History Alive

Sampling the Past

I recently spent two pleasant March afternoons at the nearby Jamestown Settlement Museum visiting their annual Military Through History exhibition. Attendance in previous years had always been fun, so I was happy to return this year for another episode. The panoramic image below shows only a few of the exhibition sites spread out over the museum grounds. (Click on the image for a larger view.)Expert reenactors representing time periods from 500 BCE to the present were on hand. For example, the gentleman in the next image demonstrated armored combat techniques used in about 1410. He is a member of the excellent La Belle Compagnie, a group portraying many features of life during the Hundred Years War between 1337 and 1453. Weapons and armor were not the only things on display.My granddaughter, Sophie, enjoyed learning about medieval money at a food stand and defeated her opponent playing an interesting old expanded version of tic tac toe.

An archer holding a longbow stood near another expert talking about different types of arrows used during that time period.

Ancient Greek warriors looked imposing, especially in their unique, fearsome helmets. These reenactors performed a kind of martial arts drill with spears and shields to show the formations and combat techniques of the era.

Members of Scara Karoli, Charlemagne's Army, demonstrated clothing and battle techniques from the year 804. They explained how only the wealthiest men had swords and armor. Gathering and processing enough iron took many months of effort.

In Charlemagne's camp a young company member took a cozy nap upon a fur-covered bed. 

Members of the 3eme D'ligne Regiment of Napolean's Grande Armee' of 1807 displayed elaborate uniforms and explained various types of deadly artillery shells fired by their cannons.

Located next to Napolean's army was a representative of their English foes, the 95th Rifles, First Battalion of Wellington's 1812 Army. These riflemen were the inspiration for Bernard Cornwell's wonderful series of books about fictional hero, Richard Sharpe, during the Napoleanic Wars. Reading the recruitment poster for the 95th Rifles was a hoot!

These 1864 Civil War reenactors were arranged almost like they were posing for a Mathew Brady photograph.

Prussian 1st Foot Guards from 1866 wore the cartoonish spiked helmets seen below. The helmet's streaming parade version featured a dress top inserted after the smaller ordinary spike was screwed out. 

In the 1918 WWI exhibit we found an antique Victrola record player. It was fun telling Sophie how it worked by winding up the crank, lowering the monster needle, and controlling volume by opening or closing doors in front. No electricity needed! Several old vinyl records lay on the table.

A major highlight this year was the Matt Fattal Big Band featuring the Truetone Honeys female singing group. They played 1940's music from the WWII big band era and really brought the music to life. Hearing this live in person was much more powerful than old recordings I've heard. Lots of toes were tapping. People were spontaneously dancing, including some male and female reenactors dressed in WWII clothing. My parents would have dearly loved the performances. The singers sounded like the famous Andrews Sisters of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy fame. They were absolutely excellent! One song that really roused the audience was "Oh Johnny, oh Johnny, oh", originally by the Andrews Sisters. You can listen to the Andrews Sisters' version here :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbgLSer33hk&list=OLAK5uy_nXnanMXohXAF-c3vbK54JSWF1eo4iJ3O4&index=5. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this year's exhibits!