We meet at "musters" which can vary in size from small "living
histories" and small drill displays up to full blown "majors",
battles which can easily involve over a thousand active Participants.
All arms of military life are employed in the society; regiments of
infantry armed with pike and musket, squadrons of horse (cavalry) and
batteries of ordnance (cannon).
The
Living History
In addition to the re-enactment of combat we also, as part of our displays,
run a military encampment where we demonstrate military life before
and after the battles. Here you can take on a variety of roles some
challenging others not so, you may wish to take up a trade or simply
be an off duty soldier.
There is also more scope for females to actually play the role of 17th century women. There is everything from metal working and cooking through to being a ‘victim’ of the Barber Surgeon!
The
Muster
The muster is a loose term that covers everything from a dozen men doing
a drill display to a major battle with two large armies, a trayne of
artillery, cavalry and a baggage trayne.
Advance warning of all types of events is given through the newsletter of the RA (The Parliament Scoute) and through the Clarion. Musters have been cancelled at very late stages so please check details before setting off. The event organiser will usually issue a warning order that gives travel directions and details of campsite facilities. The actual travel arrangements are left largely up to you but occasionally Loudoun’s organise a minibus to majors and some people may have space in their cars. It is up to you to phone around and find out who are going and what the transport situation is.
The first muster may be a form of culture shock; remember clothes, attitudes and even speech are three centuries away from what we are used to. Speech and attitudes are really only important for Living History events, so the first thing a new recruit has to get used to is the uniform. The regiment possesses enough spare uniforms to kit out most first timers and we advise that you come along to one or two battles before starting to purchase your own clothing and equipment which will be available at stalls at major musters. If you wish to take the field then you must pay an appropriate fee in order to comply with the insurance regulations. Each year you will have to join both the ECWS and Loudoun’s and pay the annual fees (set at the respective AGM's).
You are now in unfamiliar clothes on a campsite that could be anywhere in Britain - usually south of Watford. You will probably have left home early Friday evening and your arrival time will depend on the distance you have to travel.
On arrival you should report to the Guard Tent whose inhabitants will direct you to where the rest of Loudoun’s are to be found. If you arrive early you will pitch your tent and then find the nearest source of beer. If you arrive late this procedure tends to get reversed but beware, if reversed then your tent usually does not stay up for the whole weekend.
Your slumber
will be rudely curtailed the next morning by the noise of regiments
forming up for drill. Drill may be regarded as a necessary evil, but
it is NECESSARY. This is where you learn about 17th century warfare
and weapons handling. This usually start around 10:00 to 10:30 and lasts
for about an hour and a half.
N.B. You are not normally permitted to take the field in the afternoon
if you don't drill in the morning.
After drill you are free to socialise, have lunch and go to the beer
tent.
At drill you will be given a time for form-up. You must be back at the campsite and ready to march to the battle site at whatever time you are given. Ready means with all your kit, including armour, on and done up ready for battle and with at least one weapon. Shoe laces tied tight, sash garters tight but not restricting.
Whilst
on the field you must be prepared to follow your officer's orders. This
is an army, after all. Try not to inhale gunpowder smoke, as your digestive
system will produce some embarrassing results by Monday.
The regiment prides itself on its skill at arms on the battlefield, its historic realism, its individual members knowledge of the period and above all its friendly family atmosphere best displayed in our social activities. Over and above regular -keep in touch- social gatherings (and not forgetting our yearly banquet) the regiment also produces a regular newsletter, The Covenant Clarion. This means that although we are a regiment based in central Scotland we ensure that all members, no matter how removed they may live are kept fully in touch with the regiment. (We have members in the U.S.A and Portugal.) The regiment also gets involved in re-enacting periods beyond the life term of the actual regiment, in fact anything between 1638 and 1746. Preston 1648, Worcester 1651, Killiecrankie 1689 and Prestonpans 1745 are battles which have been re-enacted by the regiment, obviously in a different guise from Loudoun's.
| ©2004
ScotWars All Rights Reserved. Designed by Rab Taylor |