WW1 Lincolnshire Regiment

[abaddon1974]

Myself and a friend who re-enact 15th century are considering starting a representation of the Lincolnshire Regiment from the WW1 period.
Can anyone reccomend any reference sources for the typical equipment carried or used by the different ranks of that period.
The history of the regiment is not a problem as the regimental museum is within easy reach but the little items which make a display realistic and also provide talking points seem to be hard to find out about.

any help would be appreciated

Craig

of course if there is already a poachers re-enactment group for the period then that is even better.

[Lord Byron]

For a good primer, can't do much better than Ospreys "British Tommy" - filled with minor errors, but good for the absolute beginner.

[Miss Costello]

We do East Yorks WW1 but are always happy to rebadge as yellow bellies!

I think Steve Kiddle of Pegasus does excellent repros but if you want to natter either drop me a pm or email me
katiespitfire@hotmail.com

[abaddon1974]

Thanks for the replies.
I think it will be a year or so, or at least until next year in the planning.
I should have a copy of the Osprey book soon and will tap up one of the writers of the history of the regiment for a book.
Are there any web sites with pretty pictures of WW1 groups that can be reccomended?

Cheers
Craig

[Lord Byron]

Are there any web sites with pretty pictures of WW1 groups that can be reccomended?

http://www.actofwar.co.uk/essex/

http://www.birminghampals.com/

http://www.thegreatwarsociety.com/

[abaddon1974]

The British Tommy from Osprey has arrived in the post now.
I was a little worried about how accurate the portrayals of uniforms and equipment would be, it didn't occur to me that cameras existed in the great war.
Time to write a shopping list me thinks.

thanks for the advice

Craig

[Lord Byron]

The British Tommy from Osprey has arrived in the post now.
I was a little worried about how accurate the portrayals of uniforms and equipment would be, it didn't occur to me that cameras existed in the great war.
Time to write a shopping list me thinks.

thanks for the advice

Craig

Any other questions please do ask, nice to have some more WW1 people on the board

[7thLeicesters]

Hi Craig, I run the Old Contemptibles Living History Group - unlike other groups, we don't portray a certain Regiment, our members represent whichever Regiment/Corps they like, although usually have at least two portraying the same (Royal Engineers and Royal West Kents spring to mind).

We do plenty of events over the year both in the UK and abroad (last year saw us do an event in April in Belgium, and we were flown out to Italy by the local government in October!), and if there's any events you'd like to attend but the group isn't then you can attend on your own or with other members, it's not a problem at all. Membership fees are only the cost of insurance as well, and we can help you with research etc - if it sounds interesting, drop me message

[abaddon1974]

Apologies for not posting sooner, I have been in hospital having bits of disc removed.
Thanks for the help everybody.
What do groups do for things like the SMLE, use deactivated or blank firing, or even go the whole hog and obtain a live firing one?
Also is reproduction uniform the way to go or should I keep searching militaria shops until I can find original kit?

cheers
Craig

who is very sore and can't sleep hence the silly posting time

[Miss Costello]

Hi,
you probably won't find original kit and you more than likely shouldn't wear it if you do! Steve Kiddles kit is really excellent and what most bods use. Certainly re webbing, there are some excellent repro's around.

Re SMLE's the choice is yours, we have both live firers and de-act. weapons, you don't tend to find WW1 groups 'battling' but a blank firer can be handy for film work or arena demonstrations.

Hope you get better soon!

[7thLeicesters]

Pegasus is definitely the way to go, and a great guy too

[sarah-em]

www.tellthemwecame.com

[abaddon1974]

Well

After a little while with no updates, it looks like this may now finally be going ahead.
I hope to place an order for some uniform soon and am starting to scour sites for Lincolnshire Regiment badges.
I have been in touch with Lincolnshire Police about what I need to do for a firearms licence as I only hold a shotgun certificate at the moment.

I am still trying to find the following.
Helve tool (I think that is the correct name)
Water bottle
Shoulder insignia
Any leads gratefully accepted.

I just need to persuade a few fence sitters to take the plunge as well now.

I hope to have some updates soon.

Craig

[Miss Costello]

I'm doing lots of reproduction labels etc for the era too, if you're on facebook you might want to say hi to the Warwicks, v friendly. Also there's a current Great war Living History forum

http://z13.invisionfree.com/WW1_Living_ ... hp?act=idx

http://www.facebook.com/groups/28489074806/

We're only in East Yorks if you need extra bodies, we have a ton of equipment/tents etc -

k

[abaddon1974]

Thanks for the links, waiting to see if I get onto the forum.

Craig

[Lord Byron]

I am still trying to find the following.
Helve tool (I think that is the correct name)
Water bottle
Shoulder insignia
Any leads gratefully accepted.

I presume by helve tool you mean the intrenching/entrenching tool? In WW1 this was a two piece design, a cast metal head and a wooden handle (the helve) with metal reinforcement where the head would fit on in use. The same basic pattern of the head was used in both world wars, and can usually be found on their own fairly readily, and if undated (or dated late) quite cheaply:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/British-Trench- ... 337183234d

What you want to avoid is getting a helve with the late WW2 feature of the fitting on the end to take a WW2 spike bayonet, eg:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW-II-BRITISH-E ... 27c2e875d4

It should look like this, but beware cut-down examples of the previously mentioned style:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0272413314


For a water bottle, MHW is one source - I believe these might be repainted khaki ones WW2 era bottles, however as long as the internal enamelling is fine they should be ok:

http://www.militaryhistoryworkshop.co.u ... ductId=225


As to badging, if portraying a soldier of a regular Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment, you will need a pair of the curved brass Lincoln shoulder titles and the appropriate cap badge:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW1-British-Arm ... 256c387850

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-LINCOLN ... 1e6acd285b

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW1-Cap-Badge-L ... 4ab39bfa6c

[abaddon1974]

Cap badge is on the way.
I have bids on the Lincoln shoulder names
I also have a bid on a entrenching tool.

I am enjoying spending money at the moment.

Craig

[abaddon1974]

Next question for those with more knowledge than me.

Are Brodie helmets the minefield they appear to be?
I can find them all claiming to be authentic WW1 ranging in price from £9.99 to £1350.00, I am guessing that the cheaper ones are not what they seem to be.

Craig

[Lord Byron]

Are Brodie helmets the minefield they appear to be?
I can find them all claiming to be authentic WW1 ranging in price from £9.99 to £1350.00, I am guessing that the cheaper ones are not what they seem to be.

It's not too much of a minefield if you know what you're looking for. Below is a good site illustrating some of the more common features of a WW1 Brodie to look out for:

http://www.kaisersbunker.com/cef/helmets/

Excluding the rarer early war varieties, an original standard later-war British made helmet shell in good condition can be had with a little work (searching the web or Ebay for a while) for perhaps £50-60, less if badly listed or similar. If you're not fussy, the American version can be had for even less, and they are visually almost identical. Add a repro liner and you're good to go.

Some people still use original helmets with original liners, I don't think this is generally a good idea as the original liners were a somewhat fragile design and this rapidly hastens their demise.

Some people use relined WW2 made shells, visually very similar but the purist will be able to spot the difference even at a short distance.

Some repro British/American helmets are starting to appear - not brilliant, but give them time:

http://www.pflco.com/helmets.html

Good to see you joined the Great War Living History forum btw , good move

[Lord Byron]

Excluding the rarer early war varieties, an original standard later-war British made helmet shell in good condition can be had with a little work (searching the web or Ebay for a while) for perhaps £50-60, less if badly listed or similar... Add a repro liner and you're good to go.

Perfect candidate for a straight up restoration by simply adding a repro liner on Ebay at the moment:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRODIE-STEEL- ... 2a1991eb31

[abaddon1974]

Thanks for the heads up, bid placed

Craig

[450 Martini]

Nice to see a few more lads take an intrest in the period in the lead up to the big 100th aniversary.
Hat wise they did not have gereral issue of the helmet till 1916 before that they wore a mix of stiff Service Dress caps, soft trench caps and the uglyish gor blimey
I got my Brodie from military history workshop, it is converted from a ww2 shell with a new liner and khaki cover, as a note the chinstrap is brown pigskin not canvas web as in the later ww2 helmets.
In my group the Birmingham pals
http://www.birminghampals.com/index.htm
we have several areas of operatons we have british infantry section, medical section with a full field hospital and mod T ambulance, a mining and tunneling section, and a german section.
Very luckily we have acsess to the trench system at the staffordshire regiment museum where we are able to put on battles, with machine guns and pyro.

[Lord Byron]

I also have a bid on a entrenching tool.

If that doesn't work out, this might be of interest:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW1-World-War ... 3210988179

[abaddon1974]

Ok

Thanks to the help of people on this and the great war forum my kit is slowly starting to come together.

My next question is when applying for a firearms licence what do you put down for where you intend to use it?
I think that "anywhere in the UK and possibly abroad" will not help my application.

I will probably put a pole gun on my application as well to keep the medieval love alive.

Also can anyone think of anything else which would be useful other than .303 caliber rifle?

thanks

Craig

[czartank]

Have you joined a WW1 Group? This helps to reassure firearms officers as they can see that you are part of an organised group- it also makes the application easier- I always state on mine that it is to be used at events of my group- that seems acceptable- also worth mentioning that you are doing living history and battle displays for the public.

as to what over calibres to put on the app, that depends on what other impressions you wish to do- for example 7.62mm would be useful if you ever wanted to portray those British infantry equiped with Moisin Nagants in Russia

[abaddon1974]

Not joined a WW1 group yet, there don't seem to be any multi regiment groups left anymore, so I am at the moment a lone Lincoln with a few recruits in the pipeline.

I have spoken to Lincolnshire Firearms Licencing and they do not seem to have a problem with this at the moment, I will also be adding a 15th century pole gun to my application, but have been told by licence holders to put everything I might want to obtain before my next renewal down on my application so that I do not need to apply for any changes a few months down the line.

I was trying to remember what rifles were used by snipers at the time, I seem to remember that sporting guns of the period were pressed into service on occassion but that could be another war.

Gary from Derbyshire Historic Arms has suggested a few guns used by other nationalities during the war.

Also a big box full of uniform arrived today, the trousers are about 18" too long but that is because of my stumpy legs I think.

Craig

[uk4caster]

Hi. Only found this forum today...I've been looking for a WW1 Group in Lincolnshire for a few years. Worried I would be too old before I found one (probably am at 51!).

I gather you're just trying to get things together at the moment. Are you meeting as a group yet, I'd like to come along and see what's happening....I have no knowledge of the practical side, uniforms etc. but know some history. I'm in Market Rasen.

Maybe hope to speak or meet up soon? Best wishes.

Mark Randall

mob# 07805678445

[PeterZed]

In terms of a multi Regiment Group I would recommend Rob's Old Contemptibles Living History Group. Our own Group can be found at http://www.thequeensown.com. If you are still after shoulder titles then Lew Shotton's site is worth keeping an eye on - http://freespace.virgin.net/lew.shotton ... titles.htm. IMHO Steve Kiddle (Pegasus) can't be beaten for quality and accuracy in the uniforms he produces.

My FAC has the following (paraphrased) wording in relation to my SMLE being used in connection with Living History activities:

" The .303 Rifle referred to in this certificate may also be used for firing of blank ammunition only as part of confined club activities on private property with the consent of the owner of that property.The firearms may not be used in a public place of public entertainment except as part of an organised demonstration or exhibition of club activities."
Best wishes for the future

[abaddon1974]

I am still collecting bits together at the moment, I have my shoulder titles now, full webbing including bayonet and trenching tool thingy. I still need putees and a shirt. Also Lincs firearms licencing have not been in contact yet.
My plans have been put on hold a little bit by a prolapsed disc so I am currently awaiting surgery for that.

I am trying to build the kit from 1914 first and will then hopefully expand later.

The prize part of my collection so far is my officers sword, no plans to do an officer uniform yet but I love my sword.

I am also working my way slowly through Simpsons book about the regiment from 1914 to 1918.

Always up to meeting interested people in the flesh for a chat.

Craig

[Dixie]

Hi Mate,
Lots of groups will, I am sure, give you lots of help and advice.
As the Gordon Highlanders we are a fairly new group, first event in 2009 and taking around 17 to our next event.
Feel free to check out our website http://www.gordonhighlanders1914-18.co.uk/ or drop in to our facebook page for a chat http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/135873979785987/
Most of our guys have deacts which may be a cheaper option to a live firer for you if you are shelling out a lot for kit at the min.
I did quite a bit of homework before buying my SMLE. I ended up with a bargain and got a MkI**. lots out there at crazy prices.
And if you are thinking of a sniper option the last scope on ebay went for £1600

all the best.
a.