et&wnc Wrote:
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> Great shot, but going to France, the soldiers
> wouldn't have steel helmets and European-style
> side caps (they only be wearing the 'smokey bear'
> style campaign hats). Coming back
from
> France would be more correct.
Complicated situation.....so hopefully, you can bear with some minor historical inaccuracies.
The re-enactors had been simulating a camp over in France, doing arms and tactics demonstrations as well as conducting living history discussions all day with visitors at Alna Center. That location is great spot for this sort of thing, because it is a rural and secluded, with no power lines, paved roads or other modern clutter nearby. I think that the average person who visited this camp learned quite a lot from these folks, and probably didn't notice the minor inaccuracies.
In the evening, the RR planned to run a special train to bring photographers to the site for a photo shoot. Unfortunately, the fellow who normally plans and coordinates these events had to leave earlier in the day due to a prior commit. We also had a weather situation in the late afternoon which seriously impacted attendance. Just before the train left, I was asked if I would help coordinate the shoot and I was happy to do so.
My goal was to arrange some scenes that people could photograph, which would give them the general feel of the encampment.....but also to incorporate the railroad, if possible. Obviously, doing the latter meant that for the shoot at least, we could not be simulating an encampment in France. So my plan was to simulate a training encampment in Maine, with an eventual departure to join the AEF. The scenario of a Maine Guard Unit training on home turf, and then departing on a 2-foot line to make connections that would take them to NYC was a reasonably realistic scenario. Certainly, back in 1917, the troops would not likely have boarded a train state-side wearing steel battle helmets and gas masks, or carrying automatic weapons like the B-A-R. They were carrying all of that stuff because they didn't know the plan in advance and had prepared for combat demos, not for riding a train. We had multiple scenes to shoot and we were burning daylight (and dodging rain showers), so there was not a lot of time for pre-shot briefings, historical accuracy discussions and costume changes. The re-enactors do indeed have the smokey hats and proper uniforms, and that is what they wore during last-year's shoot.
Here is my photo album from this shoot. Some folks may have gotten better stuff, but my guess is that if they came away with any of these shots, they probably felt their evening was well-spent.
The Great War comes to the WW&F
/Kevin Madore
