For any reenactors on this forum. I only know of a few of them. Would anyone be interested in writing after action reports and posting them on the forum. I'm plannning on doing it and I hope I'm not the only one.

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"Front leaning rest position"
"Move"
"In cadence, exercise....1, 2, 3" (My favorite thing to hear at 5 in the morning.)

Yeah, I plan on writing one of my last battle (this weekend) for our unit magazine, so I will post it for you. I need to get word working on my PC first so dont expect to see anything soon. It was a great battle though the allies appeared to be experimenting with some sort of bullet proof vest that protected them from everything, including grenades. I will post my AAR here anyway when I get it done.

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There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.

Stefan, the allies I was fighting must have had that bullet proof vest too, it even protected them from our motars. I've been trying to write one for my last battle, but I can never find the time. I can't wait to read your AAR. My battle was pretty good too.

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"Front leaning rest position"
"Move"
"In cadence, exercise....1, 2, 3" (My favorite thing to hear at 5 in the morning.)

Just list everybody you "hit" as "killed". If he got "killed" three or four times, then write it as if there were three or four people instead of one!

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„Solange man nicht mit dem Kopf unterm Arm rumläuft geht es doch noch!" Erwin Rommel

Here it is guys, the paragraphing is poor as I did it on notepad, spelling is poor because I just did it and am knackered. Hope you like it:

Mereworth Battle, After Action Report

It was freezing as the Bridle clan pulled up in the car park of Mereworth Woods MOD training base, the first thing we did when we arrived was let someone know we were there and then go to get some new gear (a new pair of M43 trousers and a gas mask case, and a load of stuff for 'Mein Papa'). After that we changed into our uniforms and I must say I was very grateful for the warmth provided by my 2 tunics (peas dot and M44) and my shirt, the silk scarf and scrim net were also most welcome. We got a couple of rifles then went to the safety briefing, after which we were assigned to our sections and briefed on the morning's plan. Our job was to move through the woods to a defensive position just behind the front line where we would await the advance of the British and Americans (who were outnumbered 2:1 by Axis forces, which included another SS unit, Fallschimjäger and Heer troops).

We then moved off into the woods as a patrol in staggered file formation along a road, bombing up with ammo as we went. Unfortunately I had to make do with an Enfield No.4 rather than a K98, but I love that rifle. Worked like a dream the whole day. Eventually we reached our defensive position and I with an NCO was assigned the task of watching the road on our left flank from a crater, which was overgrown with trees etc. As I sat watching the road buried in foliage with my rifle aimed towards the enemy the day began to warm up. I didn't mind, as surprisingly I did not overheat in my uniform despite all the running about I did later in the day. Unfortunately (though perhaps not surprisingly with my luck) I discovered our hole was rather close to an ants' nest and spent most of my time swatting the little bleeders.

After sitting in the hole for about an hour and a half our senior NCO (apparently an ex-SAS trooper) came running over to tell us that the 'mighty Allies' had failed to make it through our front line and so we were to go on the offensive. We were ordered to run to a rallying point on the road when a signal was blown on a whistle. When the signal was given and my NCO went tearing out of the bunk hole we were in, made an elegant gazelle like leap from the top of the 'parapet' into the field and ran off. I followed closely running up the edge of the hole and leaping gracefully from the top of the 'parapet', catching my legs in some brambles, flailing my arms and landing on my hand (one was holding the rifle and I know better than to let my weapon hit the ground like that) and knees. Anyway, I jumped up and legged it after the rest of the unit and was on the road before some of the guys that left before me. Then again one of those 'lads' was my own father who was fifty a couple of days ago. He did damn well considering a total lack of any kind of military experience or training, I was VERY proud of him, the way he managed it. Anyway, we formed up on the road with 1 section leading, followed by our MG42 'gun group' (which my father was in) and then 2 section. After we had been going down the road a little way we heard fire to our front, a nervous BREN gunner had opened up as he saw someone in SS uniform move round the corner, we all took cover except our unit photographer who took the best part of a BREN magazine in his back (he was rather bravely, or stupidly, you decide, taking photographs of our brave advance). We saw the gun crew get up and leg it into the woods so we moved into the tree line nearest his position and took cover there. As this first action began I was confused to say the least simply because as we moved on a little way into the woods (I could actually see the enemy at this point but couldn't fire for fear of giving away our position). I found myself separated from the section by a bush, the guy in front of me was a little overzealous for my liking and was advancing on the enemy alone without support. I ran as fast as I could round the bush to get with the rest of the section just in time to see them run off on a flanking move around the Allied position. I ran as fast as I could to catch up (I knew those years of sprinting would pay off) and arrived just as they began to advance while firing on the enemy. Rather than stopping I kept running and firing from the hip until I reached a tree near the front of the advance where I opened fire until I heard a sound like canvas tearing. That's right, the MG42 was going into action for the first time that day. The gunner, a USAF ground crewman named Glenn Wolmak, was advancing firing the MG from the hip, a truly awesome sight. I honestly don't know how he managed it. We pushed forward into the position capturing both gunners and killing their support.

At this point we returned to the road and were attacked once again by another BREN to our rear just as we emerged from the trees. Springing into action again without taking time to sort out the sections NCO's led as they were supposed to, rallying groups of 8 men or so and setting up an effective attack on the gun. As I charged through the trees I saw the gun fire from under 20 meters away, just as the ground seemed to disappear from under my feet and I went down into a rather neat fox hole. I decided that since I had made such a spectacular dive I might as well be dead, so I removed my helmet and awaited the advancing troops. They came and over-ran the position and we moved off into the trees with our casualties returning to life after the engagement. Once again we had no time to re-organise the sections before we came under fire again from another BREN gun, half the unit went on a flanking mission while myself and a couple of other guys moved forward slowly from behind cover. I reloaded my rifle just as a charge was ordered and so we charged straight for the gun position wailing like banshees and firing our weapons. I reached the enemy position and found it to be empty and so, due to my cadet training, kept going straight through the position to what I would have expected to be a re-org point on the other side of the road behind where the enemy had been. As I lay there feeling the water off the road soak through my trousers I heard shots behind me. As I turned to find out what was going on I discovered a pair of British riflemen very well hidden in the undergrowth grinning like Cheshire cats. I had to take my hat off to them (not just because I was dead) because their hiding place and plan was excellent, they took out half our section before anyone knew what was going on and it was only due to a well placed grenade from our scout that they didn't get the rest. Those of us who were dead decided to take a lunch break of sorts and sat in an observation post to watch the rest of the engagement and have something to eat. As the German troops fought their way over a large field taking prisoners and casualties they forced out a pair of MG positions (is it just me or did they have far more MG's than us, I counted at least 8 to our 2) and eventually we rejoined them ready for the next action.

As we patrolled along the tree line at the edge of the field we had just won from the allies the unit of SS in front of us were fired upon. While 2 section gave covering fire the rest of us ran across the road ready to launch an attack on the troublesome allied position. As we came down the road we skidded to a halt as 3 Americans came the other way looking just as shocked to see us as we were them. Two of us opened fire and one of the Americans went down. Funnily enough they were 101st troops and the guy we got looked like the Col in Band of Brothers. By this time 2 section had moved through the forest to attack the position from another angle so they dealt with the 2 remaining yanks on their way. I don't know exactly how but 2 section were wiped out in the next minute or two and so 1 section charged across a small clearing (containing a small pond which one guy got half way through before he noticed it) to take cover behind a clump of trees while we prepared to attack the yank MG. we sorted out our gear and when the order came we charged through the trees, across the road and up to the other tree line. I hate to say it but it has to have been one of the worst charges I have ever seen due to the level of confusion. No one actually knew where the enemy were and so they just stopped when they reached the trees, this gave the yanks ample time to open up on them with their .30 cal. I and another guy rather than stopping charged on into the trees (I owe this to my rugby teachers at school who taught us just to keep going if the opposition didn't find us) and so we came to a halt behind the allied gun, the only survivors of our unit. We pepper-potted forwards slowly and quietly but unfortunately the their guy got shot as he moved forward. I stayed low and inched my way forward until I was close enough to get the position with a grenade. I threw the potato masher and it landed at the feet of the gunner. I yelled 'grenade' though I suppose he was protected by his magical armoured vest as he remained alive, despite me putting an entire magazine of .303 into him. I went down and waited while I thought about what to do when suddenly a rifle went off over my head and a voice said 'take your helmet off, you are dead'. Some bastard Yank had managed to get behind me, and creep up on me. Oh well, my fault I suppose.

After that we moved off into the woods back in our sections until we reached a road. We moved a short distance along the road but noticed a small group of allied troops crossing the road, we opened fire but again no hits, oh well. At this point we moved across the road and found that in order to get any fire down on the 3 allied positions that had appeared we had to cross a large clearing. I watched while most of our guys were taken out trying to cross and I thought I might as well take my go. I counted to 10 then turned round the tree, fired and then pelted it across the clearing making a flying leap when I was half way across landing on my back, rifle across my chest, next to the only other guy to make it. 'Nice jump' he said, 'thanks' I replied, turned over and fired at the nearest position. By this time another unit had come to our aid and we soon had the enemy on the run again. At this point it was getting rather late so those who hadn't already done so had something to eat while the rest of us talked and had a drink. As the youngest recruit I was executed by firing squad, no one explained why but it was funny, even provided my own silk blindfold. Anyway, it was decided to go through one more action then head back to base. I cant actually remember much of what happened next except a running battle through a forest, along a road and seeing a couple of 101st Airborne guys hightailing it away into the distance, somehow surviving the 'hail of lead' that would have followed them if they weren't blanks. I wish I had their luck. After this we began to head back, I still had a few rounds left and my dad had loads (his rifle was not as good as mine) so I fired off about 20 rounds into the trees before heading back with the guys. It was rather a pleasant walk back though it was only then that I realised I had a blister on my foot. Anyway, we got back, returned our weapons and headed home. It was a very odd feeling driving around the houses of parliament in SS uniform.

Anyway, that's about it for the Mereworth battle, great fun. The lessons I learned that weekend was 'watch where you are walking' and 'watch out behind you'.

Stefan Bridle, 11/11/01

[ 11 November 2001: Message edited by: Stefan ]

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There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.

Firing the MG 42 from the hip? I know from personal experience that it is very easy to do when you're firing blanks! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Great read! I wish I could do stuff like that every know and then.

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„Solange man nicht mit dem Kopf unterm Arm rumläuft geht es doch noch!" Erwin Rommel

Here'smine, but its alittle short as I don't have much time right now.

I awake early in the morning when it was still dark, the fellow soldiers in my camp told me it was time to throw back the american and british forces which took up positions in the woods and occupied a bunker.
We all began to check our weapon and load up with ammo for our rifles. I had my trusty K98 with me, but little did I know I would be using something more powerfull that day. As my unit began to leave for the field me and a fellow soldier stayed behind to wait for our late reenforcements. As we waited I could hear the half tracks and our good old hetzer start up and leave for the field. A short time later I could the the sound of the hetzer and our ig gun firing. I could hardly wait to go out and fight with my fellow soldats of the 4th zug. Soon our reenforcements arrived and we lead them out to the field. The closer we got I began to pick up the sound of small arms fire and then the familiar sound of an mg gun. Soon our force reached the front. I was asigned to help provide infantry support to our hetxer which was blasting a large bunker, seconds later one of our half tracks pulled up and dismounted the ig gun which then fired on americans entrenched next to the bunker. Suddenly to my left a mixed group of heer and SS charged enemy bunker and many of them were shot down during it, but the captured the bunker and the americans in it. After its capture the rest of the Allied force retreated back out of the woods and across a farm field to another position which had their few armored vechiles. We took a break to rest and prepare for our attack. During this time my commander used me as a runner to relay messages to other units preparing to attack. After I was done with this I was assigned to the ig gun and worked on it when the attack began. The main body of our men grouped together behind the hetzer and the half track. Only a few were hit when they crossed the field. Our men fought at the treeline against american paras. At this time our half track came back and we hooked the ig to it and got in. When we reached the tree line. Everyone in the crew got out to support the half track as infantry, well I stayed in to work with the morter crew in the half track. After blasting the allies out a ditch we saw a amercian greyhound appear around the bend in the woods. Quickly me and another crew member got out and took the panzerschrek to knock out the american vechile. I acted as the loader. With one shot we got the greyhound and after that all the allies resistance ended and we had won the day.

That was the first senaro of the day I don't have enough time right now to write about the second one, but I will soon. Sorry about the poor grammar.

__________________
"Front leaning rest position"
"Move"
"In cadence, exercise....1, 2, 3" (My favorite thing to hear at 5 in the morning.)

god damn lucky yanks...mumble mumble mumble...their bloody panzerschreks....mumble mumble mumble...and hetzers...mumble

Anyway, that was great. We sat watching a few of the guys experimenting with flares they were plannign on making into panzerschreks. They were impressive, with the wail and scream then the explosion. Anyway, great account.

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There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.

Thanks Stefan, I thought your account was pretty good. Our panzerschreks were originals. I'm too tired right now to try and remember the second scenrio, but I will tell you that instead of being the loader they gave the schrek to me.
Plus today my uniform I ordered finally came in. No more borrowed tunics, thank god! I got an M42 with m43 trousers and cap, and some other stuff that my parents got ordered as a surprize for my birthday coming up, so now I gotta find some needles and thread to sow on my collar tabs.

__________________
"Front leaning rest position"
"Move"
"In cadence, exercise....1, 2, 3" (My favorite thing to hear at 5 in the morning.)

Ah,cool, like I said I have an M44 tunic and I really like it. I prefer it to the earlier ones because I can get to my trouser pockets. Also it is very comfortable. Same goes for my peas dot tunic. I can't wait to get photographs from the battle.

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There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.

My unit doesn't want anyone wearing an M44 tunic,plus I really don't care much for the style, but your right that it is easier to reach your trouser pockets.

Also someone I know called the local newspaper and mentioned my reenacting so next week a reporter is gonna interview me and take my picture in my uniform and gear, cuz they wanna write a story about me.

__________________
"Front leaning rest position"
"Move"
"In cadence, exercise....1, 2, 3" (My favorite thing to hear at 5 in the morning.)

We were at Sommersett Massachusetts,camped along the Fall River, attending the big, British Brigade/American Line event there. Our 84th Regiment of Foote, Royal Highland Emigrants were mixed with elements of several other Highlander units, the 42nd, 74th and I think the 77th and 78th. Our amallgamated unit numbered over three dozen in number in an army of nearly a thousand British and Royalist, troops. During our Sunday afternoon tactical, our unit took its place in line along with the rest of the British Army. Our artillery opened the engagement by banging away at the Colonial Line troops across the field. Our acting Sergeant had been felled with a bad back from sleeping on the hard-ground, the night before. Our Commanding Officer asked for a volunteer to take his place and ram-rod the Highlanders onto the field. Being acting Sgt. of the 84th, I screamed my willingness and was told to take my place at the front of the line of the Highland Brigade. What an honor! I advanced my bayonet-fixed musket, squared away my troops and prepared for orders from the horse-mounted officers. When the British line was told to advance, the Highlanders were there, right along side, pausing only long enough to loose volleys of musketfire at the oncoming Americans. We traded volleys with a Rhode Island Regiment and took several casualties from umpires as a result. We about turned and withdrew. Seeing our withdrawl, the Rhode Islanders pivoted, to attack one of our flanking regiments and in doing so, presented us with their flank. We in turn, about-turned, fired a volley and charged the flank of the now broken, Rhode Islanders. They in turn left the field in bad order, leaving a major hole in the Colonial Line, that we exploited to the maximum. In short order, British Cavalry and the reserve was comitted to the breakthrough and the American line was rolled-up. We celebrated in the tent tavern after hours, sipping draft, English cider and telling of our exploits by lamp and candlelight. We were wringing wet from the summer heat, still clad in wool tunics, sipping from pewter and clay mugs. Clay-pipe tobacco smoke and laughter from card games filled the air while we listened to dulcimer and pipe music of 200-plus years before. For a brief moment, I could actually see a piece of the 18th century as it might have been. That's what led me into re-enacting in the first place. [img]smile.gif[/img]

hey guys those reports were really cool! I wonder how you might get involved in reenacting? Do they have it in every state? i live in New Jersey. I would be interested.
I also wonder, how do you know when you've been hit, or when you've been missed? Like when you put a grenade at some guys feet and he didn't die...or while charging you took casualties. What are the rules?

Hi, It is very cool. I dont know about in the USA but basically the whole hits system works on an 'honour' system, you take a hit when you think you are hit. Unfortunatly that means during battles you will sometimes hear someone yelling 'get down you are hit you stupid £()%)£*"$)$!"_"!!!!!' I think there must be a unit in New Jersey, take a look around on the net for wesites. I think there is a www.lssah.com but dont hold me to it. All the best and I hope we have just recruited another re-enactor

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There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.

It's probably illegal here in Germany, but I wonder if I could pop over as a "guest" to you guys in the UK perhaps?

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„Solange man nicht mit dem Kopf unterm Arm rumläuft geht es doch noch!" Erwin Rommel

I hate it when people won't take a hit. For our tactial battles we use something called the graf system, its very easy and we have judges who watch the battle. If anyone started yelling about someone else not taking a hit that person would lose points for there side.

Here is a link to a whole bunch of reenacting units http://www.ccone.com/ww2/1canpara/Links/body_links.html
Just look around and I'm sure you'll find one in new jersey, I know for a fact there are reenacting units in that area. I just can't remember which units.


Also today about an hour ago I had a reporter for the local newspaper interview for a story about my reenacting and they ended up taking a big picture of me with all my uniform and gear around me, while I had my helmet and k98. I can't wait for it to be the paper. It should be out by next week and hopefully I'll scan it and be able to post it here.

__________________
"Front leaning rest position"
"Move"
"In cadence, exercise....1, 2, 3" (My favorite thing to hear at 5 in the morning.)

Our unit was going to take part in a television documentary about re-enactors but in the end we decided it was too risky. Basically there was too great a risk of the documentary turning into a 'laugh at the fake Nazis' thing. Also, there were a lot of guys who wouldent want to be in it simply because they didn't want the hassle that they would get from work/school/friends etc. I know I wouldent want to be in it.

I think re-enacting is illegal in Germany but I am sure you could arrange to come over and join us for a battle some time. The iggest problem would be kit though. The url for my units site is: www.kompanie1.co.uk
Leave a note in the guest book and let me know if you get a response, if you dont I will have a word with a couple of the guys to see what we can do.

__________________
There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.

I'll give it a shot. Though God knows when I'll actually have time to "pop" over to England. Would be madness just for a weekend, though I've been known to do that sort of stuff before...

Otherwise in February some time.

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„Solange man nicht mit dem Kopf unterm Arm rumläuft geht es doch noch!" Erwin Rommel

Reeacting is illegal in Germany?! that's so wierd...i wonder why?

hey also regarding your weopons, are they supplied to you along with blanks when you meet for battle? or do you have to buy your own weopon and blank ammo?
i might as well ask...what are the standard items you need to buy to be able to reenact? Thanks

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Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events. -- Sir Winston Churchill

If re-enacting were not illegal in Germany, the first who would do it would be the neo-nazis. I know this is not true for other countries, but here it would be. Many people in Germany who show a profound interest in WW2 turn out to be neo-nazis once you look more closely.

Sometimes its quite shocking.

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„Solange man nicht mit dem Kopf unterm Arm rumläuft geht es doch noch!" Erwin Rommel

well, the thing is we dont re-enact every weekend so and we aint doing anything until next year now anyway (except a photoshoot tomorrow I am attending) so it could be a problem anyway.

As for weapons, some guys own their own live or blank firers, mostly we rent them though.

__________________
There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.

Hi Stefan. If memory serves, John Diefenbaker was Canada's Prime Minister in the early 1960's. Best wishes, John.

I own my own K98 and one of the leaders of my unit makes blanks for us. He charges around $22 for a 100 blanks. I have one more event for the year on next saterday I can't wait for it.

__________________
"Front leaning rest position"
"Move"
"In cadence, exercise....1, 2, 3" (My favorite thing to hear at 5 in the morning.)

Do some of you fire your weapons with live ammo on a range every now and then?

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„Solange man nicht mit dem Kopf unterm Arm rumläuft geht es doch noch!" Erwin Rommel

I've wanted to fire live ammo with K98 since the day I bought it. Don't laugh,but my mom doesn't want me to go to the range and freaks out every time I bring it up.

__________________
"Front leaning rest position"
"Move"
"In cadence, exercise....1, 2, 3" (My favorite thing to hear at 5 in the morning.)