Retreat to Calais, 1475 (2004) May 21-23

white mountain armoury · Tue May 25, 2004 2:24 pm

I have some im cropping ill make available.
I had a good time, and it was nice meeting you all.
Im hoping someone has a pic of Marla as i was not able to have the chance to take one, she pretty much took most of the pics in my camera.
Ill post links a little later
To much cool stuff to list

AB

James B. · Post by **James B.** » Tue May 25, 2004 2:45 pm

Fire Stryker wrote:

I think Bob is going to have to explain what's happening here.

I can explain. I jumped out of the woods to tie up Pieter and Chef while Jeff J made by with our loot but I did not see Bernard hiding behind a rock and he snuck up behind me and killed me. Darn back stabbing French

Fire Stryker · Post by **Fire Stryker** » Tue May 25, 2004 3:04 pm

Just so you know who's who...

From left to right:
Kneeling: James: the artist formerly known as Flonzy and Adam (WMA)

Middle Row: Kenneth, Bernard (La Compagnie des Archers de Frontenac), Bob (Chef), Brent (Peder), Kyle (benalishlancer), and Richard.

Back Row: Pieter and Jeff J.

Jeff J · Post by **Jeff J** » Tue May 25, 2004 4:04 pm

chef de chambre wrote:Hi All,
All was not over however - the English had a desperate plan to escape with their ill-gotten loot yet. Jeff J., being particularly evil and clever, made a point of asking Pieter as soon as he was escorted across the bridge "You didn't kill me, right? I'm a prisoner?" Pieter responding in the afirmative - Jeff Johnson still carrying the two chests - bolted off down the trail, straight for the designated area that would gain the English victory if they got their loot that far. As he went past me, I gave him a glancing cut to his right arm - but on he went without dropping the chests, forcing us into a footrace in which he exhibited great althleticisim, before finally being run down by Adam (passing me in a blur of speed, first shouting to me "you run like an Old Woman"

Actually, I never stopped. The plan was for the others were to occupy you guys and then surrender while I made the dash for safety. Then we'd use part of the well-earned reward to ransom the captured men back - not realizing that Chef was a blood-thirsty war criminal who puts all prisoners to the sword (there WILL be charges preferred at Michaelmas!). After taking the wound to the arm, I dropped one of the 20-pound-ish chests about 50 yards further up the trail, but with the encumberance, was unable to avoid being hamstrung by Adam a bit further along. 20 yards more & I'd have had it!

Wolf · Post by **Wolf** » Tue May 25, 2004 4:22 pm

ya jeffj does run kinda funny. anyone remember his floating down the hillside after sat mornings tac at MTT this year? flaot float float is all i could think of heheh

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Tue May 25, 2004 5:02 pm

Jeff J wrote:
chef de chambre wrote:Hi All,
All was not over however - the English had a desperate plan to escape with their ill-gotten loot yet. Jeff J., being particularly evil and clever, made a point of asking Pieter as soon as he was escorted across the bridge "You didn't kill me, right? I'm a prisoner?" Pieter responding in the afirmative - Jeff Johnson still carrying the two chests - bolted off down the trail, straight for the designated area that would gain the English victory if they got their loot that far. As he went past me, I gave him a glancing cut to his right arm - but on he went without dropping the chests, forcing us into a footrace in which he exhibited great althleticisim, before finally being run down by Adam (passing me in a blur of speed, first shouting to me "you run like an Old Woman"

- not realizing that Chef was a blood-thirsty war criminal who puts all prisoners to the sword (there WILL be charges preferred at Michaelmas!). !

Actually, I put a brigand to the sword - none of the liveried men who surrendered were killed. Somebody walking down the road, coming from the direction of a looted village, armed (as in having armour as well as a sword - not a peasants weapon), has to be a routier (a war-criminal as a thing in itself), not some harmless peasant. Henry V hanged French spies (and his own looters) - I gave this one a quicker and more merciful death.

Besides, Michalemas takes place 14 years before the events at the Retreat to Calais - you can't try me for crimes not commited yet.

Wolf · Post by **Wolf** » Tue May 25, 2004 5:56 pm

by chef: Henry V hanged French spies

ya so! there french, what more reason does a king need to hang a man? hehehhe

Besides, Michalemas takes place 14 years before the events at the Retreat to Calais - you can't try me for crimes not commited yet.

obviously you never saw Minority report

prepair to pay burgle-scum! hehehe

glad you guys had a good time, wish i could ahve made it

Josh W · Post by **Josh W** » Wed May 26, 2004 3:06 am

Coolness.

Dying an agonizingly envious death over here...

More!

James B. · Post by **James B.** » Wed May 26, 2004 8:13 am

Here is pectoral proof of Burgundian War Crimes:

[img]http://home.armourarchive.org/members/flonzy/images/Image65.jpg[/img]

I think the Chef de Chambre should resign his position! Opps wrong board

Who says living history guys don't have fun.

James B. · Post by **James B.** » Wed May 26, 2004 8:16 am

A little more sillyness:

[img]http://home.armourarchive.org/members/flonzy/images/Image90.jpg[/img]

I have 81 total images that I hope to have up in the next day or two.

Charlotte J · Post by **Charlotte J** » Wed May 26, 2004 8:26 am

James B. wrote:A little more sillyness:

I have 81 total images that I hope to have up in the next day or two.

You tease!

-Charlotte

white mountain armoury · Wed May 26, 2004 8:38 am

Fire Stryker · Post by **Fire Stryker** » Wed May 26, 2004 10:18 am

James B. wrote:Here is pectoral proof of Bur[g]undian War Crimes:

[img]http://home.armourarchive.org/members/flonzy/images/Image65.jpg[/img]

Hmmm... looks like anti-Burgundian propaganda and evidence tampering to me. I'd like to point out that all of the criminal activity above is being perpetrated by the English upon one of their own! :shock:

James B. · Post by **James B.** » Wed May 26, 2004 10:28 am

Hmmm the English press caught faking homosexual atrocities again! :twisted:

Benalishlancer · Post by **Benalishlancer** » Wed May 26, 2004 4:11 pm

O shame and humiliation. I can no longer return to my people after the degradation I've been put through. I demand retribution!!!

^ · Post by ^ » Thu May 27, 2004 9:48 pm

[img]http://www.mediumaevum.com/aa/201r.jpg[/img]

Wolf · Post by **Wolf** » Fri May 28, 2004 6:45 am

peder, maybe it he isnt killing him, maybe its one of them ole Templer games. you know like hide the pommel or something hahahahha jk, where'd ya get the pic?

check out those square knees

Fire Stryker · Post by **Fire Stryker** » Tue Jun 01, 2004 1:46 pm

Hey James,

any more pix?

Jenn

^ · Post by ^ » Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:19 pm

So it only took me 6 months but here are my photos.
http://www.mediumaevum.com/lh/photo/retreat/

Brent

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 7:48 pm

Just in time to start planning this years!

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 6:25 am

Have secured the site - will have a solid date by next weeekend at latest (hopefully - Erik And I are playing phone tag).

James B. · Post by **James B.** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 8:41 am

Cool, the calendar is filling up fast this year so the sooner we know the better.

Murdock · Post by **Murdock** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 6:05 pm

Maybe just maybe there will finally be a real LH event thats not on a "all out" type weekend.

Of course i'll probably end up babysitting thugz all night again and not get to go.

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 6:10 pm

James B. wrote:Cool, the calendar is filling up fast this year so the sooner we know the better.

It will either be the weekend before Memorial day, or Memorial day. Can yopu guys keep them open until Christmas? I will know for sure before then (I spoke to his wife this evening, but missed him).

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 6:12 pm

Murdock wrote:Maybe just maybe there will finally be a real LH event thats not on a "all out" type weekend.

Of course i'll probably end up babysitting thugz all night again and not get to go.

You would be more than welcome. We could treat the thugs to 15th century criminal justice, but the law would frown on that I think.

Murdock · Post by **Murdock** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 2:54 am

If only we could Chef, but some commie ACLU schmuck lawyer would be all to fightened of loosing their customer base.

Gawd forbid people be able to wlak to their cars without being accosted by crackdealers or mugged by bangers.

James B. · Post by **James B.** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:34 am

Chef

Memorial day weekend is bad because it is a huge SCA event, and unlike most years I can't skip it this year. If you do the weekend before I will be there again

.

Michael B · Post by **Michael B** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 3:22 am

The 2004 site looks beautiful ... But then I come from a place of dry eucalypt forests or tropical rainforest ...

Just a few questions - pardon my ignorance -

- are the "tacticals" run on the basis of particular combat rules, or do they operate in some other way?

- to what extent, if any, is the event "first person" living history?

Regards
Michael B

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 4:58 pm

Michael B wrote:The 2004 site looks beautiful ... But then I come from a place of dry eucalypt forests or tropical rainforest ...

Just a few questions - pardon my ignorance -

- are the "tacticals" run on the basis of particular combat rules, or do they operate in some other way?

- to what extent, if any, is the event "first person" living history?

Regards
Michael B

Hi Michael,

The Retreat to Calais event is a semi-private event, in that it is not open to the general public to view, excepting a tour of some local schools for a few hours. During the tour, there was both first and third person interpretation - the bulk of interpretation being my guiding the school through the camp in the role of (if not dressed as) a third person Red Shirt. Bernard of the Francs Archers, and his friend Kennith kept to a first person interpretation during their interpretation, others were more comfortable with third person. In being an event put on by reenactors, for the primary benefit of reenactors, for the reenactors to have fun and try to immerse themselves, it differes hugely from the standard reenactment or living history event as I see it in America, or see it through the commentary of European and Austrailian Reencators, where the main emphasis is for the organisers to put a show on for the public. Most of our groups do public interpretations at timelines or museums, in a more recognisable venue to reenactors across the board - this event is on the other hand, for us rather than the general public, although we do the landowner the service of helping to educate local schoolkids and their families.

I guess it depends on your definition of Living History - in my thoughts, other than the professionals and volunteer but trained amatures in some historic sites, and museums, not very many reenactor groups or interpretive groups are really doing living history to my understanding of the term, and many of the professional sites do it on a sliding scale (some amatures do it better). It is an extremely difficult goal to reach, that takes an enourmous ammount of dedication.

Another difference for this event is this event is intended to be an event that is easy for those wishing to try 15th century reenactment to attend, without an enourmous ammount of pressure to meet the host and other established groups minimum standards - it is a place they can 'get their feet wet' with minimal kit, and help from the major groups atttending with both putting simple kit together, or a loan of some basic items of kit. We had one attendee who had his last bits of kit being sewn together on the morning of the first day

If by living history you mean do we set up camps as accurately as we can with the equipment we have, and try to stay in character, and stay 'in' period through the course of the event, cook 'period food', and play 'period' games or engage in period activities then I would say that we all do that to the best of our ability, and with varying success (across the course of a day, in my personal example and experience)

The event is based on the events surrounding the invasion of France by Edward IV in the Summer of 1475. At the moment, the numbers attending do not allow for anything more than a token skirmish, which to make more interesting, we model on the form of 18th or 19th century reenactment 'tactical' as engaged in by French and Indian War, American Civil War, and American Revolutionary War reenactors in the US - the opposing sides are given different tactical goals to make, in order to achive a 'victory' - the scenarios being based on snippets of information available in the chronicles accounting the invasion of France in 1475. As numbers grow, then reenactments of specific engagements, with known outcomes will be undertaken, exactly as other eras reenact Gettysburg or the Assult on Ticonderoga. The tacticals themselves are currently planned to continue alongside proper reenactment, as a tool for exploring infantry (and eventually cavalry) tactics in the 15th century, as well as allowing a means of fun 'competition' without a prearranged certain ending.

Last year was the first time we were able to skirmish with blunts, arrows, and primitive firearms - the bulk of the participants are engaged in the study of WMA, and know how to pull blows, and so we had tacit agreement as to allowable strikes, and forbidden ones (no foining was allowed), rather than a system of combat such as the '5's' commonly used in the UK. As the numbers expand, we will develop such a system for those who are less practised, while continueing to allow the light sparring between those with experience, who agree to the practise. The 'fighting' is merely a means of resolving an outcome, rather than a competative combat.

Sorry for being long-winded, but I hope this is more helpful than a short answer.

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 5:23 pm

95% certainty the event will be the third weekend in May. The official announcemnt will be this weekend.

Michael B · Post by **Michael B** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 3:14 am

Thank you for your detailed response, chef. In general, it confirms my impressions and sounds quite appealing.

Michael B

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:26 pm

It is official, we have the site for the weekend of the 21-22 of May, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, with Monday for those late leavers. I will try to get the Monday or at least half of it as an event day as well.

Horses (numbers within reason) are welcome, and we will be better prepared facility wise to handle them.

Retreat to Calais, 1475 (2004) May 21-23

Re: Calais 1475 Event Pix: May 22, 2004