Let me take a moment to talk about squires and their function. Bronwen and I were talking about this subject last night, and I feel it's something that is worth visiting here.
I'm not sure how it goes with other clubs, but when I started out at DSSC some many years ago, I was a squire. I helped to fetch and carry gear and weapons and things from the car to the training hall, helped to pass out stuff, pack it all away afterwards and take it back to the car and pack it into whichever car it belonged in.
I also learned how everyone's armour was unpacked, I learned the little quirks involved in strapping it all on, and how not to get my fingers pinched while doing it.
I learned about how to fix strap fails with duct tape and/or cable ties, and which part to tap with a sword to make it move nicely, and how to do quick, easy panelbeating missions on the fly.
Being a squire was how I learned about the different pieces of armour, and their different forms through the medieval period. So, when I got my own armour, or had opportunity to upgrade, I knew what to look out for, and what might give problems, and what would best suit my fighting style.
This is the purest form of "learning by doing", and I think that was how fighters were taught in the old days.
Of course, I saw many people arrive for practice who didn't like the idea of doing the gruntwork for the armoured guys, and who never came back again. There were even some who came back but either didn't realise or ignored the way things went. They arrived and departed without lifting a finger for anything except to borrow gear from those of us who had brought stuff to lend.
And we had the armoured fighters who would help out as well. It was never a case of lording it over the unarmoured fighters, or pulling rank. More, it was just a case of asking for help if necessary, and an unarmoured fighter being expected to hop to it. Some did. Some didn't.
I noticed that those who did ended up with a better grasp of armour (wearing it, keeping it, making it) and fighting, as well as the protocols and values associated with armoured fighting, such as sportsmanship.
And that is what I have to say about being a squire from the learning perspective.
Squires, as support staff go, are an undervalued and underrated part of tournaments and training in general. Thinking back, I have strong memories or times when I thought to myself, "Jeez, I just wish so-and-so were here because this noob really has no clue how my armour works!" Likewise, there were times when things could have been infinitely worse for me if I hadn't had a really good squire, who was quick on his or her feet, ready with the water between bouts, or a cable tie when a strap broke.
Now, most armoured fighters will be able to perform this task flawlessly because they know what is expected. At IMCF 2015, I was fortunate to have my husband squire for me during my bouts. He is a seasoned fighter (15 years of combat), an armourer, he knows my armour and he is also totally devoted to me. However, if we had been fighting the same category, I would have had to settle for someone who perhaps didn't have a clue what to do, and more importantly, have my best interests at heart.
I've been lucky enough to have had a couple of truly amazing squires, at various times and places, to help me while I was fighting.
The first was Aiden, who joined DSSC at the tender age of 11. He squired for me (and everyone else who was fighting), for a number of years, at almost all of our local tournaments, and I still sometimes find myself looking around, calling for a squire but looking to see where Aiden is. I think nowdays, he has his own squire, since he is old enough to compete at local level, and probably has his own kit.
The most recent squire who helped us at Red Lion was Niall or Moon Moon Black, who helped first Bronwen and then I kit up, with alacrity. He (along with the rest of the Scots - such gentlemen!) took it upon himself to make sure that Bronwen was seen to for the day, and that really meant all the difference to me, since if he hadn't done it, I would have had to, and I was also fighting.
So, here is an official thanks to all of those squires out there, who may or may not be fighters in their own right, but who put aside their own egos and interests to help the fighters do their best in the lists.
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| (Source: Knight Hospitaller (2), Osprey Publishing 2001) copied from https://whitepavilion.com/articles/petticoats |
I'm not sure how it goes with other clubs, but when I started out at DSSC some many years ago, I was a squire. I helped to fetch and carry gear and weapons and things from the car to the training hall, helped to pass out stuff, pack it all away afterwards and take it back to the car and pack it into whichever car it belonged in.
I also learned how everyone's armour was unpacked, I learned the little quirks involved in strapping it all on, and how not to get my fingers pinched while doing it.
I learned about how to fix strap fails with duct tape and/or cable ties, and which part to tap with a sword to make it move nicely, and how to do quick, easy panelbeating missions on the fly.
Being a squire was how I learned about the different pieces of armour, and their different forms through the medieval period. So, when I got my own armour, or had opportunity to upgrade, I knew what to look out for, and what might give problems, and what would best suit my fighting style.
This is the purest form of "learning by doing", and I think that was how fighters were taught in the old days.
squire
ˈskwī(ə)r/
noun
noun: squire; plural noun: squires
Of course, I saw many people arrive for practice who didn't like the idea of doing the gruntwork for the armoured guys, and who never came back again. There were even some who came back but either didn't realise or ignored the way things went. They arrived and departed without lifting a finger for anything except to borrow gear from those of us who had brought stuff to lend.
And we had the armoured fighters who would help out as well. It was never a case of lording it over the unarmoured fighters, or pulling rank. More, it was just a case of asking for help if necessary, and an unarmoured fighter being expected to hop to it. Some did. Some didn't.
I noticed that those who did ended up with a better grasp of armour (wearing it, keeping it, making it) and fighting, as well as the protocols and values associated with armoured fighting, such as sportsmanship.
And that is what I have to say about being a squire from the learning perspective.
 | |
| View over Josh's shoulder. He's doing my arms up. |
Squires, as support staff go, are an undervalued and underrated part of tournaments and training in general. Thinking back, I have strong memories or times when I thought to myself, "Jeez, I just wish so-and-so were here because this noob really has no clue how my armour works!" Likewise, there were times when things could have been infinitely worse for me if I hadn't had a really good squire, who was quick on his or her feet, ready with the water between bouts, or a cable tie when a strap broke.
Now, most armoured fighters will be able to perform this task flawlessly because they know what is expected. At IMCF 2015, I was fortunate to have my husband squire for me during my bouts. He is a seasoned fighter (15 years of combat), an armourer, he knows my armour and he is also totally devoted to me. However, if we had been fighting the same category, I would have had to settle for someone who perhaps didn't have a clue what to do, and more importantly, have my best interests at heart.
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| IMCF 2015 longsword bout - Josh squiring. |
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| Knowing when and how to give water is crucial. |
I've been lucky enough to have had a couple of truly amazing squires, at various times and places, to help me while I was fighting.
The first was Aiden, who joined DSSC at the tender age of 11. He squired for me (and everyone else who was fighting), for a number of years, at almost all of our local tournaments, and I still sometimes find myself looking around, calling for a squire but looking to see where Aiden is. I think nowdays, he has his own squire, since he is old enough to compete at local level, and probably has his own kit.
The most recent squire who helped us at Red Lion was Niall or Moon Moon Black, who helped first Bronwen and then I kit up, with alacrity. He (along with the rest of the Scots - such gentlemen!) took it upon himself to make sure that Bronwen was seen to for the day, and that really meant all the difference to me, since if he hadn't done it, I would have had to, and I was also fighting.
 |
| Moon Moon on the right. |
So, here is an official thanks to all of those squires out there, who may or may not be fighters in their own right, but who put aside their own egos and interests to help the fighters do their best in the lists.
I have to say, I have learnt a lot from being squire. It really does help in all the ways you have mentioned.
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