A day in the life of a soldier in training camp ...

[JuliaG]

Could anyone please let me know how many hours per day soldiers would be actively training, for example on Salisbury Plain? When would they finish for the day? Would they have time to themselves in the evenings, and if so, could they leave the camp? I've read that there was very little on offer in the villages around, so they had concerts etc in the camps. Could they have a beer? And would there be 'lights out' in the huts at a particular time? I've read conflicting reports about all this, which is why I'm asking.

Many thanks

JuliaG

[Moonraker]

Julia, I'll leave it to others to describe training days, which would have varied - one day a route march, another rifle drill, then firing on the ranges - and so on.

The Salisbury Plain camps were all close to small villages, whose modest amenities - not least the pubs - were swamped. Towns, such as Warminster, Ludgershall and Amesbury, were within easy reach. I'm not sure exactly what access was permitted to these for recreational purposes; one might think it was controlled (through leave passes, for example) to avoid thousands of soldiers descending on them all at once - later in the war there would have been 50,000 service people within walking distance of Amesbury!

Drinking in pubs was certainly controlled very early in the war. Every camp and airfield had at least one YMCA hut or marquee, offering recreational facilities, writing materials and light refreshments. Similar huts were operated by other groups, such as the Salvation Army. The larger camps had cinemas, and concert parties, staged by visiting troupes (civilian and military) and the soldiers themselves.

As mentioned in your other thread (on railways) soldiers visited places such as Stonehenge, Old Sarum and picturesque villages. There was also extended leave, allowing an overnight stay in London or a visit home.

And, of course, there was a significant number of women offering their services to lonely soldiers.

Moonraker

[Rayessex]

And, of course, there was a significant number of women offering their services to lonely soldiers.

Moonraker

What doooo you mean Moonraker?

Ray

[Moonraker]

For example, see

post 17

Moonraker

[tony paley]

Julia,

moonraker's account was pretty much as it was. during my own service in the 1950s I was stationed at RAF.netheravon, which was a WW1 camp. Many of the buildings were still in use and the WW1 YMCA building, a wooden hut, was still there although a modern NAAFI had taken it's place. Life would not be much different for trainee servicemen. Lights out at 10pm. local pubs in Netheravon village and Figheldean were in walking distance, no cars as in WW!. Lack of funds and local transport limited visits to amesbury, although no doubt transport could arranged. much of the entertainment would be on the camp. Training would take up the days. route marches, drill, and for other units such as artillery, engineers, or ASC there would be specialist training. I find that there are many personal accounts in print, such as diaries etc. these accounts usually describe the manner of individuals' enlistment and training and often vary at different periods and the units involved and provide a wealth of information.

tony P

[JuliaG]

Thank you, Moonraker and Tony Paley, for the information. I've read a few diaries, and have found considerable variation in the accounts, which I've attributed to their different times, places and attitudes. Your knowledge has helped a great deal.

JuliaG