Who Are We And What Do We Do?

Within the Roundhead Association, the regiments are brigaded to form larger formations  - Devereux’s are part of the award-winning ‘Fairfax Battalia’. Links to our fellow regiments and the Battalia can be found here.

Our aim is to stimulate interest in all aspects of 17th century life, and in so doing, try to entertain and educate both our own members and the general public. The main purpose is to try and recreate the life and times of the period, whilst having fun. The social aspect is very important, and many people make long-term friendships through taking part.

Events are staged, if possible, upon actual Civil War battle sites or at houses or castles which were involved, and have proved popular with crowds over many years.  These events generate income for sponsors and charities.  We are a non-profit making society and we rely for our existence on the efforts of members and their willingness to spend some money on their hobby.  Clothes, equipment, armour and weapons have to be paid for and, as with all hobbies, this requires some  financial commitment. Much of your equipment and clothing can be lent to you until you feel ready to obtain your own. 

However, any money paid to the Regiment by event sponsors is ploughed back into providing communal equipment, such as the newsletter, tents and other quipment. Events can be of varying types: ‘Major Musters’ are large battles which involve all the infantry, cavalry and artillery of the ECWS, and usually also feature aspects of civilian life. Regimental Invited Events (RIE’s) are smaller events which involve some of the regiments of both sides and may contain a smaller battle or skirmish. Living Histories (LH’s) are events where there is a representation of everyday C17th life, based around a historic house or castle or a military encampment. Some LH events feature no fighting at all, and most events feature a Living History.

Each regiment has a distinct identity based on an original Civil War unit which is reflected in its uniforms and colours.  Regiments are often brigaded together to form larger unit at Major Musters.  For this purpose Devereux’s are brigaded with Fox’s, Overton’s and Walton’s regiments to form the Fairfax Battalia. (Note: this is not an historical unit, but an organisational one within the RA, based upon Thomas Fairfax’s Regiment). We have developed this relationship and undertake most of our events in this guise, which combines the skills, enthusiasm and membership of the four regiments.

Previous sponsors of events have included the National Trust, English Heritage, Historic Royal Palaces (Tower of London and Hampton Court), Local Authorities all over the country and privately owned country houses. We have also featured in Simon Schama's 'History of Britain', 'Battlefield Britain' and numerous historic documentaries, and even an advert.

Devereux’s Regiment is a seventeenth century re-enactment group based upon a period regiment which served the Parliamentarian cause from 1643 to 1646. 

 

It is part of the Roundhead Association (RA) which is an organisation of enthusiasts who gather together at events all over the country to recreate aspects of the English Civil Wars. Together with our ‘opposition’, the King’s Army, (KA) we work under the title of the English Civil War Society Ltd, otherwise referred to as the ECWS. 

Top: An officer of Devereux's directs musketeers during a battle