The Troubador / Blood Eagle

Starting in August 1987, The Troubador was AAF’s eclectic and idiosyncratic official newsletter. Issues would swing wildly from startlingly original, well thought out and researched articles, with the very next issue being nothing but entire chapters lifted out of rude fantasy books*, White Dwarf magazines, and old, incomplete Red Dwarf scripts. I lost count around issue 30, but it may still being produced every few months in an underground bindery somewhere in the bowels of Old Parliament House.

Note that the Hobbits referred to in the magazine were the group’s juniors rather than characters in a certain fantasy series.


Blood Eagle was the fighters’ newsletter of occasional publication, started in May 1997. I only have the first issue and another from December 2000, so I’ve filed them along with The Troubadors by date. If I get a few more issues, I’ll create a subpage for them instead.


* One of them is worth your time to find, if you have a taste for well-written fart jokes and smut; Rude Tales and Glorious: A Retelling of the Arthurian Tales by Nicholas Seare (Trevanian).


1987 | 1988 | 1989
1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999
2000 | 2001

1987

First edition, August 1987
My Bit!!! (Editorial)
Council Introductions
Scum Page
News… Views… & Abuse
Excerpt from The Medieval Woman by Sally Fox
Marshall’s Report
Devonshire Dog
Bring us in Good Ale
Axe of Truth
The Hobbitry
A Hobbit’s Gear
The Vale of Camlamn 539AD by Greg House
Buy, Barter or Steal (Classifieds)
Letter from the Editor
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Second edition, September / October 1987
Brindabella Community Arts Farm
Constitution
Editorial
Kambah High School Display
Scum Page
News… Views… & Abuse
Hobbit Feast
Four Hours with Tomato Sauce and Chickens (Video filming review)
Kiwi’s Appointment
Fellow Horse
For Hobbits
Auxillia Palantina
Mongol Battle Tactics
Take it Off!
Buy, Barter, or Steal
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Third edition, November / December 1987 / January 1988
Editor’s Page
The AAFistwok
The Wrath of Warner
The Pillaged Village (Classifieds)
Letter from Gauk Haralssen of Strong
Scum Page
News… Views… & Abuse
Letter from the Department of Defence
Letter from the Department of Administrative Services
The Games Corner – Tablut
The Viking About Page. A Pillaging Good Time!
Poetry and Song
Rear View
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1988

Fourth edition, April 1988
Editorial
Minutes of Council Meeting held on 10 April 1988
Important Announcements
Two letters from Steve Wallace
AAF Combat Order
AAF Combat Training Rules
Note from Lois
Club Notes
Canberra Festival review – Canberra Times
The Chronicles of Bilbo the Black – The Coming to the Mountain Kingdom
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Fifth edition, July 1988
The History of the World According to…
Medieval Spring Fair, Hall Showground, 8 October 1988
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Seventh edition, November-December 1988
Note From Lois
A Word From the Wise – The Sword by Greg House
N.11.6. Technical Paper One — Targets and Obiectives in hand to hand combat
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1989

Number 8, June 1989
The Great She Elephant Speaks
Office holders
October Festival
Among our Weaponry – weapons of the Viking period by Stephen Lowe
Battling the Elements for Some Serious Fun by Shahid Nizami
Re-enactment: Le Puy-en-Velay- 1500-1998 reprint from Military Illustrated
The Chronicles of Bilbo the Black – The Crowning of Bilbo
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Number 9, August 1989
Blacksmithing by Dave Robinson (Intro by J Davidson)
The Norse Film and Pageant Society by Geoff Carter – reprint from Military Hobbies, March – April 1989
Dragons and Fables by Marion Lloyd-Langton
On Location With Agincourt by Stephen J Greenhill – reprint from Military Hobbies, March – April 1989
Poem – I Sit and Think by J R R Tolkien
Associates Phone List
Telephone List for AAF Inc
The Sword of Bilbo
Spring Feast
October Weekend Reminder
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Number 10, December 1989
President’s Report for 1989
Announcing the Domesday Boke
Blacksmithing (continued) by Dave Robinson
Brie Tart
Fish Marinade
An Early Apple Tart
Meat Loafwith Almond
Beans Fried with Onions
Almond Milk
Verjuice
Manchet Bread
Thoughts on the Cootamundra Show – and After by Egfroth
Datelines AD200-1200
Gwendeleen
Find-a-word
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1990

Number 11, October November 1990
Editors Page
AAF Council -Summary of Minutes August/September 1990
AAF Fighting Order (Including New Ranks of Sergeant and Yeoman)
News Views & Abuse – Matthew Britt
Blacksmithing – Dave Robinson
The Chronicles of Bilbo the Black
Friends, Romans, Countrymen … Lend Me Your Ears – Valentine Camillus
20 October 1990 Penrose Photo Essay
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1991

Number 12, June 1991
AAF News
Office Bearers
Combatant and Grading Guidelines
DRAGONHEAD Medieval Re-enactment Display Group
1991 Medieval Conference Report (What I Can Remember) by Daniel Flynn
The Art of Making Lamellar Armour from New Hedeby Vol 6 No 2
Hints on Mail by Callum Forbes
Transition Armour by Stephen Hand – from the Second Australian Warriors’ Conference booklet
How to Make Tongs by Dave Robinson
Tools and Heat Treating Etc by Dave Robinson
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1992

Number 14, April 1992
Chief Marshal’s Report
The Wizard’s Word (Runes) by Wayland the Smith
Reconstructing the Gjermundbu Helmet by Stephen Lowe – reprinted from Mons Meditari Autumn 1992
AAF Photos – Capital Day, March 1992
The Chronicles of Bilbo the Black – The Golden Reign of King Bilbo
Letter re: The Weapons Act 1991 (ACT Attorney-General)
Letter re: Brindabella Community Arts Farm (ACT Chief Minister)
Lyrics, Prose and Cartoons
Office Bearers and Membership Phone List
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Number 15, October 1992
Chief Marshal Report
Financial Statement – FY 1991
AAF Council Minutes – 30 July 1992
AAF Council Minutes – 22 August 1992
Letter: Critique of the Article on Runes in Number 14 by Wayne Robinson
Historical Reconstruction and Historical Roleplaying by Tim O’Neill (Reprinted from New Hedeby)
The Penrose Report by Andrew Ridley and Doug Taylor
The Cobcroft Diaries
Psycho Dereck (cartoon)
The Seventh Australasian Medieval Convention 1993 – Progress Report, June 1992
The Chronicles of Bilbo the Black – A Romantic Interlude
Office Bearers and Membership Phone List
AAF Fighting Order
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1993

Number 16, June 1993
Chief Marshal’s Report
AAF Combat Rules and Grading Requirements (February 1993)
Conference and Rowany by Sarah J Arthur
Conference Report by Andrew Ridley
Medieval Garb for the Compleat Beginner by Einar Lutemaker
Red Dwarf Interview – Rob Grant and Doug Naylor reprinted from somewhere or other
Minutes of AAF AGM
AAF Council Minutes – 11 March 1993
AAF Council Minutes – 02 May 1993
Treasurer’s Report
Chronicles of Bilbo the Black – The Exile of King Bilbo
Office Bearers and Membership Phone List
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Number 17, October 1993
Chief Marshal’s Report
Announcement – Bilbo Collection
The Danish Invasion of England (Part 1)
Newspaper Article – AAF Display
A Dark Age Outbreak of Plague
The Teazle-Knapper and Teazler
Knights of the Nineties
The Chronicles of Bilbo the Black
AAF Combat – Photos
Office Bearers and Phone List
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1994

Number 18, January 1994
Chief Marshal’s Report
Finance Report
Council Minutes
The Danish (Viking) Invasion of England (Pt 2)
AAF Promotion Notice
Red Dwarf Quotes
European Armour (Pt 1) – John Topping
Phone List
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1995

Number 21, Winter 1995
Editorial
Chief Marshal’s (Conference) Report
President’s Report
Vice-President and Training Officer’s Report
Treasurer’s Report
Secretary’s Reports
Upcoming Events
Drew’s Conference Report
New Varangian Guard Projectile Combat Rules
House of Tudor Quiz
A Timeline of British and Viking History
Exposing the AAF
Half the Wit of Bilbo the Black
AAF Fighting Order
AAF Membership
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Issue 22, Summer 1995-1996
Editorial
Chief Marshal’s and Chairman’s Report
The Concilium
President’s Report – Drew’s Non-Drunken Burble
Vice-President’s Report
Training Officer’s Report
Treasurer’s Report
Armourer’s Report
Secretary’s Report and Council Minutes
   8 November, 1995
   15 January, 1996
The AAF Calendar
   – January
   – February
   – March
Interview – Terry Fitzsimmons
Ninth Australasian Medieval Conference Update
Fast Feast Food
Display Fights – Saxons Versus Vikings
AAF Merchandising
Quiz-Sad Moments in Church History
The AAF Exposed
   Toby Stow
   Nathan Patrech
   John Schuster
   Dominique O’Dea
AAF Fighting Order
AAF Office Bearers
AAF Membership
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1996

Issue 24, Winter 1996
Editorial
President’s Report
Chief Marshall’s and Chairman’s Report
Vice-President’s and Training Officer’s Report
Annual General Meeting and Council Minutes
The AAF Calendar
Poetry – The Ghost of Galahad
Easy Recipes for a Pot-Luck Feast
   Parsnips with Almonds
   Pears in Red Wine
   Chicken in Orange Sauce
   Lombard Chickem Pasties
Medievalism on-line – Regia Anglorum
   Articles
   Living History
   People
   Places
   Stories and Poems
Feast Report
Byzantine Quiz
On The Making of Cuir Boulli
The AAF Exposed
   Brendan Moylan
   Mark Tilly
   Mark Jamieson
   Claire Drinkwater
The Chronicles of Bilbo the Black – Goldtop’s Nightmare
AAF Fighting Order
AAF Office Bearers
   The Council
   The Concillium
AAF Membership
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Issue 25, Deus Normandie, Yule 1996-7
Editorial
Chief Marshal’s Report
AAF Display (Dragonread) Code of Conduct (Version 1 — November 1996)
Vice-President’s and Training Officer’s Report
Secretary’s Report and Council Minutes
Shameless Advertising
Basic Saxon/Viking And Norman Costume
Medievalism on Line—Milites Debec
Promotion Requirements with Privileges
Reenactment Combat
My Two Denari’s Worth
More Recipes from Sarah’s Cookbook
   Chicken with Rice and Almonds
   Casserole of Beef with Ale
   Casserole of Onions with Rosemary
   Golden Delicious Apple Tart
Norman Culture—The Bayeux Tapestry
Norman Quiz
The AAF Exposed
   David Dean
   Anthony Urbancik
   Nick Brown
   Leigh Parker
AAF Fighting Order
AAF Office Bearers
   The Council
   The Concillium
AAF Membership
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1997

Blood Eagle No 1, May 1997
The Combat Rules, Grading Requirements and Fighting Order of AAF
‘Wrist Movement in Sword Play’ by Dave Robinson
Osprey Military Books – Purchase Offer from Napoleon’s Military Bookstore
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Issue 27, Summer 1997-8
Editorial
Advertising
Secretary’s Report and Minutes
The Brisbane Medieval Fair and Tournament
AAF Fighting and Grading Rules
Cut and Thrust of Blade Combat
The Vikings at Home
Nifty Web Sites
Lord Thomas And Fair Ellinor
Crossword
Further Useful Facts
Really Stupid People
AAF Fighting Order
AAF Office Bearers
   The Council
   The Concillium
AAF Membership
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1998

1999

2000

Blood Eagle No 2, December 2000
The Combat Rules, Grading Requirements and Fighting Order of AAF
“Chainmail in the Dark Ages” from Ben Levick and Roland Williamson (Regia Anglorum website) and Ben Levick (Angelcynn website).
“Chainmail in Ancient Times” from Peter Connolly, Greece and Rome at War
“4-in-1 How-to” by Michel Desjardins (Arador Armour website)
“Coif Construction” by David Clemons (Arador Armour website)
September 2000 AAF Grading List
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2001

Issue 30, The Long Awaited Fantasy Issue, 2001
Editorial
Saxon Jewel Fit For a Princess
What the Council’s Been Up To
Weapons Test
Ancient Britons Ate my Grandfather
The BuMFAT Blurbs Part Two
Did King Offa Become a Muslim?
Weird Things From the Web
Heresy for Dummies
Greased Lightning
Greek Wreck
The Lay of the Buff Barbarians
More Bloody Romans
The Eye of Argon (yes, really)
Austria’s Most Popular Town
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