80th Regiment of Foot Stafforshire Volunteers


webdesign by Ann Lloyd	This is the Website dedicated to the Staffordshire Volunteers Living History Group The group is a Living History Group set up to re-enact the life of The British Infantry Soldier of the 1870s. The Group aim to recreate, as closely as possible in this modern age, the life of a soldier of the 80th Regiment of Foot - The Staffordshire Volunteers, thus bringing about an understanding of the lives, roles and duties of everyday soldiers and their families. We portray life in the Regiment both at home and on foreign service. Our group displays a small platoon-sized encampment with all the necessary equipment from the sleeping tents to mess kitchen to support us. We also have examples of the Commisariat, Medical and Mounted units attached to the unit. The Group is based in Staffordshire. We occasionally meet at The King's Head Inn, Bird Street, Lichfield during the winter but our main re-enactment base is currently at Foxfield Steam Railway, Blythe Bridge, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs where we set up camp several times during the year. However the group travels all over the country, visiting Wales, Scotland and many counties of England to take part in events. These event s vary from single days where we attend without putting up our camp -a 'walk-about', where we are usually at a location such as a museum or country fair where our uniforms etc and the conversation we conduct with the visitors are the attraction. Other times we are at a location for a weekend and set up our full camp. At these events we live as much as possible as the Regiment would have during the 1870s. We sleep in the tents, eat from the field kitchen, becoming as Victorian as possible. Our locations vary from English Heritage properties to local museums and village fairs. We are a non-profit making group with all our funds being used to provide our equipment and cover our running costs. The group is a fully voluntary group with no paid employees. Our members come from all walks of life from students to builders, drivers to paramedics, factory workers to academics. We have members of all ages both married and single. We welcome all to join us, able-bodied or not however we do reserve the right to refuse membership to any individual and no reason may be given. We do not expect a member to attend every meeting and event. We understand that other things will stop people from getting to events, cost (though we try to keep this to a minimum), work (yes - some of us have to work weekends) other social events or even a better offer! New recruits to the group are enlisted as a private into the Regiment and earn promotion to higher ranks. Any skills you possess may enhance the speed of promotion. Ladies are able to join as either a lady (of the social standard of their male partner if there is one) or as a 'male' enlisting as a red coat. Children under the age of ten must be civilian but once they reach ten they may become drummers. If a child is under the age of fourteen a parent of guardian must also be a member of the group. All children under the age of 16 must have parental permission to join the group. All positions within the company are filled according to skill and ability - be they cook to armourer, Sutler, medic or private. All rank is awarded on merit. We welcome anyone who is interested in this life or this Regiment in particular. All that we ask is that you are prepared to 'muck in' and have fun! If you are interested in joining us please get in touch. We are available to put on small living history displays with our campsite, or provide people in period dress to perform a 'walkabout'. Also if our group can be of help with demonstrations, plays or you just require a 'Guard of Honour' we may be able to help. We do charge a fee to cover our costs This fee varies according to the size of the venue and the event due to the varying differences in our costs. We may waive these charges for charitable events but is entirely at the discretion of the group organisors. Please visit the rest of this site and learn more about us. Hopefully you'll like what you see, take the 'Queen's Shilling' and enlist.

80th Regiment of Foot Staffordshire Volunteers Living History group

This is the Website dedicated to the Staffordshire Volunteers Living History Group

The group is a Living History Group set up to re-enact the life of The British Infantry Soldier of the 1870s.

The Group aim to recreate, as closely as possible in this modern age, the life of a soldier of the 80th Regiment of Foot - The Staffordshire Volunteers, thus bringing about an understanding of the lives, roles and duties of everyday soldiers and their families. We portray life in the Regiment both at home and on foreign service. Some of the members of the 80th Regiment of Foot

Our group displays a small platoon-sized encampment with all the necessary equipment from the sleeping tents to mess kitchen to support us. We also have examples of the Commisariat, Medical and Mounted units attached to the unit.

The Group is based in Staffordshire. We occasionally meet at The King's Head Inn, Bird Street, Lichfield during the winter but our main re-enactment base is currently at Foxfield Steam Railway, Blythe Bridge, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs where we set up camp several times during the year. However the group travels all over the country, visiting Wales, Scotland and many counties of England to take part in events. These event s vary from single days where we attend without putting up our camp -a 'walk-about', where we are usually at a location such as a museum or country fair where our uniforms etc and the conversation we conduct with the visitors are the attraction. Other times we are at a location for a weekend and set up our full camp. At these events we live as much as possible as the Regiment would have during the 1870s. We sleep in the tents, eat from the field kitchen, becoming as Victorian as possible. Our locations vary from English Heritage properties to local museums and village fairs.

We are a non-profit making group with all our funds being used to provide our equipment and cover our running costs. The group is a fully voluntary group with no paid employees. Our members come from all walks of life from students to builders, drivers to paramedics, factory workers to academics. We have members of all ages both married and single. We welcome all to join us, able-bodied or not however we do reserve the right to refuse membership to any individual and no reason may be given.

We do not expect a member to attend every meeting and event. We understand that other things will stop people from getting to events, cost (though we try to keep this to a minimum), work (yes - some of us have to work weekends) other social events or even a better offer! A soldier of the 80th

New recruits to the group are enlisted as a private into the Regiment and earn promotion to higher ranks. Any skills you possess may enhance the speed of promotion. Ladies are able to join as either a lady (of the social standard of their male partner if there is one) or as a 'male' enlisting as a red coat. Children under the age of ten must be civilian but once they reach ten they may become drummers. If a child is under the age of fourteen a parent of guardian must also be a member of the group. All children under the age of 16 must have parental permission to join the group.

All positions within the company are filled according to skill and ability - be they cook to armourer, Sutler, medic or private. All rank is awarded on merit.

We welcome anyone who is interested in this life or this Regiment in particular. All that we ask is that you are prepared to 'muck in' and have fun! If you are interested in joining us please get in touch.

We are available to put on small living history displays with our campsite, or provide people in period dress to perform a 'walkabout'. Also if our group can be of help with demonstrations, plays or you just require a 'Guard of Honour' we may be able to help.

We do charge a fee to cover our costs This fee varies according to the size of the venue and the event due to the varying differences in our costs. We may waive these charges for charitable events but is entirely at the discretion of the group organisors.

Please visit the rest of this site and learn more about us. Hopefully you'll like what you see, take the 'Queen's Shilling' and enlist.