Re-enactor status

[Jon Skagfeld]

Mark: According to one of your previous posts, my oath would have been to Caesar and the Republic.

SPQR.

Sorry, Mike...I seem to cross post when other posts are coming in. Doesn't help with the continuity...but then, that's a theatrical thespian's concern, isn't it?

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Jon, with three CDs under your belt, I think you're entitled to wear whatever uniform you choose, and if anyone's going to give you an argument about that, I'll stand beside you.

[Jim Price]

This one's for all the Canadians in the crowds here. There's a number of them who winter in Arizona and the kit gives them a little something from home.

Best regards,
Jim

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Jim Price

This one's for all the Canadians in the crowds here. There's a number of them who winter in Arizona and the kit gives them a little something from home.

Best regards,
Jim

Looking Good Jim!

[Bruce MacMillan]

Out here in the west we have a kind of unwritten rule that you don't wear the uniform of a person who held a Queen's commission (in Jon's case an Emperor's commission). Everything else is fair game as long as it is not a current serving uniform. Once a uniform becomes obsolete it is merely a costume.

Whether or not it might offend someone, you'd be surprised at how the eyes light up when some of these vets see the old uniforms they served in.

[Ed Storey]

Bruce, clowns wear costumes, old or new a uniform is a uniform and wearing it represents the profession of arms for the particular period. To refer a uniform as a costume is not only an insult to those who once wore the uniform but opens the door for those who lack the knownledge or respect to wear them any way they please.

I would much rather see the vehicle owner wearing jeans and T shirt with his/her restored vehicle rather then sporting a uniform that they have no idea how to wear or are too old and out of shape to even look the part of a serving soldier.

I am approaching the second clasp to my CD and all that entitles me to wear is DEUs and CADPAT, as far as I am concerned that decoration gives me no special status to wear whatever old uniform I want.

[Mike Timoshyk]

Ed,

Are you implying that you would not and have not worn any uniform except for DEU and CADPAT?

Just curious....

Mike

[Bruce MacMillan]

Hi Ed,

I appreciate your emotive concern. The use of the word "costume" has a variety of meanings. According to the Random House dictionary one is " a style of dress, including accessories, especially peculiar to a nation, social class or historical period". If you limit your thinking to clowns...well.

My reference to an obsolete uniform being a costume is based on a legality issue. I believe it is illegal for a non-serving member of our armed forces to wear a current serving uniform. Once the uniform has been obsoleted it becomes legally a mere costume. We see people wearing P37 down to Fraser Highlanders. All are "costumes".

I salute you on your service. I hope you get your second clasp.

[Ed Storey]

Mike, I am not implying that at all. In my 20s and 30s for certain occasions I would wear BD and SD, once in my 40s I stopped wearing these uniforms as I felt that I no longer accurately represented what a Great War or Second War soldier looked like.

Bruce, thanks for the dictionary definition and yes there is a legality issue with wearing uniforms although the law was for those who intend to pass themselves off as members of the military and not those who are representing how a uniform looked for a certain period.

The costume issue is the fundamental problem that the majority of the re-enacting community has, because the garment being worn is perceived to be a costume or a non-uniform, you get all manner of humanity who now feel that they can somehow dress up as military. A uniform, old or new, reflects the profession or arms from the period that is being represented and hiding behind a dictionary definition does not diminish the fact that there is a very small percentage of the re-enacting community who understand what a uniform represents.

Thankfully, the small percentage who understand that do a fine job of representing their respective periods of study.

[Mike Timoshyk]

I understand Ed. What I found interesting while touring the Commonwealth War Graves throughout Europe and the Middle East was the number of older soldiers particularly in the First War. The meat-grinder of trench warfare with its terribly high attrition rate and the indiscriminate shelling in the rear led to the recruitment of many of the older soldiers such as my grandfather who served...particularly in the Service Corps. This was true in WW2 as well. To be sure the pointy end of the stick is always reserved for the young...and many Arty and Armoured guys found themselves seconded to infantry units as replacements as a result of shortages due to casualties and recruitment issues. One of my uncles was a good friend and fellow Offier who served with Connie Smythe. He often spoke of how through Connie's celebrity status Connie was able to overcome the unwritten understanding that Officers would not speak publicly about the sometimes desperate shortages the army was experiencing in the field. Perhaps it is time for us old codgers to reflect on the service of the Veterans Guard and the Training Cadres.

cheers

Mike