Paul’s talk made sure that all of us who thought we knew a
lot about Beacon Hill and Salisbury Plain rapidly realise that actually we had so
much more to learn. Beacon Hill itself was used by a RAF jamming unit in the
Battle of the Beams in WW2. He then moved on to showing us key military and
aviation sites which were visible in all directions from Beacon Hill and the part
they played in both World War 1 and 2, including Thruxton from where the
Bruneval Raid was launched and Larkhill where the first military airfield was
established. Someone else also managed
to include the navy (not easy some 45 miles from the coast) by citing the story
that Emma Hamilton persuaded a local landowner to plant tree copses which
showed the position of Nelson ships at the Battle of the Nile.
We then moved down to the top of the famous Bulford KIWI and
Paul talked us through why and how this was created and how it has since been
maintained. He also used the viewpoint to identify key landmarks associated
with WW2 events. I don’t know how he did it but he even laid on a parachute
drop (actually 2 free fall jumpers at Joint Service parachute centre at Netheravon)
while talking about how airborne and glider troops trained locally for D Day
and Pegasus bridge.
Our final stand required a return to our cars a short drive
and a walk to the trenches used to train troops in World War 1 which are
situated on the ranges south of the Bulford-Tidworth road. We ended a
fascinating sunny but cold morning’s tour with an excellent lunch at the Boot
Inn at Shipton Bellinger. I am sure that
all those attended would want me to thank Paul Oldfield for preparing such an excellent
tour and adding greatly to our knowledge of the area.
Paul Oldfield and the
group on Beacon Hill
The view from Beacon
Hill
“Now if you would
look about 500 metres to the right of that set of trees!”
Posts
