European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 11, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Morgan Broman right of Stockholm Sweden is known As Morgan the Gray from the barony of a Nordmark when he slips into his Knight clothes for a Day of the Middle Ages activities. By Nancy l. Torner . Bureau of Don t have to Bash your friends when you join the society for creative anachronism but neither wit you be discouraged from giving them a Good smack. That s because one of the favorite activities of society members is to strap on Armor and Battle one another to a mock death. The group a worldwide organization dedicated to the study and re creation of the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods recently hosted a Battle at Raf Lakenheath England that Drew about 22 . Military and civilian members from England and Germany As Well As some foreign nationals. The All male Battle fought on a Patch of grass just outside the multipurpose building filled the air with the crack of swords and axes crashing against Shields and Armor. The weapons were made of Rattan which has the same balance and handling properties As the real thing according to staff sgt. William Twiggs Lakenheath s society president. But to be on the Safe Side they Don t have the same lethal effect. The Battle noise came from strips of Wood that Are attached to the Rattan for the sound effect. That does t mean the Battles Are just play. One fighter who went to War without a shield took a blow that knocked him off his feet. There is More to the society than fighting. Its members also hold feasts play and dance to medieval music learn calligraphy conduct historical research and give lectures in costume to schoolchildren and other of the organization s female members were attending a lecture on elizabethan costumes in the nearby town of Bury St. Edmunds and missed the Battle so it went on without its usual cheering Section. Quot some women do fight Quot said Michelle Wright a family member at Lakenheath. But most of them stand along the Battlefield Quot cheering their men on like any old squad of cheerleaders a she said. While there were no women warriors at Lakenheath Twiggs said that Quot there Are women fighters who Are although Twiggs did no to have any statistics he said the sport had a Good safety record. Armor most of which is made from 16-gauge steel is inspected for safety prior to a Battle. However All participants must sign waivers of liability. Lakenheath s Battle was Small by Overall society standards. One popular Battle in the states draws a couple of thousand fighters each year said Twiggs who is making it his Mission to drum up new members at Lakenheath. Quot i really want to get this going Here Quot Twiggs said at one time Lakenheath had about 30 members. When Twiggs became the president in August it had fewer than 10, mainly because people had moved to new assignments. Membership is now up to about 20, he said which still is a Long Way from the club at his previous base Whiteman fab in Missouri which had 90 members. Everyone who attended Lakenheath s Battle had a different Story about How he or she got involved in the society. However each person mentioned the allure of chivalry which even extends to the Battles. For instance if opponents receive mock wounds that bring them to their Knees unfounded aggressors also drop to their Knees before striking another blow. Quot everybody at one Point and time has had the fantasy to be that King that Knight in shining Armor or that Damsel in distress Quot said Wright who first got involved with the society in the states. Quot i suppose it s staff sgt. Jim Fritz from Lakenheath joined the society in 1979. He had taken fencing in College and was looking for something a bit More exciting. Quot they some society members in the states put me in Armor and beat on me for 10 minutes and i Vas hooked. It s a lot of fun Quot he said. Being a part of the society in Europe is particularly satisfying he said because Quot having things like castles brings it All to it. Paul Williams of Nav eur London is a member of the society based at Raf Alconbury England which has a membership of about 30, he said. Williams Learned about the society 12 years ago while visiting the smithsonian Institute in Washington but it took until 1986 for him to become a member. Quot i grew up Reading stories of Robin Hood Errol Flynn was my hero Quot Williams said Quot i started off in the society mainly in the fighting but i went into doing senior airman Matthew Karr of Raf Chicksands England also is a member of the Alconbury group. Karr joined the society to fulfil a longtime private interest in the Middle Ages that had prompted him to begin making a set of Armor Long before he had heard about the group he said. Outfitting yourself in a suit of Armor can Cost As Little As $15, or As much As hundreds of dollars Twiggs said. Many people buy it piece by piece he added. Asked Why he joined the group Twiggs responded for the excitement and the dream. It s All Honor and chivalry Quot. Matthew Karr lefts Mathieu Chartrain clashes with Peter Veenstra known As lord Boniface. Medieval armies clash on a makeshift Battlefield during Melee sponsored by the society for creative anachronism at right Clarice Twigg lefts Androna of Frie Richsburg adjusts Michelle Wright s outfit. A amps photos by Dave Dydio \ a a x a .h1 a a i a or x a i Xiv x a a a a \1 How to join the society for creative anachronism has five chapters in the United kingdom 10 in Germany and one in Iceland As Well As several aboard . Navy ships. For information about the chapter at Raf Lakenheath England Contact either of the following staff sgt. William Twiggs pc 41, Box 1556, Apo a 09464, Telephone 0760-44-1685 or staff sgt Jim Fritz pc 41, Box 1902 Apo a 09464, Telephone 0842-86-1906. For information at other bases Contact local recreation centers to find out if the base has an operating chapter. For general information about the society and the locations of existing chapters write to Mary Hickey hic 16th Csc unit 20144, Apo a 09165. A Nancy Turner 16 the stars and stripes sour David to in 1993 the stars and stripes 17
