"Waterloo Reenactment cancelled" Topic

The major event due this weekend was cancelled by Belgium yesterday, a victim of the heat. Not unlike the days before Quatre Bras in 1815, but elf n safety is a greater concern these days. Even 200 years ago the story goes that soldiers died of heat stroke. Heart breaking after all the preparation and travel plans.

This link brings it home, telling us just what was planned and prepped;

link

It wasn't going to happen on the anniversary anyway, so why not just reschedule?

There was some suggestion of a clash on the correct weekend, so my adult sons tell me, but none of us know what. Getting hundreds of reenactors and thousands of spectators to turn up a week later than intended would be a bit optimistic. Flights and hotels are not like that….

I wasn't suggesting just a week! At least a month…

Don't know what the temperature was today, but the high for Belgium tomorrow is 83. We'd be putting on our coats here in Texas.

Even in North Yorkshire we are back into the low 80s today. Thunderstorms and Lightning might be an issue as well in Belgique. All these enthusiasts waving bayonets in the air, might just invite a strike I guess. Wimps.

The real folk did not say 200 years ago that it looks like rain, it is quite warm, I think I might have heat stroke and am about to die. What would Sharpe have said? You must do it in a Sheffield accent…bit like "they 'ave a Cave Troll" from years ago

This may be the worst one in the U.S.

During the 150th Anniversary event in July 2011, Manassas, Virginia, suffered under a severe "heat dome". Actual temperatures during the multi-day commemoration exceeded \(105^{\circ }\text{F}\) (\(40.5^{\circ }\text{C}\)) on Saturday, with Sunday reaching the high \(90\)s and a blistering heat index ranging from \(95^{\circ }\text{F}\) to \(118^{\circ }\text{F}\). [1, 2]

Impact on Reenactors:
* Heat Exhaustion: Sweltering humidity and stifling heat indexes near \(120^{\circ }\text{F}\) forced hundreds of the roughly \(6,500\) reenactors out of the field to seek medical aid for heat exhaustion. [1, 2, 3]
* Heavy Uniforms: The physical stress was severely compounded by heavy, period-accurate wool uniforms and black powder gear.

Had friends that took part and regretted it.

I know I took part in some in the mid 90's. Hard, but I was still young.
Coldest? Temp wise, low 20's.

But 40's, sheeting rain and wind were worse than 20's and snow. Just could not get warm once wool was soaked. One of the Big Shilohs sucked with 3 days of solid rain and streams running through our half shelters.

Actually never had a good shiloh reenactment. Always either rainy, cold with winds or all 3.

Once you start hitting the mid 50's body starts to not adjust to weather as well and being in wool really starts to truly suck.

That is a very interesting point.

Good reminder that the folk who turn out as the "Old Guard" are very "Old" Guard, as the kids of the right age cannot afford the rig. The waistlines are usually a giveaway.

I gather that Gettysburg, first time around, was, shall we say, a sunny day? Been there in July and one did not need a jacket, fer sure.

Folk did die of heat stroke in 1863 and 1815, marching into battle I admit, not sitting or standing around. Lightning seems to frighten US folk, more than over here, but "'elfen safety" does run the show now.

I believe the USA gets more lightening than Europe.

The young just don't much show the interest anymore. Maybe that will change with newer generations. You see it in wargaming. Look at the pictures on TMP. Reflects exactly what I have seen.

When I outfitted myself, it seemed expensive then as well…. Based on what we made at the time. But we wanted to do it and we found a way to do it.

Many of us donated uniforms to the organization to outfit newbies.

Lack of interest in history and video games at home are the main impediment to recruiting.

Youth just stopped showing up at living history events.

Kids 15 and down, their parents and older people started being the main crowds.

I've done living history at Gettysburg, camping behind the Pennsylvania monument. We would get well over 100 per demonstration. We would do 4 to 5 a day. In between we would have visitors through our camp until the park closed.

Done many other national, state and city parks and monuments, but nothing ever drew the crowds of G-Burg.

I should say, for living histories

The big 125, 130, 135 anniversaries could draw 100,000 or mor spectators per day. As many as 25,000 or more taking part in the event. Could not see everyone on the field.