Weymouth army camp 1914: deciphering, please!

[Moonraker]

Can anyone please decipher the name of this Weymouth camp to which this card was forwarded from Devizes Barracks in 1914? I've tried all sorts of variations in Google, with no luck.

Presumably Corporal Archard was a member of the Wiltshire Regiment and had gone to a Whitsuntide camp at Weymouth. (I do not seek information about him.)

Thanks.

Moonraker

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Moonraker

Its Lodmoor Camp, regularly used as a TF Annual Camp location and where the 3rd Wilts. moved to in early 1915 from civilian billets in Weymouth.

Dave

[Moonraker]

Ah Dave: I can see it now.

I see from

this thread

that you have previously explored the connection with the Wiltshire Regiment.

And as prompt as ever with your reply!

Thanks

Moonraked

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Moonraker

This is the reply that I received from Weymouth Museum when I asked if they had anything about the 3rd Wilts.

Just by chance we came across a press cutting from the local paper, The Southern Times, for 23 May 1914, with the heading “Wiltshires Enjoy Splendid Weather.” It describes how the 3^rd Battalion (Duke of Edinburgh’s) Wiltshire Regiment, Special Reserve Battalion opened camp at Preston, a village then just outside Weymouth (now part of the borough) with the advance part arriving on 13 May 1914. The battalion was under the command of Lieut. Col Lord Heytesbury and included 19 officers and 374 con-commissioned officers and men. They spent a week on various camp exercises and received “valuable” instruction, and then had individual training in outpost duty and musketry drill and various other exercises and drills. “Each day the men have indulged in voluntary bathing from 3.30 till 4.30! The camp was to remain at Preston until 13 June.

Dave

[Moonraker]

Great! I was about to search The Times archive which often gives a few words about individual units at summer camps, but you've saved me the trouble.

Moonraker