FAQs

If you have any questions ask a committee member.

What is a Free Company?

- A Free Company is a band of mercenaries whom form a company and fight for an entity such as a lord, the crown, a city or a pope, under contract.

What was the White Company?

The White Company was a free company whom fought for England against France in the Hundred Years War, and later fought for various city states in Italy and the Pope.

What period does the White Company cover?

From about 1346 to 1384.

What is The White Company?

The White Company is the Victorian based branch of the Free Companies Inc, concentrating on the life and times of the original White Company, with members spread from Melbourne, Geelong and Ararat.

How much does membership cost?

Free Company Membership $27 per single including ALHF insurances,

$54 per Family including 2 ALHF Insurances (and children under 13 years old).

Additional Insurances for each child over 13 years of age $20

And take $20 off if not prime membership club.

Link to membership form

How is the club run?

The club is set up as an incorporation under Victorian Law, and we are affiliated and insured through the Australian Living History Federation. The running of the club is based on the constitution, and administered by an annually elected committee. See the Constitution for more information.

What is the Australian Living History Federation (ALHF)?

ALHF is the over arching body which sets authenticity and safety standards, liaises with government bodies, and provides insurance.

Link to ALHF web site.

What was the Hundred years war?

The Hundred Years war was war between England and France that went on for about 110 years.

What types of people can be portrayed?

Members are welcome to represent any part of the society or culture that the company would have interacted with; including serf, peasant, begger, craftperson, artisan, retainer, combatants (archer, man at arms, sergeant at arms, etc.), merchant, musician, a member of the clergy (monk, nun, etc.), Squire, knight, lady, any of the nobility.

Note: the cost of portrayals is more expensive as you raise the rank of your portrayal.

Graphics by Kat.

What is authenticy?

Is the attempt to portray the past the best we can, based on the available information, materials, tools and skills. Kit must be consistent with what is being portrayed.

Authenticity is based different levels of information, such as extant remains, pictures/sculpture/drawings made in the period, writings by those from the period and lastly modern authors writing about the period. It is better to use extant remains first and rely on modern authors the least.

See ALHF Authenticity Guidelines for more information.

What is Living History?

- Living history is authentic portrayal of time period on the both individual and group level, covering the clothing, accoutrements, tools, furniture, eating equipment, food, singing and dance, etc.

What is historical reenactment?

Historical reenactment consists of a display which captures a part of history (i.e. a battle such as Poiters or Bannockburn) following the actions of the recorded history, usually done in public display format.

What does the basis kit consist of?

Basic kit consists of a set of clothing and eating gear (bowl/plate, spoon, fork, knife, drinking vessel)

Basic male clothing consists of; boots, hose, braies, under tunic, over tunic or coathardie, belt, belt pouch, hood or hat.

Basic female clothing consists of; linen hose, linen underdress, woollen cotehardie, hood or coif, belt , knife & shoes.

How do I get my kit?

- It is cheaper to make your own kit and the club runs workshops to teach you the required skills and help make the kit. Start with clothing and other soft kit first.

- You can barter your skills to get someone else to make you kit, in exchange for your work.

- Or you can pay someone else to make your kit for you. There are number of recommended supplies out there. Check with a member of the committee before you make an expensive purchase.

- Remember to be consistent with what and time period you are portraying.

What is a gear profile?

A gear profile is a spread sheet where you list your gear and the sources, period and style the gear is based on.

Are there combat rules and safety standards?

Yes. The Combat safety document covers the controls, the standards and the detail of how combat is run.

Link to Combat Rules and Safety Standards.

Can women do combat?

Yes.

Can I own a sword?

Yes, you have to have a ‘legitament excuse’ or an exemption to own, store, transport and used a sword, a sword under Victorian regulation is a prohibited weapon. As a member of the Free Companies Inc. you are member of an exempt organisation.

However, you must use the sword appropriately at club functions and displays, control whom accesses the sword, secure the sword during transport and storage. Storage at home consists of a locked area which only person with the same exemption have access to. This also goes for other prohibited or controlled weapons.

You need to be a member for six months before you are allegeable to get a sword.

Link to Weapons regulations

What is the age at which you can train and participate in combat?

There is no minimum age at which training may be commenced but a minimum age of 16 is set for participation in combat.

What events and activities does the club participate in?

The types of events include;

Archery training and tournaments

- Public displays (Timeline Festival, Knox Festival)

- Marches (in costume and kit) along public ways (i.e. the Warburton Rail Trail)

- Camps (normally on private property)

- Feasts and picnics

- Workshops (general and specific such as chest making)

When does the club meet and where?

The company meets on a monthly basis at a member’s residence.

See event calendar.

If you have any questions please contact a committee member.

Updated 19/11/2017