'Taking the King’s Shilling' : Joining the 17th Regiment
Getting involved in reenacting for most starts with a love of history. Growing up in western Pennsylvania, I started my involvement with living history. As my own commitment to a more accurate portrayal matured, I also wanted to be part of a unit that aligned with these values. I knew I wanted to pursue living history in a group dedicated to getting it right, and working as a group to achieve that. I found just what I was looking for joining His Majesty’s 17th Regiment of Infantry.
Upon joining the regiment, I began to work with people in the group to assemble my uniform and equipment. In the 17th nearly everything is made for the group, by the group, to very high standards. Members of the group frequently got together to work on our kits bonding over a common interest and a shared desire to “do it right.” There was camaraderie between the members that I had never experienced with another unit. There was a shared understanding that you will be pushed, but we will do this together.
By the time I had assembled most of my kit, and borrowing a few items, I attended my first event with the group at Mount Vernon. As I arrived, fellow members that I had never met before, other than on Facebook, immediately made me feel like part of the team as they slung a cartridge box over my shoulder, repositioned my hat, or adjusted my coat. It wasn’t that they were critiquing me or telling me I was wrong; they wanted me to be my best – for the unit to be its best. This was just the kind of environment I was looking for. A unit that was dedicated to being a unit, not just a collection of individuals.
Mount Vernon was just the beginning of events with the 17th. Soon after, I would be marching miles with a full knapsack at Monmouth, while rebels loomed around the next hill, or copse of trees. I would be wearing civilian attire portraying rebels on the walls of Fort Ticonderoga. I would be arresting rebel traitors in Philadelphia, and then shaking the walls of a tavern while the regiment sang “O’er the Hills and Far Away”.
Joining the 17th was just what I was looking for in “the hobby”- a group committed to the history, artifacts and experiences of the soldiers and civilians of the American revolution- but also committed to one another in helping achieve the most accurate portrayal possible, and have a lot of fun doing it.
Interested in Joining HM17th Regiment?Contact Captain Jeffrey Blessing: revwar17th@comcast.netSend us a message on Instagram, Facebook or our website:@HM17thRegt facebook.com/HM17thRegiment 17thRegiment.com
JOSH FAUSTJosh works in government public relations and received his degree in Constitutional Law from Clarion University, and has been involved with living history for nearly a decade. He has been a member of HM17th for just about a year. He lives in a historic home in Frederick, Maryland with his girlfriend and 18 lbs house cat. Josh Faust will be joining the 17th media team in 2019.