Napoleonic Day
1st June, Chiltern Open Air Museum
The Napoleonic event was held at the Chilton Open Air Museum near Little Chalfont. The museum hosts 4 to 5 reenactment events through the summer from different periods of history. This display was provided by the Napoleonic Association, which is an umbrella association for the Napoleonic regimental reenactment groups across the UK. I attended with friends, Kevan Smith, and Keith Bringlow from the photography club.
We arrived approximately 10:30 AM just as the reenactment groups had entered the main display area, and they then proceeded to run through a number of tactical drills, marching, forming square, forming a firing line skirmishing, which would be employed later in the day in their reenactment. There were approximately some 150 reenactors in total, the majority being British redcoat infantry representing about five different regiments, the 95th rifles and then there was some Prussian infantry and a couple of small artillery pieces. Zastly outnumbered were the French reenacts of whom there were about 25.
The next section was a cavalry display. It became a competition with the cavalry two at a time cantering across the field and attempting to chop cabbages, which was stuck on poles in half as they went. Quite interesting and fun. This was followed by Lunch.
The main event of the afternoon which started at 3 PM was the actual reenactment skirmish, which involved live firing of the muskets and cannon. Although the numbers were not huge, it was a very enjoyable display, and all the reenactors were well drilled and gave a great show.
During the day, the weather was dry and around lunchtime the wind drop slightly and it became a warmer afternoon. The display line was approximately 80 yards long and generally there was a chance to get to the front quite easily as the number of spectators was quite low. This is a mystery as it’s a good event and I would’ve thought it would’ve attracted larger crowds.