REENACTOR
Units
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE UNITS:
2nd Infantry Division, 9th Inf. Regt., Co. A
Photo By: DUTY CREW PHOTOGRAPHY
Impression: US Army Infantry with Medical detachment (2nd Sanitary Train). Unit Participates in battles, public displays and parades. Member do WWI as an off-shoot of their primary impression of the WWII 2nd Inf. Div.
Members Attending Last Rockford WWI Event: 16
Location of Members: Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota
Website: www.secondinfantryreenacted.com (Mainly a WW2 unit)
WW1 Contact: Bill Thurston, Bill2ndID@gmail.com,
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47th Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 2nd Division, AEF
Impression: sWartime portrayal of the typical Marine serving during the Great War. Uniform consists of a mixture within the lash-up of P12 or P17 USMC forest greens or the regular Army uniform. There is some mix of USMC and Army equipment except for USMC canteen carriers, bandage carriers, haversack, and the M1903 Springfield with 16-inch bayonet (wood grips and canvas scabbard). Blankets can be USMC or the Army bedding blanket (not WWII) and cartridge belts can be the USMC P12 or the regular Mills belt. Mess kit, condiment can, bacon tin, silverware should all be of the period (not WWII). The shelter half should have the sunburst WW1 style buttons (WWII in khaki only will work until correctly replaced).
This is not the typical reenactment unit that runs from nine to five. One will never hear "that is close enough". We demand a very high standard of authenticity. The 47th Co. is an off-shoot and members of the China Marines (HRS WWII).
Location of Members: Indiana and Illinois
Contacts: Tom Rock, trockcp@sbcglobal.net; Tim Hodge, timal@frontiernet.net;
Steve Beaver, beaver1@mintel.net
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ALLIED UNITS:
Unit: 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards
Impression: The unit that we portray is one of the oldest continuous serving regiments of the British Army. The Coldstream Guards is one of five Foot Guards Regiments that serve as the personal troops of the British Monarchy. The focus as a reenactment unit is to follow the Guards in the British Expeditionary Force from 1914 which is The Retreat from Mons, to 1918 the Year of Victory. The uniform is the standard Service Dress of 1907 and the Webbing pattern of 1908. The rifle is the standard SMLE No. I MK III with Pattern 1907 bayonet. Boots are to be all leather "Ammo boots". Cap Toed boots should not be used or replaced as soon as possible. Stiff caps will be worn for 1914, Soft "Trench caps" for 1915-18 and the MK1 Shrapnel Helmet. It will be required all members to have proper haircuts and facial hair. Gas Mask will be required however the small box respirator will not be required until 2016, P-Hoods PH Hoods and Hypo hoods will be required. Members of this unit also do WWII Coldstream Guard as a primary impression.
Members attending 2013 event: 6
Location of Members: The current membership for WWI ranges from Central Illinois to Northern Wisconsin.
Contact. (Unit commander/QM) Ernie Klapmeier ernie@reenact.com (NCO/Recruiting officer) Chris Smith cjsmith830@yahoo.com
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Unit: 19° reggimento fanteria "Brescia"
Impression: Italian infantry regiment that served on the Italian Front 1915-1917 and on the Western Front 1918. The regiment participated in all the major offensives (1st-11th Isonzo) and Caporetto. After stopping the Central Power's attack at the Piave River, the regiment was sent to France, arriving in April 1918. The Italian troops arrive just in time to help stop the German summer offensives and then take part in the final offense that forced Germany to surrender.
Members at last WWI Rockford Event: 1
Location of your unit members: KS, NM, OK
Website/Facebook page: N/A Contact info: Jeff Leser monte_cervino@kc.rr.com
Goffredo Leser Sergente btg. Alpini sciatori « Monte Cervino » 19° reggimento fanteria « Brescia »
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Unit: 8th Battalion, Winnipeg Rifles (C.E.F.)
Impression: The unit that we portray is one of the oldest continuous serving regiments of the Canadian Army. The Winnipeg Rifles is one of several regiments that comprised the original Canadian Expeditionary Force and later served in the first division of the Canadian Corps. The focus of this living history group is to portray the battalion from the second battle of Ypres in April of 1915, all the way to the hundred days offensive of 1918. The uniform is the 1903 Canadian Service Dress and Ross Rifle for 1915 and standard British Service Dress of 1907 and Webbing pattern of 1908 with SMLE No. I MK III for 1915 thru 1918. Stiff SD caps will be worn for 1915, Soft "Trench caps" for 1915-18 and the MK1 Shrapnel Helmet for 1916-1918. It will be required all members to have proper haircuts and facial hair. All appropriate gas masks ill be required for use in all years of the conflict that are to be recreated.
Location of Members: The current membership is located in Tennessee.
Contact. (Unit commander) Ethan S. Gallo cottonbaler53@hotmail.com
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Unit: 5th Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces
Impression: Impression: 5th Battalion was part of the 2nd Brigade of the Australian 1st Division, Raised in Victoria at the start of the First World War. The unit served in the landings at Anzac Cove in 1915, before taking part in the fighting at Krithia and Lone Pine. Upon the Allied withdrawal from Gallipoli, 5th Battalion was first moved to Egypt to defend the Suez canal before arriving on the Western Front in early 1916. The primary focus of our group is the Western Front from 1916-1918. The uniform shall be Australian Pattern Service Dress with either Dismounted or Mounted Breeches, Australian brown leather boots, puttees, and a proper Slouch Hat (with 1st AIF badge and WW1 pugaree). Standard P08 Web Gear is to be worn, along with appropriate PH hood or SBR as appropriate for the year portreyed. Preferred weapon is a WW1 dated No 1 Mk III or Mk III* SMLE. Proper Haircuts and Facial hair are expected, and will be checked.
Location of Members: The current membership is located in IL, IN, VA, NY, PA, MD, NJ, SC, OH.
Contact. (Midwest Section) Kevin Williams kev.kmw@gmail.com
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Unit: 137e RI (FRENCH)
Impression: The 137e RI is a french Unit that helps serves as an umbrella unit for other French unit impressions such as Legionaire and Colonial and is open to other French impressions of the 1914-1918 years.
Location of Members: Located in the Midwest.
Contact. (Unit commander) Ethan S. Gallo cottonbaler53@hotmail.com
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GERMAN UNITS:
Infantrie Regt. 353, Prussian Reserve Inf. Division 88
Impression: German reserve infantry unit with elements of the divisional engineer section and Uhlan cavalry section. The unit participates in the battles and focuses on public display. The display includes the cavalry horses and several horse drawn vehicles, including a German army ambulance, supply wagon, field kitchen and artillery limber. The unit also helps run the French cafe, which serves as a public display and food service for the WWI re-enactors. The WWI impression is an off-shoot from our members' primary WWII 353rd Inf. Div impression.
Members Attending Last Rockford WWI Event: 20
Location of Members: Chicago, Northern Illinois, Springfield area
Website: www.353ID.org
Contact: Dave Fornell (847) 347-7470, wwiidave@comcast.net
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Kampgruppe Hoffman
Impression: A standard generic Prussian infantry unit, but all like similar or like impressions are welcome as well. Authentic and good quality reproduction uniforms and equipment are required. Original German model weapons used on the Western front are required as well. We are authorized the middle bunker to use in the trench system at this, and have a building in town for display and camp as well.
Members Attending Last Rockford WWI Event: 13
Location of Members: Chicago and Springfield IL. areas, IN., MO., and MI.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/521795494499637/?fref=ts
Contact: Doug Loge dbloge@yahoo.com
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Infantry Regiment 75, 4th Company
Impression: German line infantry unit from northern Germany, specifically Bremen. We do a late-war impression with high authenticity standards and emphasis on the "average infantryman", and participate in battles and public interactions.
Numbers last WWI Rockford Event: 7
Location of members- Fargo, ND, southwestern Minnesota and Minneapolis, MN area
Website: ir75.yolasite.com
We also have a Facebook page but it's a closed group, you have to request membership
Contact- Marc Baetsch 701-373-1798 marcbaetsch@msn.com
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Pioneer Kompanie Nr. 99
Impression:
We represent an Imperial German Army Pioneer unit (circa 1916-1918) along with elements of the regimental medical section. The unit participates in mock battles and focuses on public displays for educational purposes. The 99th Pioneer Company from the 50th Infantry Division was later designated as a shock company and received training in assault and infiltration tactics during the closing operations of the First World War.
Members Attending Last Rockford WW1 Event: 7
Location of members: Milwaukee, Wisconsin / Rockford, Illinois.
Contact: Craig Wheeler-Unit Commander. (262) 391-9905, Yank95ILL@yahoo.com
Unit History: 50th Reserve Infantry Division
The 50th Reserve Infantry Division was a division of the Imperial German Army during World War 1. This division was formed on March 10, 1915 from both newly raised units and units taken from other divisions. The core of its infantry was from Westphalia, including the 39th Lower Rhine Fusilier Regiment taken from the 14th Reserve Division, the 53rd Westphalian Infantry Regiment taken from the 14th Infantry Division, and the 158th Lorraine Infantry Regiment taken from the 13th Infantry Division. In 1916 the 50th Reserve Infantry Division saw extensive action in the Battle of Verdun, especially in the fight for Fort Vaux. The division also saw heavy action in the Second Battle of the Aisne, also called the Third Battle of Champagne.
In German sources this Battle is referred to as the Dual Battle of Aisne-Champagne. In the German Spring Offensive of 1918 the division was involved in "Operation Michael", which was named after the Patron Saint of Germany. "Operation Michael" was also referred to as the Great Battle in France or the Kaiser Battle. The 50th Reserve Infantry Division was rated by Allied intelligence in 1917 and 1918 as a first class assault division. 99th Pioneer Company During the 1916 Verdun Campaign, the 99th Pioneer Kompanie of the 100th Brigade of the 50th Reserve Infantry Division performed sapper duty and bunker construction.
They also assisted the poison gas units with distribution. The company covered the battalion front during the initial assault on the river Aisne sector and suffered 80% Casualties in the first half hour due to heavy artillery and machine gun fire. Unfortunately, some of the artillery fire came from the German Lines due to worn out guns and inaccurately calculated coordinates. The remnants of 99th surrendered to American Forces in the Argonne region in November 1918 and were interred until the 50th Division was disbanded in March 1919
