-No. 1 Company, 4th Battalion Royal Foot Artillery-
As a unit, we’re fiercely loyal to each other and VERY fun-loving. If there’s a joke to be made, you can bet that one of us will say it, as long as it wont offend anyone too deeply! We’re a friendly bunch, and there’s not much we take seriously outside of the battlefield, so come on! Meet the Crew!
-Captain Hiatt-
Captain Hiatt is the commanding officer of No. 1 Company, 4th Battalion Royal Foot Artillery. You may call him ‘sir’. He has over 20 years of experience in re-enacting in many different periods. He’s the glue that keeps the unit together, constantly working tirelessly behind the scenes, and he’s one of the best gentlemen that this writer has ever met. In his own words, his brain is fuelled by gunpowder. He’s constantly thinking about the artillery. He says, with no little hint of a double entendre, “Come and play with us!”
-Sergeant Major Gibson-
Sgt. Maj. Gibson is the 2ic, or Second-In-Command. He has over 40 years of military experience, both re-enacting many differnet periods and also in the proper army, and he puts it to good use. Another fine upstanding gentleman, one anyone would be happy to serve under. This writer loves him to pieces. He says, succinctly, “Hello.”
-Surgeon Swain-
Every unit needs a bloodthirsty element, and Surgeon Swain fits the bill perfectly. As surgeon, it’s his job to help the wounded. Problem is, back in Napoleonic times, although they made some good advances in medicine even before they knew the links between hygiene and infection, not as many lives were saved as would be now. If you got hurt back then, your chances wouldn’t be exactly great. He says, rather scarily, “Don’t get hurt.”
-Bombardier Bassett-
Bombardier Bassett has been described by some as a wrecking ball. This writer agrees with that description. He’s one of the best in the unit and fully deserving of his stripe. Just don’t give him whiskey! He says, facing this writer and baring his teeth, “Grrr.”
-Bombardier Jopson-
Bombardier Jopson’s unit nickname (everyone gets one) is Fidget. That’s never more true than at an event. He never stops! Both Captain Hiatt and Kitchen Queen Warne try to stop him from doing things, but he takes the decision out of their hands and does it anyway. One of the most helpful members of the unit. He says, “Fancy a beer?”
-Gunner Wells-
Gunner Wells (Shorthouse) is one of two female gunners. She, along with Bombardier Jopson, is one of the first to volunteer when things need doing, and this writer loves that about her. She’s been described as ‘the life and soul of the party’, and she always has either a smile on her face or a joke to make. She sings a song with lyrics not fit to be published here, but one I hope prospective rookies will have the privilege of hearing.
-Gunner Malcolmson-
Gunner Malcolmson is the other female gunner, and this season’s rookie ‘to be broken in’. She’s only done one event and two drill days at the time of writing, but she’s already decided she loves re-enacting and doesn’t want to be anywhere else. She merely meows like a camel. This writer wonders about her state of mind.
-Gunner Westwood-the-elder-
Westwood-the-Elder is the second of three new recruits, and he’s come from a rifle unit. He, like the rest of the unit, has a dirty sense of humour and loves riling up the Kitchen Queen – who responds that Gunner Westwood would make the perfect kitchen queen. He pokes his tongue out at her and says, “I just coughed in my knickers!”
-Gunner Westwood-the-younger-
Westwood-the-Younger is the last of this season’s new recruits. Like his father, he came from a rifle unit, and he’s been described as ‘the best darned gunner I ever saw’. This writer has high hopes for Young Westwood, envisioning that he’ll be a Captain himself one day. He says nothing, just waves.
-Kitchen Queen Warne-
Kitchen Queen Warne is the best thing about the unit (but as she’s also the one writing these bios, I’m not sure how much stock we can put in her words). She was bestowed the title of Kitchen Queen at her first event with the 4th, loved the fact that she could boss people around, and never looked back. She, like the Westwoods, has come from a rifle unit, the 60th, and this is her fifth season as a re-enactor. Ish. Just don’t ever mistake her for a lady. KQWarne is no lady. She’s a commoner and she loves it like that! She says, “Don’t wake me up in the mornings. Or the afternoons. Or the evenings. In fact, just don’t wake me up. Actually, I’m not that scary – if you have to wake me up, have a tankard of coffee to placate me with.” She’s a little bit nuts. Ignore her. Everyone always does.
We have a lot of other members who have requested that they not appear on this page, but this just gives you an idea of what a bunch we are!
Many thanks to Nicole Fox (79th) for taking the photos of Capt. Hiatt, Sgt. Maj. Gibson, Surgeon Swain, Bombardiers Bassett and Jopson, and Gunners Malcolmson, Westwood and Westwood. Many thanks to Kira Farrell (60th) for taking the picture of Kitchen Queen Warne. Many thanks to Josephine Warne (4th) for taking the photo of Gunner Wells and for writing these bios.
