Formed in 2018 as a side project to an existing LHG (the 'Railway Operating Group (Royal Engineers) LHG), the 'Bloody Red Tabs' was created in order to focus on a much maligned aspect of the British Army - staff officers! Taking inspiration from the title of an excellent book on First World War staff officer casualties by Frank Davies, the 'Bloody Red Tabs' was formed to tell the story of the staff officers of the Second World War - and correct a few myths about the 'cushy' lives these men were supposed to live.

As the Group operated alongside the 'Dukes at War' LHG and the 'Sheffield Polar Bears' LHG, it was natural that an impression dedicated to the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division would follow. Taking inspiration from the real life 146 Infantry Brigade (the senior brigade in the Division), a small cadre of re-enactors formed the nucleus of the HQ staff in order to put on their first display at Levisham Railway Station in 2019 as part of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in Wartime Event - which those in the hobby would refer to simply as 'Pickering'. A very wet but enjoyable first run out gave the Group inspiration for the year ahead.

Unfortunately, the year in question was 2020. Covid lockdowns put paid to nearly all the organised events for that year, however an informal outing to Eden Camp gave the Group the opportunity to tweak impressions and add new members to the ranks. Far from being deterred by the lack of opportunity to display, the leaders resolved to use the downtime to plan for 2021. It was time well spent, as new members - in particular our Group MO - helped to increase the display from a standard field office to a more extensive headquarters display, including  wireless equipment for the Signals Office, an impressive medical collection that formed the basis for the newly added Field Ambulance, and a model Bailey Bridge for our engineers to practice on (in the hope we could ever afford a real life one!)

Further events followed, whereby the display has been honed and expanded to form a Brigade HQ in miniature. This was helped no end by the acquisition of a British Army military marquee, which houses the brigadier's quarters, general office, signals office, mess hell, and other ranks quarters, whilst a plethora of 160lb tents, 6x6 officer's tents, and two man bivouac tents help finish the 'look' of a large administrative formation headquarters. The flexibility of the display allows the Group to supply a bespoke display for an event, ranging from the very small to the very big, and equally at home in an open field or the confines of a wooded area.

Whilst the primary focus of the Group is the brigade staff, we also look to focus of the work conducted by the vital support elements attached to 146 Brigade, specifically the signals sections, the medical services, and attached divisional assets. Our components can be summarised as follows:

• 146 Infantry Brigade HQ Staff Officers and Enlisted Men;
• 'K' Section of 49th Divisional Signals (permanently attached to Brigade);
• 146 Field Ambulance (which was attached to the Brigade almost constantly throughout the War); and
• 294 Field Company, Royal Engineers (a divisional asset that was again regularly attached to the Brigade).

Insofar as these portrayals are concerned, we strive to accurately portray the men who made up these units by adherence to the actual wartime roles. It only takes a little bit of research to realise that only three specific battalions of infantry made up 146 Brigade during the War (4th Lincolns, 1/4 KOYLI and the Hallamshire Battalion), however it takes a great deal more to ensure that the officers on staff are accurately portrayed. As a result of painstaking research, we can confidently have a Brigade Major from the Oxf and Bucks, a GSO3 from the Hampshire Regiment, and an IO from the KOSB. This is not some bizarre fantasy impressions, rather it is an accurate reflection of the individuals who occupied those roles - and if nothing else allows us to educate those who shout "that's not right" before we even get the chance to say hello(!). 

In addition, we have a number of female members who attend our events in order to portray members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) and the ladies who served as nurses with Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS), the QAIMNS Reserve (QAIMNS(R)), and the Territorial Army Nursing Services (TANS). Here, we must move a little away from accuracy to allow for our female members to join us when we are portraying life in Normandy, Belgium or Holland. Yes, nurses and ATS personnel served in north-west Europe but not so far forward as where a brigade would be operating - corps level is probably as far forward as any female would have been (at ground level at least, we acknowledge and respect the role of the 'Flying Nightingales' who were operating very much in frontline areas). We acknowledge the "inaccurate" placing of female service personnel within a brigade HQ set up but ensure that the portrayals are accurate, and the anachronism is properly communicated, so that the public can properly see the various work done both at the front and behind the lines.

The Group welcomes interest from those who are interested in the history of the 49th Division/146 Brigade, or who are interested in taking part in the wonderful hobby that is living history. Any enquiries can be directed through this website or you can send an email to bloodyredtabs@gmail.com and we will do our best to help. Updates on forthcoming events and photographs and videos from past events can be found by following us on Facebook and Instagram - links below. We try to post different content to each site, so please look to follow us on both so you do not miss out on our escapades!