Category: Military

Information and pictures about the military in Warminster and district including The Tank Barracks, The School Of Infantry, The Land Warfare Centre, Boreham Barracks, Battlesbury Barracks, Knook Camp, Sutton Veny, Boyton and Corton, Codford, Longbridge Deverill, Salisbury Plain, etc.

PCSOs At Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal Sellers

Saturday 1st November 2025

From the Facebook page of Warminster Police:

During a routine foot patrol, PCSO Revers and PCSO Holcombe had the chance to interact with various members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and volunteers in Warminster.

They were actively engaged in distributing poppies and collecting donations for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

Everyone expressed immense pride in their efforts to raise funds, viewing it as a remarkable chance to offer support.

We continue to support the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, helping us rebuild lives and create better futures for the Armed Forces community.

Warminster Policing Team Facebook

WarminsterAreaNPT@wiltshire.police.uk

Warminster Neighbourhood Policing Team At Battlesbury Barracks Family Event

Thursday 31st July 2025

From the Facebook page of Warminster Police:

Warminster Neighbourhood Policing Team at Battlesbury Barracks!

Officers from the Warminster Neighbourhood Policing Team had the great privilege of joining the Army family event at Battlesbury Barracks! We brought along our mobile police station and a police car, which brought lots of smiles to the kids’ faces. 😊

It was a fantastic day connecting with the community and celebrating the strong ties between our police and military families. Thank you for having us!

Neighbourhood Policing Team And Military Police In Joint Operation At Battlesbury Barracks

Friday 25th July 2025

From the Facebook page of Warminster Police:

This week, officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team worked alongside Royal Military Police officers from 158 Pro Coy in a joint operation at Battlesbury Barracks.

A compulsory drugs test was conducted for soldiers from 2 R YORKS, with officers positioned to assist with testing and to prevent anyone from leaving the site during the operation.

Warminster officers supported the Royal Military Police throughout, using the opportunity to gather intelligence and strengthen partnerships. This joint effort forms part of our ongoing commitment to tackling drug use and supply, both within military and civilian communities.

Warminster Community Supported Remembrance Day Parade And Service

Sunday 10th November 2024

Photographs from Warminster Town Council and Civic Centre:

We will remember them.

Thank you to the Warminster community who attended the Remembrance Service and Parade this afternoon to honour and support our armed forces.

Warminster Remembrance Day Parade And Service 2024

Saturday 9th November 2024

Press release from Warminster Town Council:

Warminster Remembrance Day Parade And Service 2024

The annual Warminster Remembrance Service and Parade will be held on Sunday 10th November.

The public are invited to the service which will be held at the War Memorial, Portway at 3pm. Ex-service and other local organisations will also attend.

The Town Crier will lead the parade assembling at a new location, East Street at 2.30pm, with the main parade marching off at 2.40pm.

The Royal British Legion (RBL) bikers’ contingent will drive the same route in advance of the march. The service will take place at the memorial starting at 3pm and those who have paraded will take their places alongside those who have gathered to take part. The service will last around 40 minutes.

Road disruption will be kept to a minimum and the parade will be managed on a rolling road closure basis although some roads will remain closed for the duration of the service.

Orders of service are available in advance from the Civic Centre, Sambourne Road, Warminster, BA12 8LB and Warminster Library, Three Horseshoes Walk, Warminster, BA12 9BT. Alternatively, they can be downloaded from the Warminster Town Council website, and they will also be available on the day.

For those unable to attend the service in person, the service will be broadcast live by Warminster Community Radio 105.5 FM, or you can listen on www.wcrfm.org.uk or via the Tune-In and Radio Garden apps. A collection will be taken on behalf of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

For more information contact Warminster Town Council, Tel: 01985 214847 or email: admin@warminster-tc.gov.uk

D-Day And Other Matters

Saturday 17th August 2024

Crispin Thomas writes:

Hi, my next lecture ‘D-Day and other matters’ as the Standuphistorian is coming up shortly.

It is free and at Warminster Civic Centre on Saturday 14th September 2024

All proceeds go to the Royal British Legion.

Please do come and support what will be a great evening.

Stop press – At halftime, war trio ‘The Decibelles’ will sing all your favourites in the interval!

Today, In Their General Election Campaign, The Conservative Party Is Proposing National Service For 18 Year Olds ~ But Our Conservative MP Stated Only Three Days Ago That National Service Would Damage Morale, Recruitment And Retention Of Our Professional Armed Forces And He Concluded There Are No Plans To Introduce It !!!!!!!

Sunday 26th May 2024

Only a few days into the General Election campaign, the Tory party is on tv and online proposing National Service for 18 year olds.

Journalist Victoria Derbyshire, broadcasting about the General Election, has tweeted:

“The Conservative Party says [it] would bring back mandatory national service if it wins the election. 18 yr olds will join the military for 12 months (paid) OR volunteer one weekend every month in the community (unpaid). The Home Secretary James Cleverly said it would get young people ‘out of their bubble’. What if an 18 yr old refuses? They wouldn’t be criminalised he said – a Royal Commission is proposed to work through that kind of detail.”

Bizarrely, Dr. Andrew Murrison, MP (Conservative), MP for South West Wiltshire (since 2001) and the Parliamentary Under Secretary For Defence, in an answer to a parliamentary question (only three days ago) stated:

“The Government has no current plans to re-introduce National Service. Since 1963, when the last National Servicemen were discharged, it has been the policy of successive Governments that the best way of providing for the defence of our country is by maintaining professional Armed Forces staffed by volunteers. The demanding, increasingly technical nature of defence today is such that we require highly trained, professional men and women in our Regular and Reserve Armed Forces, fully committed to giving their best in defending our country and its allies.”

“If potentially unwilling National Service recruits were to be obliged to serve alongside the professional men and women of our Armed Forces, it could damage morale, recruitment and retention, and would consume professional military and naval resources. If, on the other hand, National Service recruits were kept in separate units, it would be difficult to find a proper and meaningful role for them, potentially harming motivation and discipline. For all these reasons, there are no current plans for the restoration of any form of National Service.”

Royal Visit To Longleat, Honouring The 43rd Wessex Division

Tuesday 23rd May 2023

Press Release from Warminster Town Council:

On Thursday 18th May, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward visited Longleat House to attend a tree-planting and Service of re-dedication in the name of the 43rd Wessex Division at the War Memorial on Longleat Estate.

His Royal Highness was met outside Longleat House by Lord and Lady Bath, Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire Mrs. Sarah Troughton and a host of military and civic officials, including Warminster’s Mayor at the time, Councillor Chris Robbins and his wife.

The ceremony itself took place at the Arboretum on Longleat grounds and consisted of a service to commemorate Wessex’s contribution to the war-efforts and was followed by HRH being invited to lay a wreath upon the memorial. It was concluded by HRH planting a final forty-third oak tree to honour the historically pertinent local Division.

The 43rd Wessex Division was founded in 1908, participated in the First World War and was reformed again in 1920, serving up until May of 1945.

Its last incarnation took place between 1947 and 1967, when it was finally disbanded. They took part in some exceptionally notable engagements over the two wars including the Battle for Hill 112 and Operation Market Garden near Arnhem.

Councillor Robbins said: ‘I recently represented the community at a Service to Rededicate the 43rd Wessex Division Arboretum and Memorial Plaque. Attendees included HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Lord and Lady Bath, many senior Military personnel and senior Officers from Wiltshire Council. A wonderful service was held in the open air which was blessed with the best weather conditions. The service ended with the laying of wreaths and planting of a home-grown Oak Tree at the Memorial Plaque and Arboretum. This pleasant duty was performed by HRH aided by the two sons of Lord and Lady Bath, under their father’s close attendance. All gathered to witness the act to provide an everlasting memory of all those who served in the 43 rd Wessex Division. Guests then moved to the Great Hall at Longleat House for a Buffet Lunch and were able to mingle freely and enjoy the company of all present. The day ended with the transfer of responsibility for the preservation of the Trust to Army Group HG Southwest and the resigning of the Armed Forces Covenant. HRH then addressed those assembled with a delightful response. Finally, guests were invited to a tour of Longleat House which was enjoyed by all. Our thanks must go to Lord and Lady Bath who helped to host the day and provide the space for the Arboretum.’

It is always a privilege for the local area to experience a royal visit and it is important to remember the rich history Warminster and the surrounding area has to offer.

Local Walk ~ Copheap, Warminster

Saturday 11th March 2023

The Local Walks page on the Warminster Town Council website includes:

Copheap
Copheap, the hill closest to Warminster, just north of the town, was purchased by the Warminster Urban District Council and soon afterwards it was agreed at a public meeting in 1947 that it should become a war memorial for the town. The purchase price was met by public subscription.

Members of the R.A. and Old Comrades associations constructed the Path of Remembrance from Copheap Lane to the base of the hill, with regimental badges being incorporated into the walls at the lower end of the path.

A lych gate at the entrance to Copheap is inscribed:
“As an everlasting tribute of pride and gratitude to the sons of Warminster who gave their lives in the great World Wars this archway was constructed and Copheap preserved for the perpetual use and enjoyment of all.”

Quick Facts:
Steep walk leads to a barrow on the top.
The uphill walk, leading though a Memorial Lych Gate.
The wood is surrounded by chalk grassland owned by the MOD.