Cotswolds.Info logo
The Local Time is Tuesday, 19-Mar-2024 12:31:56 CET

The Fovant Badges

Check Out Lastminute
Promotional Hot Deals
Accommodation
SEARCH THIS SITE
YOU ARE HERE:   Main Home PageStrange Things > Fovant Regimental Badges
 

CHOOSE FROM OVER
850 PLACES TO STAY
IN THE COTSWOLDS


COTSWOLD HOTELS


BED AND BREAKFAST

PUBS & INNS

HOLIDAY COTTAGES

FARM ACCOMMODATION

CONFERENCES

WEDDINGS

DOG FRIENDLY

LUXURY / EXCLUSIVE

CAMPING

HOT DEALS

 
 
MAPS OF THE COTSWOLDS
 
 
 
 
Woolsack Races Ancient Clypping Ceremony Cheese Rolling
Englands most famous ghost St Briavels Bread & Cheese Dole Wassailing
Olympick Games & Scuttlebrook Wake Well Dressing River Football
Human Heart and Horse Burial Crop Fertility Rituals Growing Tobacco
The Campden Wonder The Last Court Jester Banbury Cross
Malmesbury Abbey and the Flying Monk The Fovant Regimental Badges Scarecrows
St.James the Great Church Buried in Wool Pig Face Day
Cotswolds Ley Lines | Dragon Lines The Mug House Inn Randwick Cheese
Woman killed by Tiger in Malmesbury Randwick Wap Knights Templars
Marshfield Paper Boys The game of Aunt Sally Mummers Plays
The Flying Monk at Malmesbury Abbey A Burning Passion & a Poet Gunpowder Plot
Three Dreadful Dooms A Tragic Lightning Romance Wife Selling
A small Cotswolds Town with two Sundials Cotswold Morris Dancing Hobbits House for Sheep
Welcoming of the Rising Sun    
Regimental Badges at Forvant in Wiltshire

The Fovant Badges on the Chalk Downs of Wiltshire

Military Memories of World Wars 1 and 2 - The Fovant Badges

Situated on the Downs of Wiltshire at Fovant remarkable chalk carvings are to be seen.

These extraordinary carvings can be observed from the A30 Shaftesbury to Wilton road.

It was during World War I (1914/1918) that there was a need to establish training camps for troops engaged in the battlefields of France.

One of the areas chosen was at the village of Fovant and it was here that many thousands of men received their training.

The camp had hospital facilities and it was here that soldiers returning from the fighting were treated for their wounds, many failed to survive dying from either wounds or disease.

Church of St. George at the village of FovantThe church of St. George in the village of Fovant has rows of war graves of British and Australian soldiers and it was to the memory of those who had died that the Regimental Badges were carved by their comrades. Many of the original carvings failed to survive the elements and at the end of world war I there were 20 identifiable badges.

During World War II, the badges were allowed to overgrow in order that they could not be used as landmarks by enemy aircraft. Following the end of the war the local Home guard formed themselves into an Old Comrades Association and took on the arduous task of restoration.

War Graves at church of St. George, Fovant

In the years 1948-51 the two Wilshire badges were cut and in 1970 The Royal Signals Badge was added.

The Regimental Badges that have been carved into the downs

Royal Wltshire YeomanryThe Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry

Founded in 1797 and was known as The Regiment of Wiltshire Cavalry.

In 1831 the honour of Royal was bestowed. In 1863 a new title was given this was ‘The Prince of Wales’ Own Royal Regiment. It was in 1884 that her Majesty Queen Victoria authorised the table of precedence for several regiments of yeomanry in Great Britain. The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry was allocated the number one position. The Regimental badge includes The Prince of Wales feathers.

6th Battalion, City of London Regiment (City of London Rifles)

Formed in 1860 as the 2nd London Rifle Corps, it's members were mainly employees of the newspaper and printing industries, two complete companies being provided by the Daily Mail.

6th Battalion, The City of London Rifles1881 saw the Corps becoming a volunteer battalion of The Kings Royal Rifle Corps, this was followed in 1900 by amalgamating with The City Imperial Volunteers and serving in South Africa with the title of 6th (City of London) Battalion .

In 1908 it became The London Regiment (Rifles). During World war I the 1st, 2nd and 6th Battalions served in France and Belgium and in 1916 the 3rd and 6th Battalion became the 6th (reserve) Battalion.

It was in the same year that the ‘Rifles’ became part of The Kings Royal Rifle Corps. In 1935 they transferred to the Royal Engineers as 31 Anti-Aircraft Battalion.

Australian Imperial Force Badge

It was in 1885 that Major Joseph Maria Gordon, the first Commander at Fort Glandville designed a trophy to symbolise the skill of military defence.

Australian Imperial Force BadgeIt consisted of a series of bayonets radiating out from a semi-circle from a crown. Commander William Rooke Creswell, the commander of naval forces in South Australia and commanding officer of her majesty’s colonial ship ‘Protector’ then undertook the task of having the trophy made.

It was in 1902 that Major General Sir Edward Hutton used this trophy as a badge and requested that it was worn by Australian soldiers in South Africa. It was with great pride that these were worn by the Troopers of the 1st Battalion Australian Horse, this being formed after federation.

The badge was worn on the familiar ‘slouch’ hat that is recognised the world over and identified with the spirit of Anzac (Australia & New Zealand Army Corps.). The Australian Government of veteran affairs have been generous in making a grant towards the upkeep of the hillside badge.

Royal Corps of SignalsRoyal Corps of Signals

It was in 1870 that the first regular signals unit was formed and was known as ’C’ Telegraph Group of the Royal Engineers. In 1912 it was renamed the Royal Engineer Signal Service. It became the Corps of Signals in June 1920 and six weeks later it became the Royal Corps of Signals. The corps take precedence next after the Royal Engineers .

On the corps 50th anniversary in 1970 the badge was cut on Fovant Down.

The Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh’s)

The Wiltshire Regiment The regiment consists of two former Foot Regiments, the 62nd and 99th which were linked together in 1881 as the Wiltshire Regiment, the 62nd becoming the 1st Battalion and the 99th the 2nd Battalion.

In 1948 the battalions were amalgamated and in 1953 Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh became Colonel in Chief of the regiment .

The 1st Duke of Edinburgh had become Colonel in Chief of the 99th Regiment of Foot.

The badge was cut on Fovant Down in 1950 by members of the Home Guard Association with the permission of the colonel of the regiment .

London Rifle Brigade

First formed in 1859 as the 1st London Rifle Volunteer Corps and quickly grew to be fifteen companies.

In 1908 it became the 5th (City of London ) Battalion, the London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade).

London Rifle Brigade During the First World War the Regiment served in France and Belgium with a member of the Battalion being awarded the Victoria Cross in 1915.

In 1937 another change, the battalion left the London Regiment and designated the London Rifle Brigade, the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consorts Own).

The Battalion was divided as 1st and 2nd LRB in 1939 with the 1st becoming a motorised unit then in 1941 was re designated as the 7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade.

Following service in Egypt, Libya and North Africa the 7th became a lorried infantry Battalion while serving in Italy during 1944.

The 2nd LBR became the 8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade and served in NW Europe throughout 1944/45.

In 1947 the title London Rifle Brigade , The Rifle Brigade was again readopted when the 7th and 8th Battalions were merged.

It was in 1950 that another title was adopted , this being ‘London Rifle Brigade /Rangers this was after being merged with the Rangers.

This Battalion is now represented by part of the 4th (Volunteer ) Battalion ,Royal Green Jackets.

The Devonshire RegimentThe Devonshire Regiment

This Regiment has it origins dating from 1685 when it was raised by Henry Duke of Beaufort in order to quell a rebellion caused by Henry Duke of Monmouth.

In Dorset it was known at that time as The Duke of Beaufort’s Musketeers.

The Post Office Rifles (8th London Regiment)

Formed at the General Post Office in London in 1868 it was designated as the 49th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps, it was made up of seven companies and recruited from minor staff of the Post Office .

Senior staff were already serving as part of the 21st( Civil Service ) Corps. In 1880 The 49th changed to the 24th and in 1881 joined the Rifle Brigade as one of its volunteer battalions.

The Post Office Rifles1882 saw another change, a scheme was approved for the 24th to become the army postal service and for it to conduct the postal duties for those forces on active service overseas.

It was 1882 that the newly formed service joined the Expeditionary Force in Egypt and were awarded the Battle honour ’ Egypt 1882’, this made the Post Office Rifles the only territorial battalion to be so honoured.

The battalion saw service in South Africa during the Boer War. In 1908 the regiment became the 8th (City of London) Battalion, the London Regiment. It was under this name that they were engaged in active service in France and Belgium during the First World War.

In 1916 the 24th became part of the Corps of the Rifle Brigade and following this in 1922 was amalgamated with the 7th London Regiment.

The Unrestored Badges

The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
The 7th Battalion, The City of London Regiment

The Fovant Badges Society

In order to maintain and restore the badges, the society needs funds, professional help has to be paid for.

Despite contributions from - Heritage Lottery Fund, The Daily Mail and general trust, Pilgrim Trust, The Cloth Workers Foundation, Australian Department of Veterans Affairs and Salisbury District Council further help is needed.

It is possible to become a member of The Fovant Badges Society for a suggested contribution of £15

For further information contact:-

Hon Secretary Tel. 01722 714662 or Email: saravig@waitrose .com

Website: www.fovantbadges.com

For - Index of British and Australian soldiers who died in the First World War and buried at Fovant Church.

Watch video of ariel view of the Fovant Down Badges in Wiltshire:-


See - Details of more Wiltshire Visitor Attractions

Ads by Cotswolds.Info Ads by Cotswolds.Info Ads by Cotswolds.Info Ads by Cotswolds.Info
PRIVATE CAR TOURS UPLANDS 5 STAR ACCOMMODATION ABBOTS GRANGE CROWN & TRUMPET INN
The best way to see the hidden cotswolds timeless villages and scenery is by Private Car Hire on narrow country lanes
Luxurious home and gardens offering top class accommodation and food. Close to Stratford upon Avon Stay in the beautifulAbbot's Broadway summer residence - a truly unique Cotswolds experience. Old Cotswolds Inn at Broadway - Jewel of the Cotswolds. Providing good accommodation and restaurant.
MIND THE DUCKS INDIVIDUAL AND MEMORABLE MAGICAL & UNFORGETTABLE FRIENDLY HOSPITALITY
Ads by Cotswolds.Info Ads by Cotswolds.Info Ads by Cotswolds.Info Ads by Cotswolds.Info
HOLLY HOUSE B&B Available CHARACTER COTTAGES NETHERCOTE FIELDS
4 Star GOLD Award and Tripadvisor 2015 Excellence Winner. Located in beautiful Bourton-on-the-Water 5 minutes walk from village centre This box is seen on 600 of our webpages
Specialists in stylish, contemporary and characterful Cotswold Cottages.
Unique, luxury holiday lettings agent.
B&B Offering a comfortable & relaxed stay with far reaching views across the Cotswolds includes use of swimming pool
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Best Advertising FABULOUS COUNTRY HOMES DISTINCTIVENESS
Ads by Cotswolds.Info Ads by Cotswolds.Info Ads by Cotswolds.Info Ads by Cotswolds.Info
Available Available STAY AT HISTORIC WATER MILL Available
This box is seen on 600 of our webpages

This box is seen on 600 of our webpages

  * 4 STAR COTTAGES
  * EACH SLEEPS 4
  * ISLAND ON RIVER STOUR
  * PEACEFUL RETREAT
  * EXPLORE COTSWOLDS

This box is seen on 600 of our webpages
Best Advertising Best Advertising UNIQUE PLACE TO STAY Best Advertising

USE GOOGLE'S POWERFUL ENGINE TO SEARCH THIS WEBSITE

Quick Links

Cotswolds.Info is the World's largest Internet resource for the unique Cotswolds region of England with over 650 webpages of authoriative information so please make use of this facility to help you get the most from your visit to this website.

Regimental Badges cut into the Chalk Downs
of Wiltshire