Recruitment

Membership Cost

Joining Fee = £20 then £1 for 52 weeks giving a grand total of £72

The Fee goes towards the Public Liability Insurance which covers each member in the Group when at shows and Events.

The rest of the membership money is used to obtain Group kit, for example Tentage, we recently purchased a new large Flysheet to be used as a cook tent and seated area for us to eat under and to keep out of the weather. For Battle Re-enactments we need to purchase small amounts of pyrotechnics to create a believable scenario for the public to watch, we sometimes need building materials when building our dioramas. Group kit in the past that has been obtained have included a Mortar with packing box, Mortar Rounds and sights, full size parachutes, backpack radio, hand radio, flag pole and flags and so on. This kit is owned by the Group and is taken to shows and events to create a Living History display as authentically as possible.

Kit required

When joining new members are required to obtain the bare minimun (see below) this will allow you to join in at your first event and to fit in with the rest of the members, this is a hobby at the end of the day and like all hobbies it can get expensive collecting all the items that you could buy and own.

It can take a number of years to purchase all the kit and uniforms depending on how far you wish to go, for example, you start out with one uniform and some webbing along with a chosen weapon, then you will need a tent and the camping equipment, you may then decide to specialise in a certain area so maybe a medic or demolition or radio operator so you may want to obtain all the kit that is relevant.

You then may want to purchase the personal kit, so wash kit, rations pack, items like pack of cards, cigarette packets, mouth organ, pipe, money, id cards and so on, these are the little things that make a re-enactor look the part as all these items have to be from the 1930's/40's wether they are reproductions or originals.

With regards to reproductions or originals, this can have an effect on the cost as well, if you decide to purchase originals then they will be more expensive but they will have the authentic worn and used  look about them that reproductions dont always have. Most members start out with reproductions as they are easier and cheaper to obtain and then over the years replace them with originals, for example a reproduction Pistol Belt can cost between £10 and £15 but an original can be between £25 and £35. Originals can be obtained from E-Bay usually the US Site is better then the UK Site as there is a greater choice.

The Group requires a new member to obtain the following -

1) An M1942 Un-Reinforced Paratrooper Jump Suit, this consists of a pair of Para trousers and a Para Jacket, this must also have the clean just been issued look and NOT the worn look where the colour of the material is faded.



Cost £80 for Trousers and Jacket

2) A pair of Leather Jump Boots, there are a few versions at different costs but the best buy is the most expensive, these are the Corcoran Jump Boots, some cheap boots will not last long, the soles tend to fall apart after a few wears, the Corcorans will last you years and they do get worn all day long and are subject to rain and mud and a lot of running around. Some members end up buying two pairs, the expensive ones are used mainly with the combat uniforms and then the cheaper pair with the smart A Class Uniform which have to be kept clean and shiny as they are used for Parades.

     

Cost £120 for the Corcorans
Cost £80 for the cheaper ones

 3) Infantry Garrison CAP this cap has to be the Infantry version with the light blue/white piping and an early war Parachute Infantry Cap Badge.



Cost £30

4) 101st Airborne Division Patch is required on the top left sleeve of your Jump Jacket, make sure the tong colour is red NOT white as this represents the Pathfinders of the 101st.

   

Cost £8

The above is the minimun required, this will allow you to join in the Parades and to look part of the displays, however each member usually takes more kit then they need so items of webbing and helmets are usually going spare and you can usually be kitted out sufficiently for the display until such time you can purchase further items. Please note there is no pressure to buy, buy, buy, it all costs money so it maybe a case of buying an item here and there, most events have stalls selling pretty much everything you will need.