Anniversary of Collden + two Canadian re-enactors

[jhockin]

Sunday will be the 271st anniversary of the Battle of Collden.
Thought this might interest some:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016...-to-leave-the/

[Jock Scot]

Why so surprised? I can't imagine the management of Disneyland allowing that to continue on their premises for10 minutes, never mind 10 years.

[MacRob]

Too bad they did not get the blessing of the authorities before doing that. Apparently the people who run the battlefield looked the other way for awhile and something must have happened to trigger the sudden action to remove them. The folks over there are very sensitive to any type of weapon, historic or otherwise so this is not surprising. At least that was the excuse used to move them off the battlefield.

[Panache]

Thoughts and Questions

If one couple can do it, then can't anyone else?

What sort of information were they offering?

Was there an assumption that they were officially part of the organization running the site?

Were they adding to or distracting from the visitors experience?

If they really enjoyed being there and helping to share the history, why didn't they work with the site organizers and become official docents?

if they really enjoyed what they were doing, couldn't they continue to do so minus the weapons?

Cheers

Jamie

[ThistleDown]

I was a guide/docent at Culloden for three years. We followed a very set script in order not to offend anyone, to provide a wealth of information and answer both serious and foolish questions with care and impartiality. I've heard many an armchair historian spouting great nonsense to friends and family (and an occasional onlooker), but none of them gave the impression that they were employed by NTS. Often these things are complaint-driven and I suspect 'weapons' was the best excuse NTS could come up with when someone finally questioned the official role these two were playing. I wonder how The Telegraph came to hear about this.

[Walkman]

I was a guide/docent at Culloden for three years. We followed a very set script in order not to offend anyone, to provide a wealth of information and answer both serious and foolish questions with care and impartiality. I've heard many an armchair historian spouting great nonsense to friends and family (and an occasional onlooker), but none of them gave the impression that they were employed by NTS. Often these things are complaint-driven and I suspect 'weapons' was the best excuse NTS could come up with when someone finally questioned the official role these two were playing. I wonder how The Telegraph came to hear about this.

Rather presumptive to show up and start lecturing without sanction from the NTS.

[CollinMacD]

For many years I was a Volunteer In the Park, with the National Park Service, as an American Union Civil War soldier, at Gettysburg, Antietam, Manassas, and several other small parks. The NPS offered courses, including firearms, all edged weapons must remain in scabbard, not to be drawn. Most important was knowing the story of the park you are working in, and how to "tell the story". Although I had my complete Civil War uniform, accouterments and firearm, every time I volunteered as an interpreter, the Ranger in Charge inspected me for authenticity, making sure the uniform and gear was authentic for that time of the actual battle and go over the historic facts only of that battle. For example if I was volunteering for Manassas, Bull Run, carrying an 1863 Springfield is wrong, it should be an 1861 or earlier. It was required to be totally authentic, or you could not volunteer.

I am sure in time the Nation Trust will adopt this practice, as volunteers do play a very important role, as it provides the human factor to otherwise a big field of trees, grass, and monuments. However, for a person (people) to just show up, and start telling a story without being authorized or trained, is not acceptable, even though their hearts and intentions are good, the park has liabilities that could cause legal issues. Again, you need to sign waivers, and understand your own and the parks legal implications when doing such work.

I loved my time volunteering, and hope the National Trust at Cullden does start a program. One thing the NSP does not allow are groups re-enacting battles on the park service line. Demonstrations, lectures, and even firing rifles are allowed but under NSP Ranger supervision, and guidelines.

[ThistleDown]

Collin, the NTS couldn't exist without its hundreds of volunteers all over Scotland. I was one of those and was assigned as a docent at Culloden because of my background. In those days Leanach cottage, a left-over from the days of the '45, was used to discuss Highland weapons and fighting style out of the weather. It was staffed by a rotating corps of very highly qualified folk. Today, with the exceptional new Visitors' Centre, that has moved indoors where there is much, much more room and the ability to call on a sizeable museum of weaponry. Education remains in the hands of staff and specially-assigned volunteers. If you have not had an opportunity to visit Culloden in person you might want to drop in on http://www.nts.org.uk/Visit/Culloden.

[CollinMacD]

Collin, the NTS couldn't exist without its hundreds of volunteers all over Scotland. I was one of those and was assigned as a docent at Culloden because of my background. In those days Leanach cottage, a left-over from the days of the '45, was used to discuss Highland weapons and fighting style out of the weather. It was staffed by a rotating corps of very highly qualified folk. Today, with the exceptional new Visitors' Centre, that has moved indoors where there is much, much more room and the ability to call on a sizeable museum of weaponry. Education remains in the hands of staff and specially-assigned volunteers. If you have not had an opportunity to visit Culloden in person you might want to drop in on http://www.nts.org.uk/Visit/Culloden.

Thank you for enlightening me. Our National Park Service did experience the same issues with people showing up with weapons and uniforms, and put a stop real quick to it. I am very glad they have a staff specifically for this, but do they dress the role, and provide a living history view of the Jacobite and British Army?

I hope to visit Scotland in the next few years. I lived in Oxford, England for almost 4 years, and never made it out of the midlands because of work. My ancestors are from Knoidart/Knoydart, in Inverness. I understand this place is still very isolated, but I must visit.

Thanks again for providing this information....love to learn....

[ThistleDown]

I am very glad they have a staff specifically for this, but do they dress the role, and provide a living history view of the Jacobite and British Army?

No. They don't 'act', so they don't wear costumes. NTS is trustee for many properties representing a few thousand years in Scotland; it would be virtually impossible to dress staff and volunteers appropriate to all of those years or even eras. Occasionally there are events that encourage people to dress up, mind you.

Near to forty years ago a few of us decided we needed to experience what survivors of Culloden experienced. NTS (and others) provided some funding and a lot of knowledge, dressed us well in tatters n' torn and away we enthusiastically went to Ruthven in Badenoch. We set a great 'escape' pace; some of us even made it all the way. I didn't, even though I knew the way well from years of hill walking and other activities

NTS had a rather loose dress code for its volunteers at the time. I was almost always kilted anyway, but I certainly attracted more folk from overseas than did my colleagues in trousers. The NTS might think that through from a profit motive -- perhaps they have and have rejected it for valid reasons -- but I sincerely hope they continue to actively disallow Disney-ism at Culloden.