 Re-enacting Artillery Crew
The Marquess of Winchesters regiment is fortunate to have access to 2 artillery pieces, a Drake Minion owned by the Kings Army and a smaller Minion owned by the regiment.
Members of the artillery are a special breed, it may look easy firing a loading a cannon but there is more to the role than just going bang. We are always on the lookout for new members to man these guns, the artillery play a role in every event we attend, be it a static show and tell or part of the Kings Army battery at our major displays.
Training is essential when crewing one of these guns and it is given to any new member by the regiments master gunner, learning the loading procedure, safe firing distances and safe handling of the gun powder used in these guns.
Not for the light hearted but a very enjoyable aspect of the hobby..
An article by Laura Cherry, Gunner.
This discipline is both well trained and well motivated. Our regiment actually possesses two types of artillery pieces.
We are lucky to have within this regiment one of the country's leading replica cannons, a Drake Minion which has been lovingly researched and manufacture organised by a former member of our ranks, Tim Slack. The gun itself, is a copy of a piece in a museum in Boston Lincolnshire, which was manufactured in the 1600's by a well-known expert of the time. Our replica is a highly prized piece and much sought after for filming and photography. It is also an awfully heavy beast to shift on the battlefield, and consequently tends to remain in a static battery.
The second piece of artillery within the regiment is a smaller mini-minion. This gun, also researched and copied from the same source as the Drake Minion, is much more manoeuvrable and can be wheeled around battlefields by a fairly small but fit crew. Ample crew are needed however as all its tools and water, not to mention powder and wadding, along with the linstock (lighted match cord on a pole! ) have to be moved around with it.
Artillery is not all glory however! There is a lot more to it than going "BANG" It is essential that the work aspect is covered, often a long while before and also a long while after an event
There are several odious tasks associated with artillery work, but if undertaken as a group they are easily and quickly accomplished and are often a source of fun.
Other Roles -
Pikeman
Musketeer
Civilian
|
The Marquess Of Winchester's Regiment
Discussion Forum 
Regimental Facebook
Regimental Blog