Scarlet Coats and Loud Bangs!

The 95th prepare to shoot in front of the Rotunda at Ickworth House

I spent a great day earlier this month at Ickworth House with fellow Regency author Annie Burrows. We'd gone to see the 95th Rifles holding their first training camp of the year and they were also being filmed for the http://www.waterloo200.org/ website where there is lots of information about the build-up to the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.

You wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of this sargeant, armed with his long pike.

 

Annie and I were particularly interested in the artillery and although they only had a couple of small pieces of field artillery there they produced very loud bangs and a considerable amount of smoke. It was clear that wth several guns firing in anger on the battlefield the amount of smoke would make the visibility extremely poor.

 

 

 

The uniforms were all completely authentic and it was great to be able to get up close and see the details. Above are some of the different headgear - the 95th were not the only unit taking part - and below is a shot of all the items in a soldier's pack.

 



At Waterloo there were a wide range of nationalities represented amongst the Allied troops. Below on the left are a group of Brunswick troops with their gruesome skull and crossbones cap badges and black horse tail plumes talking to a couple of Riflemen. Soldiers from a Scottish regiment can be glimpsed behind.

 

And finally here are the French, marching back to camp after a hard day spent being shot at for the film makers! You can fidn out more about the 95th Rifles at www.95th-rifles.co.uk

 

 

 

Louise Allen

 

Tarnished Amongst the Ton Harlequin Mills & Boon April 2013