THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE ― These Findon Chronicles are created by Valerie Martin and are progressively growing to be the only record of life around Findon, West Sussex, England. Everyday stories about real people..... in fact, a potted history of the village. The topics today, are the history of tomorrow.
MILITARY CAMPS IN OUR AREA
Copyright Valerie Martin 2012
There have always been wars and there always will be and men will dabble in preparations for war. The above photograph shows a group of guys of the Yeoman Cavalry.... all wearing wearing helmets.... uniforms with crossbelts..... and carrying carrying swords. The Yeoman Cavalry was in existence in 1816 and became the 16th battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment in 1914. They fought on the Western Front.... also in Palestine and Egypt during the First World War.
Date of photograph: 1895
Location: A field somewhere in nearby Worthing.
 |
The above picture was taken over a hundred years ago at the nearby Arundel Park. (Regiment unknown). Date 1905.
1906 —The Territorial Army camp at Sullington, near Storrington., Sullington, near Storrington. (The Territorial Army summer camp was often held in the area before World War One).
1906 — Seen from a distance the Territorial Army Camp at Sullington was an impressive sight.
The photograph (on the left) dated 22nd July 1909 shows the Territorial Army Summer Camp at Joyes Meadow on Byne Hill (now Manley's Hill) in nearby Storrington.
Just as a matter of interest, on the left are the Territorials leaving Chichester and bound for France and the front in 1914.
The land on the right hand side of Long Furlong heading west out of Findon was at this time used as a training area for troops and had not yet been put to agriculture. Amongst those encamped was a battalion of the Queen's Westminster regiment, and the landscape was somewhat different from today.
|
|
|
1907 — The Queens Westminster after a Church Parade at Findon Church and the battalion are seen on their way back to the military camp on the right hand side of Long Furlong (A280) heading out of Findon. They marched to the tune of "Carmen". |
The Queen's Westminster were later formed into the 10th Queen's Royal Rifle Corps. Then the 7th and 8th King's Royal Rifle Corps; and the 11th and 12th Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps. Later they became the Queen's Royal Rifles and by 1996 were the 5th Green Jackets.
 Two years on and here is Arundel Park again and the date is now 1909. The tented accommodation is that of the East Surrey Regiment. (Perhaps those three guys have passes to let them out for some Arundel night life?) |
|
This photograph dated 22nd July 1909 shows the Territorial Army Summer Camp at Joyes Meadow on Byne Hill (now Manley's Hill) in nearby Storrington. (The Territorials often held their camp in that area before the World War One). |
| 25th January 2006 V......Just looked at your website and seen the wonderful pictures of local army camps.
Wondered if you have seen this one of Findon - North Lodge (Muntham) can be seen. J S John Stepney, Findon Village, West Sussex. |
 |
 |
 |
The above three photographs were taken in August 1911 and the tented accommodation is at Heene Croft Farm near Worthing. I am not quite sure where this was location.... but it was for the Kings Royal Rifle Corps.
|
This is a camp at Offington Park laid out with military precision. The tents look so orderly and smart. Unknown regiment. Unknown date. The whole site has long since been built upon. |
 You may be forgiven for thinking this is a gipsy encampment but it is not. It is a military camp somewhere in our area. Regiment and date unknown. |
|
1916 —Soldiers on Parade in the High Street at nearby Shoreham
before departure to the Western front during the First World War.
|
In January 2012 I received an email from a certain Brian ....."Hi
Valerie....You have some images of the various army camps that were in our
locality on your website and I wondered if you would be interested in what I
have been doing for the Shoreham area.
There are some very simple web pages
here
that you may be interested in. The photos were
kindly provided by shorehambysea.com who were trying to host the information for
me but after their website was hacked they are still trying to put things back
together again so I have simply put the above pages together myself.
Best wishes.....Brian"
I told Brian that I found his website
really interesting....especially the link to the Letters Home from the lads in
the army. I am sure everyone else will too.
Inhabitants these days do not appreciate that there was tented accommodation in
so many places on their downland in the past.
Continue to read about The Outbreak of the First World War Hits Findon
|
Do let me know of anything you hear about Findon - not too controversial. Please note that opinions expressed in the Findon Chronicles are not necessarily reflective of my own thoughts.... but sometimes they are! |
This is Findon Village — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon and beyond.
Back
to Wartime Index
