The camp's origins

Larkhill Camp begun on 12 August 1914, and completed in early 1915, was designated as the School of Instruction for Royal Horse and Field Artillery (Larkhill).

The typical wooden and tin-hutted buildings, some standing on two to three feet brick pillars, were suitable for all year use and for the continual coming and goings of a large number of troops. After the war, an observer described the camp as a collection of 'tin huts – even the Church and the cinema were corrugated iron'.

Above: The tented Bulford Camp: an example of the early Larkhill accommodation	Above: Constructing corrugated buildings at Larkhill c.1915

The new roads, constructed by the Royal Engineers from the natural chalk of Salisbury Plain, extending from the camp to the training grounds, proved sticky when wet and covered in clouds of white dust when dry.

Above: Larkhill in winter 1914-15	Above: Artillery moving on The Packway, summer 1915

A Military Light Railway connected Larkhill to the London and Southwestern Railway spur, at Amesbury Station, crossed the Packway and terminated at Rolleston Camp, with a spur to the site of the original Fargo ammunition dump. The course of the light railway's permanent way, though pulled up in 1935, can be traced by a line of apple trees that, it is said, have grown from the seeds of apples thrown out by troops on passing trains.

1805 Info 5c, sheet 2

The welfare buildings, on the camp, nearer to the Garrison Church than today's shops, comprised of:

Bollen's Fruit Stores Vallers & Co, newsagents Sergeant's Empire Stores and Restaurant the YMCA The Salvation Army the Military Cinema, and the 1200 bed Fargo Hospital, built in 1915, north of Fargo plantation. Above: The Empire Stores, The Packway, Larkhill taken sometime after the War

As well as the open spaces of Salisbury Plain, suitable for large-scale manoeuvres, The School of Musketry had the following rifle ranges: four at 600 yards (548m) five at 700 yards (640m) five at 1000 yards (914m).

1805 info8c sheet 3

Thirty-four individual infantry training camps, of a size suitable for a battalion at war strength, were added, and experienced by 'units of practically every arm of the British Army'. The verse, entitled 'Larkhill Camp', emphases the importance of infantry training: There's an isolated desolate spot I'd like to mention Where all you hear is 'Stand at ease', 'Slope arms', 'Quick march', 'Attention' 'Slope arms', 'Fix bayonets', then 'Present', they don't half put you through it And as you stagger to your hut, the Sergeant shouts 'Jump to it'.

Above: Larkhill camp showing the 42nd Battalion's Camp 11, the church, The Packway and the light railway. Double click on the image to see a larger landscape map of the whole camp.

42nd Battalion arrive at Larkhill Camp

In 1916, the AIF decided to form Australian training battalions in England from which reinforcements could be posted to Australian Divisions in France. Camps were established at Larkhill, Rolleston, Perham Downs, Parkhouse and Tidworth. However, Larkhill seems to have been unpopular with the Australian. On 3rd September 1916, WJ Sinney wrote, in an unpublished letter:

'It has been raining like fun here and things about Larkhill are pretty sloppy. It's a rotten place when it rains and a jolly sight worse if it keeps fine for any length of time. The dust is that fine that it will get in anywhere; do what you will you can't get away from it.'

During July 1916, units of the 3rd Division began to arrive from Australia and assembled at Larkhill, where they remained, in training, until the Division moved to France at the end of the year. And so on 23 July 1916 the 42nd arrived, all the way from sunny Queensland, by way of Egypt, at Amesbury Station.

They marched through Amesbury town on their way to their billets in Camp 11, in huts behind the then corrugated iron Garrison Church. Right: A contemporary postcard of Amesbury High Street, which once saw the passing of many troops Below left: The field where Camp 11 once stood in early Spring 2000 Below right: The modern Garrison Church, in early Spring 2000

1805 info8c sheet 4

We crossed the English Channel on the night of July the 22nd, and disembarked next morning at Southampton, travelling thence to Amesbury by train. We eventually reached our new home on July the 23rd. Our address for the next three months was Number 11 Camp, Larkhill, Salisbury Plain. We spent this time steadily acquiring the arts of war and assiduously training both body and mind for that great day when we should meet the enemy face to face. (Brahms) On September the 27th, the Third Australian Division, of which we were a unit, was reviewed by His Majesty King George the Fifth. Including New Zealand troops there was a parade of 38,500 men. It was a most inspiring sight. (Brahms) The largest number of troops that we had ever seen on a route march was on the occasion when the entire Third Division, consisting of 18,000 men, with vehicles, animals, and mechanical transport passed along the roads stretching many miles around Salisbury Plain. The display was spectacular and impressive. This took place on November 13th, twelve days prior to our embarkation for France. (Brahms)

Above: The location of Larkhill Camp, Salisbury Plain, the local towns and the route to the camp

1805 info8c sheet 5

To France

Then 'Saturday, November 25th 1916 witnessed the departure from Salisbury Plain of the 42nd Battalion. After chafing for months under the routine of drill and exercise, the Battalion at last emerged as a smart, well equipped, highly trained fighting unit, with every man fit and eager to get to grips with the enemy. Its strength was 33 officers and 994 other ranks. Reveille was sounded at 4.30am. It was a cold bleak morning on which we partook of our last breakfast at Number 11 Camp, Larkhill. After the meal, a period of tremendous hustle and bustle ensued. There were strapping and unstrapping of equipment, the packing of packs, to say nothing of the unceasing struggles to get all personal possessions, gear, ammunition, rations, blankets and utensils securely buckled to our body. These weighed approximately 100lbs, exclusive of rifles.

At length we fell in for final inspection, then off we went on the four-mile journey to Amesbury railway station, gaily marching to the strains of the 'Colonel Bogie March' played by the Battalion Band. The Battalion left Amesbury on three trains, which arrived at Southampton at 11am, noon and 2pm' (Brahms) on its way to play its part in the mud of Flanders and the chalk of Picardy and Artois. Above: Troops preparing to board a train at Amesbury Station

Today Larkhill Camp is a School of Artillery for the British army. The coloured photographs, of the modern camp, were taken the day before Gulf War II was declared and when the Corporal of the Guard politely said 'Today isn't a good day for taking photographs, Sir'. Along the A345 is Durrington Cemetery, part of which contains the Commonwealth War Graves and commemorative an Australian obelisk to those killed in training. There are several 42nd Battalion graves. Right: A modern road sign locating Larkhill Camp

Source:
Brahms V, The Spirit of the Forty Second, Smith and Paterson, Brisbane,1938,
James, NDG, Gunners at Larkhill – a history of the Royal School of Artillery, Griesham Books, Salisbury,1983,  ISBN 0946095086
James, NDG, Plain Soldiering – a history of the armed forces on Salisbury Plain, Hobnob, Salisbury, 1987, ISBN 094618039
Wiltshire County Council Photographic Archives, Wiltshire Libraries and Heritage, Trowbridge, Wiltshire

Notes:
The Military Light Railway started at GR 162424, crossed the Packway at GR 113445, terminated at GR 103449 and at GR 103446, the original Fargo ammunition dump.
The name Packway, for the main road through Larkhill Camp, may have derived from an ancient packhorses trading route, or from the army packs carried to the training grounds.

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This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass	Version A.4 Updated 15 May 2011