18è Régiment d'Infanterie de
Ligne, 1914-1918
"Brave
18th, I know you: No enemy can resist you"
Napoleon Bonaparte
Site updated 20 MARCH 08
The 18th REGIMENT D’INFANTRIE is now
accepting recruits. For all those interested in recreating the life and
experiences of the average French Soldier, or “Poilu”, this is it! Our
membership consists of experienced living historians who have reenacted many
different time periods. We strive to maintain only the highest standards of
authenticity. So if you are
interested in WW I reenacting or are a seasoned WW I reenactor looking for a
new unit, or just want to see what it's like to be a down in the trenches
soldier in the Great War, we have a home for you.
The ability to speak French is not required, only desire to learn a
few basic commands! If interested please contact:
cwarren64@hotmail.com
The core of our
membership currently is based in the mid-Atlantic region, but we have interest
from folks in the Midwest, Southeast, and Southwest. Most of us are seasoned reenactors and are active in authentic "campaign" style Civil War, participate in
US Park Service living history events, Rev War events, World War II events, and
WWI events. Like the rest of the French line in the Great War Association, we
all strive for the highest levels of authenticity and enjoy research and
learning about the soldiers, equipment, weapons, and conditions they fought
under. Click
HERE to
see our uniform and equipment standards list.
Why
Recreate a French Unit? 
Well, the 18e RI has a proud history going back to their distinguished
service and sacrifice during the American Revolution as the Regiment de
Gatinais. 89 de Gatinais soldiers, the most of any other French
regiment, are listed on the Yorktown memorial for the French
contribution to American independence! Indeed, the Regiment de Gatinais
(18e RI) captured Redoubt #9 the same time Alexander Hamilton and his
men were capturing Redoubt #10 during the epic siege of Yorktown.
Soldiers from the regiment are buried today at Yorktown on American soil
and the 18th’s
flag proudly displays the Yorktown battle streamer. The 18th went on to
earn battle honors with Napoleon, in the Crimean War, the
Franco-Prussian War, and finally the Great War.
8.7
million Frenchmen were called-up to fight during World War I: more than the
total of British, American, Canadian and Commonwealth forces combined.
Over half of them were killed or injured, a sacrifice without parallel in
European history. French soldiers in the First World War were not as well equipped as their German opponents or their British allies and the worse fed.
The began the war trained in out dated tactics and wearing uniforms little
changes since the Franco-Prussian War of the 1870's which were better suited to
the parade ground. They bore the brunt of the allied war effort for three
years, yet their achievements are largely forgotten in the English speaking
world. Their performance in 1914-1918 is largely over shadowed by the
failures of 1940 or the politics of today, which diminishes the enormous service
rendered by the earlier generation of French soldiers.
The French contingent of the GWA prides itself on being "hard core" for
authenticity and conducts around the clock operations in a typical unit's
rotation in the frontline trenches. Our portion of the line is in the
center of the French line which occupies the
right most sector of the Newville front (GWA's permanent battle site near
Newville, PA) and offers some of the most diverse sections of no-man's-land.
Great War
Association?
Our parent organization, the GWA
strives to keep alive the history of the Great War, and honor those who fought
it’s battles, through battle reenactments and educational events. It's
membership recreates many of the sights and sounds of the 20th Century's most
significant conflict. In addition to various special events around the country,
the GWA owns the Caesar Krauss Great War Memorial Site near Newville, PA. Here,
on a 100 acre sight in south-central Pennsylvania, we have authentically
recreated a portion of the Western Front as it may have appeared circa
1917-1918.
Battle reenactments take place
within systems of opposing trenches complete with a crater-pocked No-Man's Land.
There are belts of barbed wire, used to protect the sandbagged front line
trenches, and the opposing positions are punctuated by bunkers with functioning
machine-guns. Behind the main lines are supporting and communication trenches,
connected to underground dugouts, where officers plan operations and the common
soldiers eat and rest.
From the moment you arrive at an event you will be submerged in the Great War.
From the clothing you wear, to the food you eat, to the trenches you fight in -
nothing is out of place! World War One reenacting is truly, "The Reenactor's
Reenactment!"
Unit History:
Click HERE
(note: this is an Adobe .pdf file so it may take a minute or two to load) to see a unit history (in French) of the 18e RI during the 1914-1918
Great War originally published in 1936. We are in the process of translating the unit history to
English and will publish to the site when completed. However, with just a
basic understanding of French or a dictionary, one can easily see the richness
of this unit's history.
Bulletin Board:
Important Unit Information:
Updated 20 MARCH 2008
We are planning a trench work
party for Saturday 5 April 2008. Please let Carter know if you can make
it. The goal is to work on our MG bunker and do any site repairs.
The
Original 18e RI:
Recreated...A Few
Photos from past events:
2008 Schedule:
18-20 April 2007
Newville, PA - GWA Spring Tactical Event (non-public):
24-hour, full-immersion weekend with continual combat and
labor scenarios. Let Warren know ASAP if you can make
the event or not.
1-2 November 2008
Newville, PA - GWA Fall Tactical Event (non-public):
24-hour, full-immersion weekend with continual combat and
labor scenarios.
LINKS:
