed the drills for the better parts of three days before departing in dress uniforms with weapons. One funeral in Chapel Hill, NC was both Masonic and military and it really did me proud to be part of it. We were "one smooth movement" and sharp as tacks.
I have a crested, "The Blackwatch, Royal Highland Regiment of Canada" tee shirt that I wear when driving my M38 Canadian Jeep. That's as far as it goes.
While we are talking all things Canadian, and apologise for going off topic, but not really, watch this and watch the room fill with smoke and make your eyes water...............absolutely priceless, Little Belgian boy shows his appreciation to the Canadians marching past, see their response:
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
Good point about using current soldiers dressed up as old soldiers. But difficult to get sanctioned from on high. It was done for a big 10 gun Vickers MMG shoot several years ago and as suggested by Gil (thread 15) they went through a week of Vickers MMG gun drill training beforehand. They were pretty good too........ Only 3 stoppages in 40,000 rounds of ammo!
I know one of them who did this, (an Ex REME Armourer), real nice bloke, he was telling me all about it when he was instructing me on the GPMG........
Originally Posted by Brit plumber
PM
