Jon Miller Posted 21 January , 2005 Share Posted 21 January , 2005 (edited) Since posting my original question, I have found the answer. However, I would still be interested in whether training battalions at the camp would have done their training within the camp's confines or gone elsewhere. For instance, a place called the Devil's Punchbowl is mentioned, where Lord French inspected troops from the Civil Service Rifles of which the 3/15th Londons would have been a part. Any help much appreciated. Jon. Edited 21 January , 2005 by Jon Miller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 23 January , 2005 Share Posted 23 January , 2005 Jon The site of Hazeley Down Camp is near the village of Twyford, just south of Winchester. The third line battalions of the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th 17th & 20th London all trained there in 1916-17. There is a memorial cross on the down commemorating the men of these battalions. The Devils Punchbowl is at Hindhead in Surrey and close to the sites of a number of temporary training camp during the War. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Miller Posted 23 January , 2005 Author Share Posted 23 January , 2005 Thanks Mike, that is excellent information. Just the job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blandford dave Posted 8 April , 2009 Share Posted 8 April , 2009 Since posting my original question, I have found the answer. However, I would still be interested in whether training battalions at the camp would have done their training within the camp's confines or gone elsewhere. For instance, a place called the Devil's Punchbowl is mentioned, where Lord French inspected troops from the Civil Service Rifles of which the 3/15th Londons would have been a part. Any help much appreciated. Jon. very late in the day to post this but I am researching Hazeley Down Camp and as a one time resident of Twyford and Winchester , there is a Devils Punchbowl or also known as Cheesefoot Head on the road from Winchester to Petersfield ! Would seem to make more sense to have troops there than take them to Surrey . Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 10 April , 2009 Share Posted 10 April , 2009 Basic training was done close to camps, as travelling any distance would have eaten into the limited time available. Nevertheless, as I've recently observed on another thread on Hazeley, I've come across references to troops from camps in the Winchester area travelling to Salisbury Plain ranges, some 30 miles away, for rifle practice. In 1917 Sir John French was C-in-C Home Forces. His visit to the Punchbowl (and I confirm Blandford Dave's location for it) might well have been to inspect a division shortly before it left for active service. In the case of similar visits on Salisbury Plain the division was scattered around several locations and some elements had to march some distance to the inspection area, sometimes bivouacking overnight. Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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