PPCLI to visit Europe

[Moonraker]

A tour of Europe is being planned next year to mark the Great War exploits of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, one of the most impressive (some have said the most impressive) unit in the First Canadian Contingent, to the extent that in mid-November 1914 it was detached from the Contingent to become part of the British 80th Infantry Brigade at Winchester. It left for France on December 20, preceding nearly all their countrymen by some seven weeks.

visit details

Obviously my interest is in the Salisbury Plain part. There's not much to see at the site of Bustard Camp, but the former Bustard Inn (the Contingent's HQ) still stands. Pity it's not still open, but its position no longer encourages passing trade. The road north (110 years ago a major road) leads onto the artillery ranges, with a rough, unsurfaced stretch of several miles; it is closed when the ranges are in use.

The country road west leads to Tilshead and the modern Westdown Camp (not to be confused with West Down North and West Down South camping sites, where the First Contingent languished. But a few years ago this road was blocked to through traffic.

The Dog & Gun pub is on the main road at Netheravon, where the cavalry school served as a temporary hospital for the Canadians. Eleven members of the Contingent are buried in the adjacent churchyard.

Moonraker