DEVA 2012

[Iceman]

Some very interesting replies to Piotr he guys and it's interesting to note that he STILL hasn't replied to which group he is from!

Piotr, why didn't you mention any of this at the event, at a time when people could have responded instead of creating a huge debate on here where people feel they have to justify their actions/kit? This would have made more sense as all you have done is created animosity and started a non-constructive debate. Ps I do believe we are all entitled to speak out aloud, but I also believe that there is a time and a place to do so.

I can confirm there were 4 cases of hypothermia, all from early period Roman reenactors, as one of our Tiro was one of them and was 0.5 degrees c away froma trip to the local hospital, his core body temperature had dropped that much. There was also a couple of others who also had early stage hypothermia by the evening once we had got into civvies.

As for the braccae debate, I firmly believe that any army would wear what was available at the time in the local place for the day to day lives and the "correct" kit would be used for Parade duties. If a local Plaid wool was available from local traders then you would but that, not wait for the next expensive shipment to come in from the stores back in Rome. Therefore if some local was willing to sell warm weather trousers, cloaks, tunics etc you would buy it, use it, wear it and keep your good stuff for parades and official duties. I may be wrong, but I doubt it.

The only dodgy kit I genuinely seen all weekend was a gladiator walking round with a "Maximus" helmet on with all the spikes etc. it turned out that this was a trader who was selling lots of kids plastic/wooden armour and was trying to drum up business, and was not a reenactor.

Thanks to all the groups who did attend and it was a privilege again to be led by our Prima Pilus Len Morgan, this time as our Vexilifer, and it was great to meet the authors Ben Kane, Ruth Downey, Douglas Jackson and Anthony Riches. And as always, it's always great to see Graham Sumner and catch up.