livinghistory.ie

This is what we need at shows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWGU3mpfRoM

Hi Tom,
Its certainly very impressive and brilliantly choreographed - but i dont think it is necessary at reenactment shows.

A few points, firstly the Naval officer and marines in the video are presumably professionals who get paid to spend the hours and hours perfecting this - we are not, very few of us have the spare time to devote to such rigorous and technical training. Some of us are busy with families, others are busy with work, retired or unemployed and therefore can not devote the same level of time to the hobby.

Secondly note that the marines are all seamingly the same height and physique - I cant think of any modern military re-enactment group that has a similar exact/cloned makeup. Nor do we do have the exact standard kit and same level of physical fitness required to perfect such a performance. And remember the rountine would have to be PERFECT one dropped rifle, one foot out of step and the thing would be a disaster!

Thirdly - How historically accurate is it? When I think of the modern military reenactment groups in Ireland 1800's Red Coats, U.S. Civil War, WW1 British And German, WW2 British German and U.S.. Irish War of Independence etc - I cant think any of these groups would have put on such choreographed shows. Yes there was certainly plenty of pomp and ceremony in some military forces but the rifle twirling, slapping, and spinning seen in the videos I had assumed was developed Post WW2 mainly in the U.S. Please correct me if I am wrong (Que stories about the Irish Army and JFK's funeral...) Would perfecting basic marching / arms drill not be more important?

Finally what is the point of it - would such a display actually teach anyone anything about Irish / British / European / World history? Would the time not be better spent making or sourcing accurate kit, reading up on the historical periods we portray, learning the history of the historical venues we reenact in and how our display fits in to its history, safety training etc...

People go into the hobby for different reasons - my main motivations are personal enjoyment/ a bit of craic and to teach the public something about Irish history. I dont feel such a display would suit me in either of these aims, so im afraid its not for me.

Padraig.
I accept your comments. It was in jest I added that it should be like that at shows. It will never happen. It cannot happen, even aside from the public liability cost. To get things this right takes a million times longer than anyone of us would have spare but you have to give them credit, its great to see foot drill and arms drill of this class.
Regards.
Tom.

No bother Tom, - this isnt the first time Ive taken too seriously things said lightheartedly here. I must apply for a sense of humor transplant one of these days!

@Padraig, why would you when the results can be so entertaining?

On a slightly more serious note, some historic armies did have strict drill regimes. Some outfits doing pike blocks and similar can be quite impressive, and I have certainly done a fair amount of drills over the years. The big problem is getting enough numbers and discipline to make it look impressive.

In particular I remember the second day of Hastings 2006 when I had to drop out or pass out (new Maille + 6 hours marching up and down a hill). What I realised was that the bit that looks most impressive to the public - the marching of blocks of disciplined troops up and down the hill - was the bit of least interest to us

Brendan

In future could we please have some sort of sign / symbol / or special text so that morons like me can tell when someone is being facetious / taking the piss / posting in jest? As you know I take things way too seriously at times and this often causes me embarrasment on here see the below post

http://www.livinghistory.ie/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=666&p=5772&hilit=bear#p5772

Although in fairness I have gotten some people on here myself:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1206&p=9939&hilit=BVM#p9939

Padraig

Nice video. But I personally prefer this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7k6VYGtm8g

The swiss well they don't fight in wars do they - about half their army is on duty at the Vatican! Its not so much arms drill in this video as a military proficient samba band - So I think you've got the genre wrong Panda. A bit like having a warrior armed with a spear in an archery contest, there are some similarities but yer off on a tangent!!!

This for my money is the best of all. I picture slotting it in at the end of a 100% period accurate - serious arms drill:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol5Dfs7jqFI

Or on a more serious and realistic note how about this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7brD0YO0PAg