Mondrepuis - Camp/Campaign Etiquette

Camp/Field Living-History Etiquette

A) The HQ will transmit written instructions to the different elements under his command as a rule. Naturally, in appropriate circumstances, runners may transmit their dispatches orally.

B) Officers are to have some form of writing paper and pencil with them. This will be required when performing camp duties and writing dispatches or reports whilst in the field.

C) Whilst in camp, officers are to be waited upon by soldiers issued from their ranks, these are known as “batmen” and are organised as follows: 1 batman per officer.

D) Officers are not to cook their own meals, construct their own shelters or do their own washing-up. It is the responsibility of the “batman” on duty to carry out these tasks. However, it goes without saying that the ingredients are supplied by the officers for their meals.

E) Drummers and trumpeters are, in the field, will be attached to a sub-division (2 sections) and will be with the sub-division's officer. In camp, whilst living and messing with their sections, are under the command of the HQ and perform the camp calls for the detachment as a whole.

F) Proper lines of communication, in camp particularly, are to be observed: HQ will issue instructions and receive reports from the section sergents, who then speaks to NOC who in turn speak to their soldiers and see that they carry out their duties.

G) Officer meetings can be conducted and will consist of all officiers present and, upon request and if so necessary, with the presence of the section sergents. No other person may participate and it is the duty of the section commanders to organize their men as best they can in line with the C-in-C’s decisions.

H) Follow instructions and orders from your assigned superior and not your “group leader”. These roles are given by the organisor to individuals that can best carry out their missions and that try to equally re-create these pivots of military life.

I) Address your superiors using their title and not their names (e.g. Say “sarge” or “sir” instead of “Ian” or “Jan”) and observe proper etiquette and behavior as necessary.

J) When in the field, be it on the march or at the halt, it is the officer commanding the sub-division's responsibility to put in place pickets in order to secure the detachment (if a section is isolated, it becomes the responsability of the section sergent). When in camp, it is the HQ’s responsibility to not only establish pickets but also to organize the rotas of the guard and night watch as well as the passwords.

K) Foraging from the local population is positively encouraged as part of the living history experience. However, when returning to camp or your section, it is asked that the food you have foraged be rendered as historic as possible such as getting rid of the modern packaging, transferring beverages in bottles, etc.

L) Fraternisation with the enemy during the event is not permitted, but there will be a chance to meet and greet after the event’s end. Reminder: Event runs from 06h00 on Saturday to 15h00 on Sunday.

M) Duties, ranks and commands:-

 Officers: In the field, they command the troops under their command directly. In the camp, they give instructions to the section sergents to carry out.
 NCOs: These will are the "section sergents". In the field, they assist their officers and watch the troops. In the camp, they run a section and carry out their officer’s instructions. if their section is isolated, they will conduct all military instructions given to them.
 Apart for officers and NCOs, there are no other ranks of command within the troops, including corporals, at any time.

N) Bayonets are to be fixed throughout the event as if on an active campaign. Rifle bayonets are to be fixed as circumstances may require or demand. Participants are asked to be very vigilant in their arms drill and movements.

O) Ramming charges in muskets/rifles/carbines is left at the discretion of the individual groups.

P) If a messenger carrying a dispatch is captured, he is to hand over his dispatches to his captors and then be released.