User:Dwb1067/Chiseldon Camp

Chiseldon Camp was established in August 1914 to train the volunteers and reservist who joined the colours at the outbreak of the Great War. It was situated one mile south of the village of Chiseldon close to the hamlet of Draycot Foliat. The original intention was for the camp to train cavalry but machine guns, but events on the Western Front led to an insatiable demand for infantry and this was how the camp was used.

During the Great War, as well as infantry training, it was the depot of the Army Cyclists Corps, training military cyclists from both the UK and the Empire. There were also two hospitals within the camp, a 500 bed hospital treating casualties from France and later in the war, a 900 bed hospital solely treating venereal disease. Following the Armistice in 1918 it became one of a number of demobilisation centres for British troops returning from Europe, it was also a holding camp for Empire and Commonwealth troops awaiting ships to take them home. In 1927 the Army Vocational Training Centre (AVTC) was established at Chiseldon. The AVTC was established to gave long service soldiers approaching their discharge a civilian trade to enable them to find work Each man spent the last six months of their service learning a trade of their choice from one of the many courses on offer. Most of the trades were related to farming, horticulture or the building trade and as a result of the work the grounds of the camp became very attractive, even being used as a public park by local civilians. This abruptly came to an end with the outbreak of war in September 1939. Between 1939 and 1942 it became the home of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps training riflemen to drive and fight as mechanised infantry. In late 1942 Chiseldon, along with all the rest of southern England, was evacuated by British troops and passed over to US forces arriving in the UK to prepare for the invasion of Europe. In conjunction with Ogbourne St George Camp (1 mile south of Chiseldon Camp) a succession of American units including elements of 28th Infantry Division, 5th Armoured Division both preparing for D Day and later the 17th Airborne Division that took part in the Rhine Crossing. The 130th Station Hospital arrived in August 1943 and was based in Burderop Park north of the village until June 1944 when it moved into Quoset Huts in the camp and its role changed to become a receiving hospital for all the air evacuated casualties from the fighting in Europe. Here their needs were assessed and they were transferred to hospitals suitable to their needs. H.M. The Queen at Chiseldon to present new colours to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers

The end of the war saw the return to more peaceful uses, for several years there were schools for Army Education Corps and the Polish 5th Infantry Division. When these closed the camp became a transit camp for units between overseas postings. This continued until 1956 when it became a Refugee Reception Centre for Hungarians following the Hungarian Uprising; they were followed by 22 Field Regt. Royal Engineers, the last unit to be based at Chiseldon there until it closed in 1962. The camp was demolished in 1972 and the land returned to agriculture.

For further information see: The Story of Chiseldon Camp Part 1 1914 – 1922 & Part 2 1922 - 1962  by David Bailey Both of the above are published by Chiseldon Local History Group