Blandford Camp
Blandford Camp | |
---|---|
Near Blandford Forum, Dorset in England | |
Coordinates | 50°52′N 2°07′W / 50.867°N 2.117°W |
Type | Army base |
Site information | |
Owner | Ministry of Defence |
Operator | British Army |
Controlled by | Royal Signals |
Site history | |
Built | 1724 |
In use | 1724-present |
Blandford Camp is a military base comprising some 390 hectares of downland lying 2 miles (3 km) north-east of Blandford Forum in the county of Dorset in southern England.
Significant areas of the camp are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Blandford Camp is currently the home of the
History
There are numerous
18th century
It is thought that the area has been used by military forces for many centuries but the first definite use of the site was in the 18th century when local volunteer units used it as a training ground. In addition, in 1724 a troop of the Hussars were stationed in the area for anti-smuggling duties.[2]
During 1756, to counter the threat of a French invasion along the south coast during the
19th century
In 1806, an
Blandford Race Down continued to be used during the 19th century as a training ground for the
With the outbreak of the
The RN Division had battalions named after the former naval officers Drake, Nelson, Benbow, Hawke, Hood, Howe, Anson and Collingwood, and the various encampments at Blandford took these names. Instruction on trench construction and trench warfare was carried out within the camp area and traces of the Royal Naval Division trenches can still be seen in the area beyond Drake East Lines.[6]
The men of the Division left Blandford Camp to embark on the ill-fated
Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force
During 1918, the camp changed from being the depot for the Royal Naval Division to being an 'Intake Camp' for the Royal Flying Corps which was at that time being reformed as the Royal Air Force, and a branch railway line was built to bring materials and personnel to the camp. The railway was linked with the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway line immediately south of Blandford Forum railway station and there was a daily passenger service to bring civilian staff to the camp from Bournemouth and the villages in between. At the end of 1919, however, the camp was closed and both the wooden huts built for the RN Division and the camp's railway line were removed. By the end of 1920 the site had been returned to agricultural use.[6]
Second World War
With the buildup of tension leading up to the Second World War, the camp was reactivated in 1939 as a mobilization and training centre for reservists, with a new wooden hutted camp being built on the sites of the RN Division encampments. There are still a few huts from the 1939 camp remaining, these being in Drake East Lines and in the Benbow Lines.[6]
After the
US Army hospital complex
Since, once the invasion of Europe was underway, Blandford Camp would no longer be required as a training camp, it was decided to convert the camp into a
The Roosevelt Garden and Memorial were dedicated on 30 May 1945 in the camp, and a memorial service is held there annually in November in remembrance of those who died.[6]
Post-war years
After the closure of the hospitals the camp was reconverted to a training camp, and from 1946 until 1962 it was used by the
Blandford Motor Racing Circuit
GMT | |
Opened | 25 July 1948 |
---|---|
Closed | December 1960 |
Major events | Formula Two Road Racing Motorcycle Racing |
Length | 5.05 km (3.14 miles) |
Turns | 6 |
On 25 July 1948,[8] the 3 miles 247.1875 yards (5.05 km)[9] perimeter road around the camp was used to form the UK's first post-war road racing circuit.[10] Around 10,000 spectators attended the first event, a motorcycle race, and the lap record was set by Bob Foster at just over 85 mph (137 km/h).[8]
By the time of the third event in April 1949, the circuit had obtained a reputation as the fastest in the country, with speeds over 110 mph (177 km/h) being achieved down the straights.
The Hants and Dorset Car Club organised a successful kilometre speed hill climb over part of the course in May 1949,[13] and shortly afterwards the circuit was approved by the R.A.C. for car events.[14] The eight race National Meeting, was held on 27 August, and although the meeting was judged a success, it was blighted by three serious accidents, one of them fatal. The most remarkable of the three however, was to Major Peter Braid in the 500cc race. Hitting a bus shelter demolished in the previous accident, his car was launched, landing on the roof of an army building, where it remained until the end of the day's racing.[15][16] At the inquest shortly afterwards, the coroner expressed surprise that the wearing of crash helmets was not obligatory, and a doctor who attended the victim, also stated that "a crash helmet might have saved his life".[17]
Accidents again marred Blackmoor Vale motorcycle club's end of the season meeting the following weekend on 3 September, with one rider dying after a multiple pile-up in the final race, and two other riders succumbing to their injuries shortly afterwards.[18] Seven other riders were seriously injured in the final race incident, all of whom took avoiding action when second placed rider David Gregory, fell at Monkton Corner, hitting a fence and being killed instantly.[19]
The serious accidents were generally attributed to competitors lack of racing experience,[19][20][21] and complaints about the circuit at this time were more often related to delays and accessibility issues attached to running public events on an active military base.[22][23] Some local opposition to the track however, was becoming more vocal.[24]
The next motorcycle event at the track, was billed as the Auto-Cycle Union's "first international road race meeting on the British mainland". Over 40,000 spectators attended, and the event on 29 April 1950 saw the debut of the latest version of the "works" AJS Porcupine as well as the first appearance of the Norton featherbed frame. The international nature of the event was somewhat diminished by a clash of dates with other meetings on the continent, and the only non-British competitors were two Belgians. However, top riders like Geoff Duke and Bob Foster did take part, and Duke raised the lap record to just under 89 mph (143 km/h). Again, the event saw fatalities, with two riders killed on the very fast Engineer's Corner.[25]
At the inquest following this event, the coroner was unequivocal.
I hope that those who have got the power to ban these races, and it appears to be the military authority, will not give their consent again.[26]
Criticism was levelled at the lack of protection for riders from saplings attached to iron spikes, other metal stakes and telegraph poles present at various points around the track. Although it was unclear if any of these hazards had been a factor in any of the fatalities, the coroner was critical of the fact that "improvements" to the circuit had not even looked at any of these. After the second crash at Engineer's Corner, straw bales had been put in place, but this was entirely on the initiative of an army sergeant-major on duty at the event, rather than the organisers. Despite these issues, the jury accepted that the riders took part knowing the risks involved and verdicts of accidental death were returned in both cases.[26]
Now required to wear helmets,[27] two further car meetings passed without incident, but on 29 July, practising for the eleventh speed hill climb on the course, the well-liked and much respected driver Joe Fry was killed when his car hit a bank and somersaulted several times.[28] The inquest, held by the same coroner as the one in May, was damning. Despite being highlighted at the previous inquest, and a witness having come forward subsequently stating that a metal stake had been the cause of the death of one of the riders previously, nothing at the circuit had been changed and Fry's car had hit one of the metal stakes when it crashed. The coroner felt that there had been "gross negligence" and further stated that "Blandford racing is going to end."[29] Shortly afterwards, the army's Southern Command Headquarters issued a statement to confirm that "no further permission will be granted for car or motorcycle meetings".[30]
One final motorcycle event, already organised for August Bank holiday Monday was allowed to continue.[30] Fortunately, the event passed without serious incident, and Geoff Duke, who won three of the races that day, also raised the official lap record to 91.03 mph (146 km/h).[31]
A month later, the local
In December, the War Office announced that the ban would be lifted for a trial period of six months.[35] Unfortunately, on 14 May 1951, at the first meeting when racing resumed, another serious accident took place when two riders collided at Cuckoo Corner at high speed. Although the two riders only suffered minor injuries, one of the motorcycles hit a soldier and a Red Cross attendant who were at trackside, and the attendant died of his injuries shortly afterwards.[36]
Following this accident, a tight chicane was added at Engineer's Corner, which considerably reduced speeds[37] and motorcycling events continued at the track until the circuit was closed due to expansion of the army camp in 1961.[38]
Royal Signals
In 1960, 30 Signal Regiment moved into the camp from
In the early 1990s, under the Government's 'Options for Change' initiatives, 30 Signal Regiment moved to Bramcote to make way in 1995 for Royal Signals soldier training to be moved from Catterick Camp. The Headquarters of the Corps also came to the site from London. All special-to-arm training is now carried out with 11 Signal Regiment at Blandford.[6]
Following the UK Government's 2001
Current units
Below is a list of the units and formations based at Blandford:
Ministry of Defence
- Defence College of Communications and Information Systems (HQ), at Harrogate Building[41]
- Craddock Training Area[42]
Strategic Command
- Specialist Group Information Services, at Rutherford Building[42]
British Army
- Headquarters, Royal Corps of Signals, at Griffin House[41][42][43]
- 11th (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals[41][44]
- Regimental Headquarters
- 2 (Catterick) Squadron
- 3 (Harrogate) Squadron
- 4 (Military Training) Squadron
- 5 (Maresfield) Squadron
- 13th Signal Regiment[42][45][46]
- Regimental Headquarters
- 224 (Cyber Protection Team) Signal Squadron[47]
- 259 (Global Information Services) Signal Squadron – Joint services
- Combat Information Systems (CIS) Trails and Development Unit (CISTDU)
- 280 (United Kingdom) Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals[48]
- Blandford Garrison Support Unit, Royal Corps of Signals[41][49]
- Royal Corps of Signals Training Development Team[41]
Notable connections
- Sub Lieutenant Rupert Brooke (1887–1915), stationed at Blandford between November 1914 and February 1915. It is thought that some of his best known sonnets were written here.
- hill-climb.
References
- ^ Royal Signals Museum - A History of Blandford Camp Archived 2010-07-31 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Royal School of Signals - Blandford Camp
- ^ Royal School of Signals - Blandford Camp History Archived 2010-11-20 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Vauxhall and Kennington
- ^ "History of Blandford Camp". Royal Signals Museum. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Pimperne and the military". Wessex Western Front Association. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ "Blandford Camp War Memorial". Roll of Honour. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Motor Cycling circuit souvenir No.8". Motor Cycling. 97 (2508). lONDON: Temple Press Ltd: 705.
- ^ "Good Old Days of post-war Racing". Gear Wheels. 2001. Archived from the original on 31 December 2001. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- ^ Cruickshank, Gordon (January 2003). "Blandford". Motor Sport. Motor Sport. p. 49. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- ^ "Road Racing at over 110 mph". Western Gazette. British Newspaper Archive. 22 April 1949. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "New speed record at Blandford". Western Gazette. British Newspaper Archive. 5 August 1949. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Two Stage Freikaiserwagen makes F.T.D. at Blandford". Motor Sport. Motor Sport. June 1949. p. 30. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Matters of the Moment". Motor Sport. Motor Sport. June 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Accidents mar the Blandford Trophy Meeting". Motor Sport. Motor Sport. October 1949. p. 4. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Major Peter Braid". Drivers. The 500 Owners Association. Archived from the original on 1 March 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Car crashed at 80 mph - Racing fatality at Blandford". Western Gazette. British Newspaper Archive. 2 September 1949. p. 5. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "End-of-season meeting at Blandford". Motor Cycling. 80 (2074). London: Temple Press Ltd: 383. 8 September 1949.
- ^ a b "Three killed while road racing - questions about safety of Blandford Camp course". Western Gazette. British Newspaper Archive. 9 September 1949. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Editorial". Motor Cycling. 80 (2074). London: Temple Press Ltd: 379. 8 September 1949.
- ^ "Rumblings". Motor Sport. Motor Sport. February 1950. p. 31. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "The Editor's correspondence". Motor Cycling. 80 (2072). London: Temple Press Ltd: 357. 25 August 1949.
- ^ "The Editor's correspondence". Motor Cycling. 80 (2074). London: Temple Press Ltd: 384–385. 8 September 1949.
- ^ "Blandford Camp motorcycle races - defended by road safety organiser". Western Gazette. British Newspaper Archive. 16 September 1949.
Stop this slaughter - resident's appeal to town council
- ^ "Huge crowd at Blandford". Motor Cycling. 82 (2108). London: Temple Press Ltd: 14–16. 4 May 1950.
- ^ a b "So-called sport - Coroner "Ban these road races"". Western Daily Press. British Newspaper Archive. 3 May 1950. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "The town camp races". Dorset Life - The Dorset Magazine. Dorset Life. May 2011. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ "Tragic fate of J.G. Fry in road crash". Western Daily Press. British Newspaper Archive. 31 July 1950. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Coroner says motor track must close". Dundee Courier. British Newspaper Archive. 1 August 1950. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ a b "Blandford race-ban official". Western Daily Press. British Newspaper Archive. 5 August 1950. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Thrill at last meeting". Western Daily Press. British Newspaper Archive. 8 August 1950. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ ""Lift race ban" plea". Western Gazette. British Newspaper Archive. 1 September 1950. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Blandford Camp Races". Western Gazette. British Newspaper Archive. 15 September 1950. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Tracks new use". Western Morning News. British Newspaper Archive. 25 September 1950. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Ban lifted on race track". Western Morning News. British Newspaper Archive. 7 December 1950. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Red Cross man killed at racing". Aberdeen Evening Express. British Newspaper Archive. 15 May 1951. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Motor Cycling - Circuit Souvenir". Motor Cycling. 97 (2508). London: Temple Press Ltd: 705. 10 April 1958.
- ^ "Blandford Out". The Motor Cycle. 105 (3001). London: Ilffe Specialist Publications Ltd: 816. 15 December 1960.
- ^ Government News Network - Wednesday 17 January 2007 13:22 Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ This is Dorset - Monday 22 January 2007
- ^ a b c d e "Garrison Information". 9 August 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d Royal Signals Wire – Spring 2021.
- ^ "Royal Signals". Royal Signals Website. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^ Royal Corps of Signals Regimental Information.
- ^ Royal Corps of Signals Regimental Information.
- ^ Royal Corps of Signals, The Wire–Winter 2021.
- ^ Royal Corps of Signals, The Wire – Winter 2020.
- ^ Royal Corps of Signals Regimental Information.
- ^ "FOI(A) request on British Army Garrisons/Installations in the United Kingdom and abroad which have Garrison Sergeant Majors" (PDF). Parliamentary Publishing Service. 20 March 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2021.