Sir Marmaduke Rawdon’s Regiment Today

The Regiment of today was formed in 1973. It is made up of three basic parts, with an occasional fourth component.

They are: -  

(1)  The Pike Division.
(2) The Musket Division
(3) The Baggage Train.
(4) An occasional Engineer unit  

The Pike Division is made up of men and some women (dressed as men), armed with 16 foot ash pikes. They have an Officer, Sergeants and Corporals to control their movements during marching, drill and on the battlefield. A steel helmet is provided for pikemen, also back-and-breast armour where possible. Some members have purchased their own armour. The Regiment also provides the pikes, and recently the pike division has obtained a number of billhooks, which are 8 feet long, with a bladed as well as a spearing head. These would have been used by soldiers on garrison duty.  

The Musket Division is made up of men and women (dressed as men) armed with Matchlock muskets. The Regiment provides some of these, but most are privately owned by the user. All the firing muskets we use have, by law, to be licensed and stored as shotguns. To be a musketeer you will have to have a Shotgun License and a Black Powder Certificate. However, new recruits to the musket division can be allowed to try a shot under careful supervision. it is usual practice for potential musketeers to  initially take the field with a non-firing musket, so that they can observe the musket fire at close hand without risk.  

The Baggage Train is made up of camp followers, water carriers, first aiders and other non-combatants.   This is a vital part of the Regiment on the field, as the water-carriers have to be able to keep an eye on the troops’ condition - wearing wool uniforms in the height of summer can lead to dehydration! The Baggage Train will also assist any wounded who need the attention of the First Aiders, though thankfully this does not happen too often. (At the time of writing, ECWS policy states all participants on the field have to be dressed as men).

We also possess sufficient equipment to kit out our own Engineer company for Siege Events, including a complete set of Engineer Officer's Armour, Entrenching Tools, a Grapnel, and a supply of 'Granadoes' (grenades).

  The Regiment has a Commanding Officer, Support Officers, and Ensigns (who have the important job of bearing the Regimental Standards and defending them). These Officers receive Commissions from the Kings Army. There are also non-field ranks such as Quartermaster, which are appointed by the Regiment.   The Regiment also has another very important group of people, the Drummers and Musicians. This is a non-fighting role, but still one that puts you in the thick of the battle. Again these jobs can be done by men or women (who are dressed as men).   Apart from the side of the Regiment seen by the public there are also more mundane but very important jobs to be done - Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Distribution Officer, Social Organiser, Magazine Editor, Powder Officer and Recruitment Organiser, to name but a few. These are all crucial positions within the Regiment, enabling it to function properly.