Ron Posted 24 May , 2006 Share Posted 24 May , 2006 During the First World War soldiers stationed in the area of Salisbury Plain near Fovant cut their regimental badges into the turf. The first was cut by the London Rifle Brigade in 1916 and took three months to complete in off-duty time. After the at the end of the war, the badges became overgrown although some regiments continued to pay local workers for their maintenance. So did the Australian Government but this interest lapsed at the outbreak of the Second World War. However in 1949 the Fovant Home Guard Old Comrade's Association decided to restore them together with the badge of the Australian Expeditionary Force. Badges of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry and the Wiltshire Regiment were added. But time has taken its toll and at the last count what remained were: The Royal Wiltshire Regiment The Wiltshire Regiment YMCA 6th Battalion, The London Regiment (9th City of London Rifles) Royal Warwickshire Regiment 7th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment Devonshire Regiment Post Office Rifles London Rifle Brigade Australian Imperial Force Australian Map That count was some years ago and I haven't passed by there lately to see what remains today. Anybody got any more recent information? Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 24 May , 2006 Share Posted 24 May , 2006 See the thread at http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...l=FOVANT+BADGES Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon R Posted 24 May , 2006 Share Posted 24 May , 2006 British Archaeology had a feature on this in one of its recent issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Tomlinson Posted 25 May , 2006 Share Posted 25 May , 2006 Yes Ron, they're still there but look as though they could do with a bit of renovation. Have I ever seen them - no - but you can make them out quite clearly on Google Earth. (Just type in "fovant, uk" and it will take you straight there) Fortunately they're within a high resolution bit. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 25 May , 2006 Share Posted 25 May , 2006 Ray- maybe it's me or my computer- but I can't see them. It's fairly high res and a clear day -but I cant see nowt- someone has listed some of the carvings, but I can't make owt out..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Tomlinson Posted 25 May , 2006 Share Posted 25 May , 2006 Spike- Ok, I take it you've found Fovant - go a short distance ESE and you'll find a round feature (looks like a "henge") - this is on top of the hill which snakes along from SW-NE. The badges are on the hill between the round feature and Fovant, partly in the shade - not all are clear - the best one is star shaped immediately West of the round thingy - Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Osgood Posted 25 May , 2006 Share Posted 25 May , 2006 Hi all, as you are probably aware there is also the Australian 'Rising Sun' badge at Codford, and my particular favourite, the chalk kiwi at Bulford. This was carved by NZ soldiers in 1919 to commemorate their presence on the Plain in the Great War, in particular at Sling Camp. cheers R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barkalotloudly Posted 25 May , 2006 Share Posted 25 May , 2006 i have a book about them somewhere regards john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_J Posted 25 May , 2006 Share Posted 25 May , 2006 I pointed out the Kiwi to my son whilst we were walking nearby last weekend. I'm lucky enough to live right on the edge of Salisbury Plain - you can walk across a lot of it most weekends, and I do! Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 26 May , 2006 Share Posted 26 May , 2006 Yes Ron, they're still there but look as though they could do with a bit of renovation. Ray An observation that will distress the Fovant Badges Society, which was rejuvenated a few years ago after the secretary had a stroke. Its principal officers feature a number of high-ranking ex-officers, who embarked on a successful fund-raising campaign. Previously maintenance of the badges was carried out by volunteer labour, but is now contracted out to a company which is testing new techniques of keeping them smart., deterioration having been noticed in some renovated bades after only a year of two. 11 Signal Regiment in Blandford is looking after the Royal Signals badge. Because of high costs the Society has decided to "let go" the Royal Warwickshire and 7th City of London badges near Sutton Mandeville. and the map of Australia and YMCA badge Many other carvings, some little better than graffiti, were allowed to disappear after WWI: possible initials "??P" east of map of Australia ?AN to west of map of Australia Royal Army Service Corps (not seen in any photograph; "Royal" was not included in the Corps title until November 1918; any badge would have been very ornate; confused with RAMC badge?) possible badge east of RAMC badge four-legged animal (dingo?) "reversed out" close to RAMC badge (ie animal's body is turfed, with chalk background) Royal Army Medical Corps east of YMCA badge square close to RAMC badge initials P O R (Post Office Rifles) close to square Red Cross (said to have been made by Australian patients, possibly an embellishment of the RAMC badge) 7th City of London Regiment symbol said to have been cut next to that the 6th City of London Rifles, before being recut at Sutton Mandeville, but is not visible in photographs "9th" (could be 7th?) appears between 6th City of London Regiment and Australian Commonwealth Military Force badge in photographs taken before June 1917 Machine Gun Corps - no photographic evidence four-legged animal looking over shoulder, probably the "Chinese Dragon" of the 9th Royal Berkshire (under ACMF badge) King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (with "M B" above French horn) 9th Royal Berks[hire Regiment](title) - later the 37th Training Reserve Battalion 35th T[raining] R[eserve] [battalion] (title), with faint "R" to east of "35" 37th T[raining] R[eserve] [battalion] (title) ) cross & crown - possibly Queen Victoria's Rifles part of animal's body kangaroo (cut before February 1917) 35th Training Reserve Battalion – Drums (between Post Office Rifles and Devonshire Regiment badges) Voluntary Aid Detachment (possibly carved in 1919, but no photographic evidence; I have yet to trace an illustration of this carving) In 2001 the Society mounted a major appeal which resulted in a £70,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Membership is about 270, and the Society website indicates how to join. There is also a collecting box at a layby offering a good view of the main range of badges. (It used to be a green-painted mail box, but someone nicked it.) The Society Newsletter for 2006 shows some of the renovated badges, and they do seem a little crude compared with the originals, which were a tribute to their creators - men already undergoing intensive military training, working with primitive tools on a very steep hillside. Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 26 May , 2006 Share Posted 26 May , 2006 Yes Ron, they're still there but look as though they could do with a bit of renovation. Ray An observation that will distress the Fovant Badges Society, which was rejuvenated a few years ago after the secretary had a stroke. Its principal officers feature a number of high-ranking ex-officers, who embarked on a successful fund-raising campaign. Previously maintenance of the badges was carried out by volunteer labour, but is now contracted out to a company which is testing new techniques of keeping them smart., deterioration having been noticed in some renovated bades after only a year of two. 11 Signal Regiment in Blandford is looking after the Royal Signals badge. Because of high costs the Society has decided to "let go" the Royal Warwickshire and 7th City of London badges near Sutton Mandeville. and the map of Australia and YMCA badge Many other carvings, some little better than graffiti, were allowed to disappear after WWI: possible initials "??P" east of map of Australia ?AN to west of map of Australia Royal Army Service Corps (not seen in any photograph; "Royal" was not included in the Corps title until November 1918; any badge would have been very ornate; confused with RAMC badge?) possible badge east of RAMC badge four-legged animal (dingo?) "reversed out" close to RAMC badge (ie animal's body is turfed, with chalk background) Royal Army Medical Corps east of YMCA badge square close to RAMC badge initials P O R (Post Office Rifles) close to square Red Cross (said to have been made by Australian patients, possibly an embellishment of the RAMC badge) 7th City of London Regiment symbol said to have been cut next to that the 6th City of London Rifles, before being recut at Sutton Mandeville, but is not visible in photographs "9th" (could be 7th?) appears between 6th City of London Regiment and Australian Commonwealth Military Force badge in photographs taken before June 1917 Machine Gun Corps - no photographic evidence four-legged animal looking over shoulder, probably the "Chinese Dragon" of the 9th Royal Berkshire (under ACMF badge) King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (with "M B" above French horn) 9th Royal Berks[hire Regiment](title) - later the 37th Training Reserve Battalion 35th T[raining] R[eserve] [battalion] (title), with faint "R" to east of "35" 37th T[raining] R[eserve] [battalion] (title) ) cross & crown - possibly Queen Victoria's Rifles part of animal's body kangaroo (cut before February 1917) 35th Training Reserve Battalion – Drums (between Post Office Rifles and Devonshire Regiment badges) Voluntary Aid Detachment (possibly carved in 1919, but no photographic evidence; I have yet to trace an illustration of this carving) In 2001 the Society mounted a major appeal which resulted in a £70,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Membership is about 270, and the Society website indicates how to join. There is also a collecting box at a layby offering a good view of the main range of badges. (It used to be a green-painted mail box, but someone nicked it.) The Society Newsletter for 2006 shows some of the renovated badges, and they do seem a little crude compared with the originals, which were a tribute to their creators - men already undergoing intensive military training, working with primitive tools on a very steep hillside. Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMcNay Posted 26 May , 2006 Share Posted 26 May , 2006 Try http://local.live.com Type in "fovant, uk" and zoom in a little. You can see them clear as day, albeit in this view they're upside down! I'm not sure how old the aerial photography is on that site ( possibly a couple of years at least) but I can clearly make out nine badges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovetown Posted 26 May , 2006 Share Posted 26 May , 2006 And of course, you could visit: Fovant Badges Society Web site Best wishes, Grovetown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovetown Posted 26 May , 2006 Share Posted 26 May , 2006 Try http://local.live.com Type in "fovant, uk" and zoom in a little. You can see them clear as day, albeit in this view they're upside down! I'm not sure how old the aerial photography is on that site ( possibly a couple of years at least) but I can clearly make out nine badges. Thanks for that. Much better definition of the badges than on Google Earth, where they are all but invisible because of shade from the hill. Pictures are quite old though; as my house doesn't yet have its loft conversion (which was completed in 2002, and is visible on Google Earth). Best wishes, Grovetown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 26 May , 2006 Share Posted 26 May , 2006 I can see them on local.live clear as day...thanks Mr McNay. Ray, they are much clearer than on Google Earth ....check them out, however old they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barkalotloudly Posted 28 May , 2006 Share Posted 28 May , 2006 the book is called "badges in the chalk" printed during the 1950`s compiled by a Laurence Combes,it lists all the soldiers buried there, units stationed at the camp and surrounding area etc, one or two pictures of the badges in the 1950`s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 29 May , 2006 Share Posted 29 May , 2006 the book is called "badges in the chalk" printed during the 1950`s compiled by a Laurence Combes,it lists all the soldiers buried there, units stationed at the camp and surrounding area etc, one or two pictures of the badges in the 1950`s This booklet has gone through several editions; I have the fourth, published in 1984, a later one, not dated, and (perhaps) the latest of 2002, with lots of colour pics - it's available from the Fovant Badges Society. The list of units based locally is not comprehensive, and James,British Regiments 1914-1918 lists others; in a couple of other cases the only evidence that a battalion was based locally is the badge it carved in the hillside. Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Tomlinson Posted 1 June , 2006 Share Posted 1 June , 2006 Sorry for the delay Spike, I've been away. Can't say I'm impressed with "local.live" - it either doesn't work or it doesn't like my Mac - all I get is a blank screen! Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 2 June , 2006 Share Posted 2 June , 2006 Ray, try this link- should be a view of the Wiltshires badge albeit upside down from 25m http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=...&style=h&lvl=19 Does it work-it does on this computer at work, can anyone else see it? (I'm phoneline-less at the moment so forgive me if my replies take time) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Tomlinson Posted 2 June , 2006 Share Posted 2 June , 2006 Spike - Nope!! Its either the chalk from 2 inches or a Mac-proof web site (there are some of them around) all I get is a blank screen - never mind, perhaps I'll have a look next time I'm in the area. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Tomlinson Posted 2 June , 2006 Share Posted 2 June , 2006 Having googled "local.live" I find that its a Windows rival to Google earth so I wouldn't expect it to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bombadier Posted 2 June , 2006 Share Posted 2 June , 2006 Works alright on my PC Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 2 June , 2006 Share Posted 2 June , 2006 Having googled "local.live" I find that its a Windows rival to Google earth so I wouldn't expect it to work. That's probably it Ray D**n that Bill Gates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Tomlinson Posted 3 June , 2006 Share Posted 3 June , 2006 ... at least we don't get viruses (or whatever the plural of virus is) - who's Bill Gates - any relation to Pearly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 5 June , 2006 Share Posted 5 June , 2006 Virii, Bill may not get quite the judgement he expects at said "Pearly" gates. Not if god bought a microsoft laptop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now