Standing orders
Standing Orders consists of important notices and information for group members wishing to attend living history events as a member of the Royal Union Rifles. Further information can be obtained from the Royal Union Rifles Handbook (available to members only) or by contacting the group secretary (via royaluniorifles@yahoo.com).
Membership
It is simple to attend living history events as a member of the Royal Union Rifles, you just need to apply for membership (please go to the Enlist page), pay a membership fee and ensure that you follow the kit requirements for the event (see Kit List & Requirements). We do not expect you to attend every event and it is up to you as to how many or how few you wish to do.
The RUR complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (Data Protection Act 2018). All information supplied on the Membership Form will be immediately treated as confidential material and no information will be divulged without prior consent. In addition, the RUR will only communicate with members in a way which has their consent.
Expectations
Although group committee members wear NCO stripes (this is to identify them to group members and event officials) there is no strict military hierarchy so you will not be ordered around in a military fashion. We do expect you to do your fair share towards helping with the setting up and taking down of the display, talking to the public, and demonstrating items of kit. You will make reveille, follow uniform requirements at all times, cook for yourself, wash-up, clean weapons, brew up and (if you want to) take part in arena battles and demonstrations.
Do not be put off by meeting members of the public; this can be one of the most rewarding aspects of putting on a living history display. You will meet many interested people, a lot of whom are possibly ‘old sweats’ and some of whom may still be currently serving. All will test your knowledge of the kit and period (there is always another RUR member on hand if you feel you’re getting out of your depth!) and many a ‘war story’ will be swapped. For the ex-servicemen and women it is a chance to hold an SLR again, for us it is a chance to increase our knowledge and understanding of the period even further.
(Don’t worry if you can’t get all the kit immediately, the RUR have a lot of kit that can be loaned out for events, ranging from cap badges to webbing and sleeping bags. Any member wishing to borrow kit should contact the Group Secretary. Please give plenty of notice so that loan arrangements can be made).
Any concerns or questions should be addressed to the Group Secretary.
Membership fees
From 01.01.19 the RUR will introduce membership fees* of £5.00 per year. These fees will go towards (but not cover) pitch costs, hire of toilet facilities etc. when attending events.
*Obviously this only applies to those members involved with the living history arm of the RUR. Living history fees will not apply to those representing the RUR on the airsoft battlefield.
The Royal Union Rifles holds its money in a business bank account with Santander. Financial management is overseen and administered by the Treasurer. The Group President is provided with an annual account summary.
Other expenses
In order for the RUR to take part in living history events all members have to have Public Liability Insurance. No one will be allowed to represent the RUR at any event without this type of cover. It is highly recommended therefore that members take up AFRA membership (other organisations are available). This is particularly important when attending events to which the public are allowed as AFRA membership includes Public Liability cover, Risk Assessments etc. In addition, some armourers at events (e.g. War and Peace) will only issue a Certificate of Firearms Training (required if members are to be issued with a weapon for arena battles and/or demonstrations) specifically on proof of AFRA membership. AFRA membership currently costs £15.00 per year and runs from 1st January to 31st December. Proof of AFRA (or alternative) membership will be required when applying for RUR membership.
Warning orders
A WARNING ORDER will be issued before every event. This will contain important information for RUR members. The Warning Order will describe the situation, the ‘mission’, dress, dates, times etc. and will include any other information pertinent to the display (such as details regarding arena battles, weapons training, mess night information etc.). Warning Orders will be communicated via Facebook or email.
Rules of conduct
For obvious reasons the RUR must have rules of conduct. Members of the RUR are required to act in such a way that does not reflect badly upon the group, its efforts, its members, the British armed forces and/or event organisers. The Group Committee will review any incident where a member is found to have acted in a manner that is not acceptable. If upheld by the Group Committee then, in exceptional situations, the offender may be asked to leave the event and, if agreed to by core members, expelled from the group. In exceptional and/or serious cases, the Police may be called and/or notified.
Examples of unacceptable behaviour may include (but not be limited to) stealing; irresponsible use/operation of a firearm/pyrotechnic/bladed weapon; fraudulent use of ID for weapons training; wilful disobedience of event organisers instructions etc.
The decision of the Group Committee is final in all cases.