towisuk Posted 9 December , 2011 Share Posted 9 December , 2011 The trenches in their correct N-S orientation....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towisuk Posted 9 December , 2011 Share Posted 9 December , 2011 And others just a little bit further to the south of the ones above. Again North at the top of the image... regards Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steelback5 Posted 5 March , 2012 Share Posted 5 March , 2012 Another image - http://static.panora...al/35253274.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin W Taylor Posted 2 May , 2013 Share Posted 2 May , 2013 Gents I recently found a map in a war diary of some practice trenches reportedly in the area of Shipton Bellinger used by 33rd Division in October 1915. I tried for ages to relate them to the trenches mentioned in this thread without success. I've now located them to the east of the village in the area of Bedlam Wood though the plough has eradicated them. Google Earth gives an excellent comparison and some trenches survive in the woods. Kind regards Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Sergeant W B Medlicott of the Public Schools Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, arrived at Jellalabad Barracks on August 2, 1915 and regularly visited Kympton, (a farm two miles away) and mentions trenches and defence works between there and Tidworth; these were the "Bedlam trenches". His diary (Imperial War Museum 87/56/1) gives details of route marches and firing. During bomb-throwing practice on October 18, a man lit a fuse and discarded the match into 15 lbs of powder. Three men of the 23rd Royal Fusiliers had their eyes damaged, and others suffered discoloured faces; two specialists from Harley Street came to Tidworth to attend to the former. Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin W Taylor Posted 8 May , 2013 Share Posted 8 May , 2013 Moonraker Many thanks - I've been looking into the UPS Brigade as a personal project. I'm currently working through the medal rolls and pulling officer's files at Kew for more details on individuals. Medlicott's diary was one of my targets on my next visit to the IWM. Sounds like it will be of interest! Many thanks Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoppage Drill Posted 9 May , 2013 Share Posted 9 May , 2013 Sergeant W B Medlicott of the Public Schools Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, arrived at Jellalabad Barracks on August 2, 1915 and regularly visited Kympton, (a farm two miles away) and mentions trenches and defence works between there and Tidworth; these were the "Bedlam trenches". His diary (Imperial War Museum 87/56/1) gives details of route marches and firing. During bomb-throwing practice on October 18, a man lit a fuse and discarded the match into 15 lbs of powder. Three men of the 23rd Royal Fusiliers had their eyes damaged, and others suffered discoloured faces; two specialists from Harley Street came to Tidworth to attend to the former. Moonraker Would her have been one of the Potterne Medlicotts, Moonraker ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 9 May , 2013 Share Posted 9 May , 2013 Sorry, Mr Drill, I don't know. It's years (probably in the last century!) that I looked at this file, and I only bothered to read the pages relevant to training on the Plain. Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoppage Drill Posted 9 May , 2013 Share Posted 9 May , 2013 Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
303man Posted 11 May , 2013 Share Posted 11 May , 2013 If you use the google time line and go to 2002 the trenches show up even more than the picture in post 29, then switch to 2005 and the field to the right reveals all as well. I am amazed that the trench area was so extensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin W Taylor Posted 6 June , 2013 Share Posted 6 June , 2013 303man Many thanks for letting me know - I hadn't used Google Earth for this. I hadn't realized there was an 'enemy' set of trenches facing those I knew about. Again, many thanks Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Osgood Posted 6 August , 2013 Share Posted 6 August , 2013 The Bedlam set still has alot in situ on the Military training area - complete with redoubts and even the odd screw picket! Cheers Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Davies Posted 8 August , 2013 Share Posted 8 August , 2013 There is a footpath that runs through the field pictured in post #29. I am in Tidworth next week and will try and take a wander along it to see what's visible from the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Davies Posted 13 August , 2013 Share Posted 13 August , 2013 This is the view looking north from a point in the bottom right hand corner of the field in post 29. As you can see there is nothing to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Davies Posted 13 August , 2013 Share Posted 13 August , 2013 (edited) And this is the view looking north west with Bedlam Plantation in the background. Again, no sign of the trenches on the ground. Edit: Well, it would be the view north west if the mouse in the wheel at the telephone exchange ran a bit faster and pushed the electrons up the hill to my house more effectively. Edited 13 August , 2013 by Gareth Davies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Davies Posted 15 August , 2013 Share Posted 15 August , 2013 Gents I recently found a map in a war diary of some practice trenches reportedly in the area of Shipton Bellinger used by 33rd Division in October 1915. I tried for ages to relate them to the trenches mentioned in this thread without success. I've now located them to the east of the village in the area of Bedlam Wood though the plough has eradicated them. Google Earth gives an excellent comparison and some trenches survive in the woods. Kind regards Colin Colin Which War Diary did you find the map in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Brown Posted 10 September , 2013 Share Posted 10 September , 2013 Moonraker The No Digging signs are because Richard got them included on the Important and Fragile Sites list of archaeology on the Plain, thus ensuring preservation. I've moved from SPTA by the way but still living locally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug504 Posted 16 September , 2013 Share Posted 16 September , 2013 There are some "ghost" outlines of WW1 practice trenches at Whitburn Ranges (Whitburn, south Tyneside) Google Earth Coordinates - 54 57' 11.41"N 1 21 42. 76" W These remains will soon be lost due to the development of the now disused ranges into a housing estate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jon Wort Posted 16 February , 2015 Share Posted 16 February , 2015 Dear All, If you are interested in visiting the trenches, I have worked with Richard Osgood to establish an Exercise with the local Brigade HQ to visit both the trench system near the Bustard and the trenches on Beacon Hill. With a short detour to see some of the Australian graves close by and time to eat a packed lunch! We have made it a public event and you can book a place on Eventbrite (seacrh for WYVERN TRENCH). The next one is on teh 27th March and you woudl be welsome to come. Drop me a note if you have any problems. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Davies Posted 11 June , 2015 Share Posted 11 June , 2015 I have Mrs Medlicott's transcription of her husbands diaries and letters sat on my kitchen table, very kindly loaned to me by a friend. It covers the period Jul 17 - Jun 19 when he served in the Tank Corps (in Bovington throughout I believe). Would her have been one of the Potterne Medlicotts, Moonraker ? No, he was born in Swanmore in Hampshire in 1872, his father was the vicar there. The tale ends sadly. He and a cousin went to Turkey in 1919 to work on a timber concession. They were both taken prisoner by turkish forces and Walter died in prison on 18 Sep 20. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorset1 Posted 8 November , 2015 Share Posted 8 November , 2015 Anyone hold any Ngrs or rough directions to the trenches ? I'm a local and only just found out they existed ? Many thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B Posted 9 November , 2015 Share Posted 9 November , 2015 Anyone hold any Ngrs or rough directions to the trenches ? I'm a local and only just found out they existed ? Many thanks in advance They are roughly halfway between the edge of Bulford and Tidworth and are to the east of Tidworth/Bulford road, whilst the I think German trenches are to the west of the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorset1 Posted 9 November , 2015 Share Posted 9 November , 2015 Thanks Jerry B. Are you local ? Does your note suggest they created both allie and German lines for practice ? I will have a look on a map. I regularly work in the area. Are they on mod land or public access ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoppage Drill Posted 9 November , 2015 Share Posted 9 November , 2015 It's MoD land, but covered by Training Area byelaws so you can enter as long as you don't interfere with any military activities. The more restrictive Bulford Range Byelaws only apply on the NW side of the Bulford-Tidworth road. Drive up the gravel track opposite the entrance to the Moving Target Range (between C Range and D Range), then just short of the crest of the ridge, and before the track bends off to the right (SW), park up where there is a contouring track going off to the left (NE). Walk the track about 50 metres, and there you are. (E&OE and IIRC ! It's a while since I have been up there !) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorset1 Posted 9 November , 2015 Share Posted 9 November , 2015 Cheers stoppage ! I will have to locate where the moving target range is first. Think I have a map of the area somewhere. Thanks for the starter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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