Napoleonic
The Battle of Lithgow is a 19th century re-enactment of a mythical battle
between French and British forces, for the control of the ancient Australian colony.
Click here to read more about the myth of "The Battle of Lithgow"
photo by m.graham
This is the biggest
annual Napoleonic battle re-enactment to take place in Australia,
involving participants from all around the World.
Go back in time & experience what it was like to be on a military
campaign in the 19th century; the fighting, the music,
the marching and the camping.
Hear the thunder of cannons, smell the gunpowder
and horse dung waft across the fields.
See a 19th century field hospital, kitchen and smithy in action;
the uniforms & equipment, all historically accurate.
Experiencing the Battle of Lithgow is an experience you
must have if you are at all interested in our not-so-long-ago past.
There will be two battles at 1pm on both Sat & Sun.
Historical displays open all three days.
The 73rd Regiment of Foot reenactment group will be celebrating the 200 year
For information on all the groups involved see following.
The Battle of Lithgow is presented by the Australian Napoleonic Association
and involves the following historical re-enactment groups:
The 73rd Regiment of Foot Inc 1810-1815 are New South Wales premier
regency living history unit.
The units central focus is reenacting a centre company of the regiment that
Governor Lachlan Macquarie brough with him to the colony in 1810.
The unit is interested in broader cultural and social from the period such as
cooking, singing, music dancing games and sports.
Our membership encompasses a broad group
of people and our target membership is between 3 and 73 years of age.
We pride ourselves on being a family club that encourages membership
across the state and interstate as well.
42RHRA – AUSTRALIA
The 42nd Royal Highland Regiment (1815) Australia is a part of a world wide organisation with formal links to the UK, Germany and the United States. The 42nd RHRA has members in Qld, NSW, Victoria, SA and WA.
We are also proudly founding members of the Australian Napoleonic Association (ANA).
Members of the 42RHRA live in widely separated areas of Australia - Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia - and form local squads for drill practise, marching and shows.
The 42RHRA members replicate the uniform and drill of the 42nd Regiment, 1st Centre Company, of the British Army in the 1815 period. The soldiers are wearing what they would have worn at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Visit our web site for more information: http://www.rhra.com.au/
The 95th (Rifle) Regiment were active throughout the Peninsular Wars, fighting as a skirmish line & armed with rifles, proudly boasting of being the first onto the field of battle and the last out. Indeed they formed the advance line of Wellington’s forces and, when needed, excelled at rear guard tactics. Taught to use natural cover and encouraged to think more for themselves, these troops excelled at fighting in a thin skirmish line. Our re-enactment group offers the whole family a chance to experience the colourful Napoleonic era & we meet regularly for social events, drill days, camps and battle re-enactments.
The Black Brunswickers are a Brisbane based group that recreates
the Liebbattalion of the Brunswick Army in 1815.
Originally raised to fight the occupying French army in Germany the Black Band
saw service with the Austrians in 1809 and with the British in Spain and Portugal
and eventually at Quatre Bras and Waterloo.
Our groups meets fortnightly and activities include: workshops, drill with
muskets and sabres, and games: whether it is a game of whist
or a war game and every month we will go to the range
and shoot our muskets.
LA LEGION IRLANDAISE
photo by Paul Santelmann
Established on 31 August 1803, the original La Legion Irlandaise
was originally created in anticipation of an invasion of Ireland.
The purpose was to establish a core of trained Irish officers and NCOs
who could raise the population of Ireland in a war of liberation against
the English rulers of Ireland. The Legion Irlandaise honours the
soldiers of Napoleon's foreign legion.
Our group was originally organised for participation in Lithgow's
Ironfest "Battle of Lithgow."
Look out for us at this years' battle, for the wearing of the green!
Photographer, Paul Santelmann, has captured some great shots
of different living history groups, (Click here to see his work)
CAPTAIN SANDHAM'S COMPANY
