{"id":387,"date":"2024-02-04T20:45:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-04T20:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montys-men.org.uk\/?page_id=387"},"modified":"2025-10-08T21:43:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T20:43:18","slug":"faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.montys-men.org.uk\/?page_id=387","title":{"rendered":"MM2027 FAQ’s"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monty\u2019s men has gone from strength to strength and can field over 100 men all under the same badge, equipped, organised and supported correctly. Creating possibly the largest assembly of wartime British infantry since the Second World War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Monty\u2019s Men events are highly immersive trips aimed at recreating, as best as possible, the experiences of a front-line Tommy during the \u2018field phase\u2019. This is coupled with a social element after the field phase and an opportunity for remembrance, typically in communities associated with the unit we\u2019re portraying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The field phase is the primary focus of the event and will see you deploy onto a very large site that is representative of the terrain fought over at that time of year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The distances involved enable us to present a realistic scale battlefield, ensuring we have to deal with the challenges this brings, including movement, navigation, reconnaissance and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An enemy force ensures we\u2019re kept on our toes, and a realistic chain of command organises the force, receives intelligence reports, creates a plan and disseminates orders to achieve it. Whilst there is a big picture outline for the event, the activities dynamically evolve as the situation plays out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where is it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exact location won\u2019t be revealed until closer to the trip. Suffice to say the area is a large enough patch of land in which we are able to manoeuvre, dig in and fire blank weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When is it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event will run from Saturday 10th<\/sup> April 2027 to Saturday 17th<\/sup> April 2027, this includes the field phase, post field phase social evening and a remembrance service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why do we do it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monty\u2019s men was established many years ago to bring together the disparate and individual living historians portraying Second World War British infantry. Monty\u2019s men typically only run a single event per year, to ensure maximum attendance and to avoid conflicting with members\u2019 other commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenge of running such a large and complex event is immense, but the satisfaction of the spectacle and the memories it produces keeps us coming back year after year \u2013 you really should be part of it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve not found an experience like this (outside the military), where you are physically challenged and sleep deprived and yet come away with such a sense of achievement, understanding and comradeship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What will I do?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be very variable, and to an extent depends on your role or rank, just as much as how the battle is going, but you can be assured it will include lots of sentry duty and digging and not a lot of sleeping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event largely revolves around \u2018routine in defence\u2019, much as it did in a wartime campaign. This will involve establishing a position and digging-in. Whilst defending and improving the position you can expect to be sent on reconnaissance or harassing patrols, establishing listening posts or even setting ambushes. Whilst not on stand-to in the position there\u2019s food to be cooked, supplies to be brought up and tea to be brewed, so you\u2019ll not get bored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How fit do I need to be?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasonably, the equipment we carry, as you well know, is heavy and cumbersome. We will be operating in the field without shelter come rain or shine and whilst we try to be sympathetic and certainly don\u2019t expect military fitness, you should be prepared for periods of exertion and discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will be expected to dig-in and sleep outside during the field phase, with only the equipment you carry with you for shelter and warmth, though Echelon can usually be relied upon to bring up your large pack with warm clothes and blanket each evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are mindful that the vast majority of attendees are modern civilians used to creature comforts, so are measured in our expectations, but these discomforts add enormously to the sense of immersion and achievement you\u2019ll feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who\u2019s in charge?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This tends to vary by event, but there are an \u2018old guard\u2019 of stalwarts who know the ropes and set the high-level objectives and standards, but they try to include representation from across the community and are always keen to have new blood in the team, to keep things fresh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank appointments are made as best as possible on merit and ability, as these roles will really be shouldering the responsibility of command in the field and in the run-up to the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Command elements will be expected to \u2018know their stuff\u2019 and act independently within the context of a wartime formation, as well as carry out the orders received from up the \u2018food chain\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We don\u2019t impose military style discipline, but for the sake of realism, immersion, practicality and safety it is expected that you will observe the chain of command and obey the orders passed to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What will I eat?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the field phase the ministry of supply has you fully covered. Authentic in appearance (though of recent production) food is provided in \u2018compo\u2019 crates to your Section each day (logistics and enemy action excepting). This is typically tinned food providing for breakfast, dinner, supper and extras.  A typical menu might be biscuits and Spam for breakfast, meat stew for dinner with tinned fruit for desert and soup for supper. The extras ensure there are plenty of boiled sweets, chocolate and tea to go around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if I have special dietary requirements?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Covering everyone\u2019s food preferences is not logistically possible or historically accurate, however we will do our best to accommodate food allergies and intolerances, we\u2019ll ask for this information when you sign up and will discuss your requirements, in private, with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have first aid cover?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, we are very fortunate to have a number of highly qualified paramedics and other medical professionals and first aiders within the group. Our Echelon element includes a depiction of Royal Army Medical Corps and in addition to their historical paraphernalia there are fully equipped modern emergency medical bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, Echelon have tents to shelter casualties and vehicles to help move them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there an enemy?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes! A similar sized force of highly trained, active and highly authentic enemy infantry are undergoing the same experience as you will be. They too will be patrolling, defending and quite possibly attacking, meaning you can never let your guard down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do I get out of it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, we don\u2019t think there\u2019s a better way to get an impression of what life was like for a Second World War Tommy. Clearly we don\u2019t replicate the fear and horror of war, and wouldn\u2019t want to, this experience focuses on how hard it was just to live and operate, you\u2019ll used all your kit, especially the warm stuff! You\u2019ll find out what works and what doesn\u2019t. Why Tommy\u2019s always carry shovels, and how little of the wider context of the battle you can perceive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any historian of the infantryman in the Second World War will gain a unique perspective and appreciation of the feats of our forbears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll experience logistics, orders, intelligence gathering and rank structures up close, you\u2019ll create new bonds and cement friendships and no doubt have quite a laugh along the way, and if that\u2019s not enough you\u2019ll have a lovely set of insignia and a windproof smock!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are we playing war?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is absolutely not our intention to \u2018play at\u2019 or glorify war. We aim at all times to be respectful to the memories of all parties caught up in the horrors of war. We aim to provide an experience to help you better understand some of what people went through so that you are informed and better able to represent them in other living history contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much experience do I need to have?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t really need any, just the keenness to get stuck in. We can arrange to meet up prior to the trip to discuss equipment needs and safety matters, but anyone already involved in living history, in any time period, will be well set to come and join us, we\u2019d love to have you along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are holding a battle school in 2026 to bring together as many attendees as are able to attend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is it? Monty\u2019s men has gone from strength to strength and can field over 100 men all under the same badge, equipped, organised and supported correctly. Creating possibly the largest assembly of wartime British infantry since the Second World War. The Monty\u2019s Men events are highly immersive trips aimed at recreating, as best as … <\/p>\n

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