| Who were the original Gatinois? | Who are our members? | What do we do? | Why did we choose Le Régiment Gatinois? |
Who were the original Gatinois?
The American Revolution wasn’t just about the 13 Colonies. Between 1778 and 1783, in conjunction with their Spanish and Dutch allies, and the fledgling United States, over 12,000 French soldiers and 32,000 French sailors fought against the British and their allies, in a conflict which took place around the globe.
Le Régiment Gatinois, newly created in 1776, were one of the regiments which were stationed in the French colony of Saint Domingue (now Haiti). The soldats, having been transported directly from France, would later see service in several campaigns. Small detachments of le Gatinois were present at the Sieges of Savannah (1779) and Pensacola (1781), with a major contribution during the Siege of Yorktown, in Autumn 1781, where the grenadier company was particularly instrumental in the victory.
You can deep dive into the original Gatinois in our Regimental History section.
Image right: M. P. F. d’Isnard, État général des uniformes de toutes les troupes de France, représentées par un homme de chaque régiment dans le costume du nouveau règlement, arrêté par le Roi pour l’habillement de ses troupes, le 21 fevrier 1779
Who are our members?
Simply put, we are a group of history enthusiasts based in the north of England with a common purpose: to educate and entertain the public through battle re-enactments and living history!
We come from all walks of life to enjoy this incredible hobby – and of course take some fantastic pictures.
Most importantly, we are inclusive, and you are welcome to join us regardless of your identity. We only ask that you be 18+ to be on the field (or have a parent/guardian join with you).
Keen to have a go? Take a look at our Join Us section!
Image left: used with kind permission of Emma Norfolk
What do we do?
We set up camp at events across the country with our friends and colleagues in Redcoats and Revolutionaries, and spend weekends doing displays for the public. This means everything from skirmishes and musket demonstrations to cooking, cosmetics, and fibre arts.
After hours, we chill out together, usually around a campfire: singing songs, playing games and generally enjoying each others company.
Check out when you can see us on our Events page.
Image right: used with kind permission of Alan Ball/Learning & Latte
Why did we choose Le Régiment Gatinois?
We started out as a small group of Napoleonic French re-enactors, who were keen to find a way to be involved in the upcoming anniversaries of the American Revolution, but did not want to wear British red or American blue. We decided to take the opportunity to showcase the French contribution to the eventual American victory, which is vastly underappreciated by many, especially in the UK.
We chose le Régiment Gatinois in particular to allow us to talk about the wider global impact of the war. A lot of the focus on the French military in this period rests on the army which landed with Rochambeau in Rhode Island, and not on the experience of those soldats served in/around the Caribbean. These men served their country as well as the British, American, and German personnel who so often feature in histories, and they all deserve to be remembered in any way that we can.
Keen to have a go? Take a look at our Join Us section.
Image left: used with kind permission of Daz’s Photography
Le Régiment Gatinois 