This weekend, our Sergent found himself on something of a cultural exchange, as he joined The Pattern. HM 33rd Regiment of Foot 1770 -1785 for an immersive campaign experience. For any unfamiliar readers, this was a private event wherein attendees lived as authentically as possible for the duration. This meant no phones, limited modern comforts, and an emphasis on learning how the men we portray actually lived (as much as possible).
As part of this experience, our Sergent completed a cross-country march laden with a full havresac, 30 rounds of dummy ammunitition, and his rations for the weekend in his “sac de toile” (which he later slept in, as our regulations say soldats did). He then took part in cooking dinner as a mess with the redcoats, and even helped out trial some new light infantry drills – as part of ongoing work for us and the Pattern about European adaptations to fighting in North America in this period. The event wrapped up with the all-important musket cleaning, using only the tools he could carry with him.
A wonderful experience, with lots learned by all, and a real testament to the brotherhood of European soldiery that existed historically, and indeed within the #revwarreenactment community today! We also have some further information lined up to share, explaining the equipment our Sergent carried, so stay tuned for more…
Photos by kind permission of The Napoleonic Wars Podcast and James Graves/The Pattern
Le Régiment Gatinois 