Wiltshire Home Guard
Living History Group
3RD BATTALION, WARMINSTER
Date Raised | 16 May 1940 |
Commanding Officer | Col. Sir G. Herbert, Bart., T.D. |
Approximate Strength | 2,138 at stand down [2.378 in May 1943] |
Companies | 9 |
Stand Down Parade | 3 December 1944, Warminster |
Satute Taken By | Col. The Duke of Somerset, O.B.E., D.S.O., Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire |
Stand Down Parade Band | The Bugles & Drums of 3rd Wiltshire Battalion Army Cadet Force |
At Stand Down Parade | 1,107 officers and men |
COMPANIES | ||
Battalion H.Q. | C: Horningsham | F: The Donheads |
A: Westbury | D: Mere | G: Wylye Valley |
B: Warminster | E: Chilmark | H: Stourton |
BATTALION H.Q. Commander: Col. Sir G. Herbert, Bart., T.D. (deceased 29 Jan. 1942); 31 Jan. 1942 Lt.-Col. G.M. Atkinson, D.S.O. Second in Command: Maj. S.T. Grigg (24 Feb. 1941 returned to regular army); Maj. G.M. Atkinson , D.S.O. (promoted 31 Jan. 1942); Maj. R.F.A. Hobbs, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. Based at Knoyle House, East Knoyle; from 15 Feb. 1943 Melrose, 5 High Street, Warminster |
A COMPANY (Westbury and immediate district)
Commander: Capt. G.G. Hoare
Formed within A Coy., Westbury on 16 Dec, 1943: 28th (G.W.R.) L.A.A. Troop
Commander: Lt. W.G. Cockell (Capt. from 1 Mar. 1944)
PLATOONS
We do not have any platoon information for A Coy. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
Westbury |
AWARDS ON STAND DOWN
M.B.E.
Maj. G.G. Hoare
B COMPANY (Warminster, Sutton Veny, Bishopstrow) (initially also contained Wylye Valley)
Commander: Lt.-Col. Budgeon (retired summer 1940);
Brig.Gen. E. Harding Newman, C.M.G., D.S.O. (15 Nov. 1941 resigned due to ill health); Maj. L.R. French
PLATOONS
We do not have any platoon information for B Coy. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
Warminster | ||
Sutton Veny | ||
Bishopstrow | ||
Wylye Valley |
C COMPANY (Horningsham, Corsley, Maiden Bradley, The Deverills and district)
Commander: Lt.-Col. A.E. Newland (1 Mar. 1942 retired); Maj. C.R. Algar
PLATOONS
We do not have any platoon information for C Coy. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
Horningsham | ||
Corsley | ||
Maiden Bradley | ||
The Deverills |
D COMPANY (Mere, Zeals, Stourton, Kilmington and districts)
Commander: Lt.-Col. E.S. Godman (retired 21 Jun, 1940);
Maj. H.C. Maydon (1 Aug. 1942 retired due to ill health); Maj. W.G.B. White
PLATOONS
We do not have any platoon information for D Coy. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
Mere | ||
Zeals | ||
Stourton | ||
Kilmington |
E COMPANY (Chilmark, Tisbury, Hindon, East Knoyle and districts)
Commander: Lt.-Col. C.T. Marshall Smith
PLATOONS
We do not have any platoon information for E Coy. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
Chilmark | ||
Tisbury | ||
Hindon | ||
East Knoyle |
F COMPANY (The Donheads, Swallowcliffe, Berwick St. John, Tollard Royal, Anstey, Charlton, Ludwell, Semley and districts)
Commander: Lt.-Col. A.C. Allen (1 Feb. 1941 returned to regular army); Maj. A.S. Collett
PLATOONS
We do not have any platoon information for F Coy. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
The Donheads | ||
Swallowcliffe | ||
Berwick St. John | ||
Tollard Royal | ||
Anstey | ||
Charlton | ||
Ludwell | ||
Semley |
G COMPANY (Wylye Valley, Imber, Chittern) (formed Jun. 1944)
Commander: Maj. G. Channer, D.S.O. (15 Nov. 1941 resigned due to ill health); Maj. A.R. Clare Smith
PLATOONS
We do not have any platoon information for G Coy. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
Wylye Valley | ||
Imber | ||
Chitterne |
H COMPANY (Stourton (D), Kilmington (D), Maiden Bradley (C)) (formed 1 Jun. 1942)
Commander: Maj. G.F. Aldridge
PLATOONS
We do not have any platoon information for HCoy. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
Stourton | ||
Kilmington | ||
Maiden Bradley |
IMAGES
If you recognise anyone in these images, we'd love to hear from you
A Coy., Westbury Pl.
Source: www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk
F Coy., Semley Pl. at Brook Water, Donhead St. Andrew
Source: www.wiltshire-footprints.co.uk please note that you will need to register to view this site
G Coy., Chitterne Pl.
Source: www.chitterne.com
RANKS
From 1941, Home Guard appointments were regularised:
Commanding Officer: Lt.-Col.
Second in Command: Maj.
Company Commanders: Maj.
Company Seconds: Capt.
Platoon Commanders: Lt.
Platoon Officers: 2/Lt.
PARADE
16 May 1943
First Battalion parade, celebrating the third anniversary of the Home Guard.
Salute taken by Brig. Gregson Ellis, O.B.E., Grenadier Guards
Pipe Band of the Fife & Forfar Yeomanry
WEAPONS AT STAND DOWN
1,042x .300 Rifle;
116x E.Y. Rifle;
10x .300 Browning Automatic Rifle;
38x .300 Lewis Machine-Gun;
4x .300 Vickers M. Machine-Gun;
4x .300 Browning M. Machine-Gun;
3x .303 Vickers M. Machine-Gun;
12x .303 Browning M. Machine-Gun Twin;
455x 9mm Sten Gun;
29x Spigot Mortar;
3x Smith Gun;
6x 2-Pounder Anti-Tank Gun
SOURCES:
Data: Company and Platoon data derived from The History of the Wiltshire Home Guard 1940 - 1944, Major E.A. Mackay, T.D., D.L., J.P., published 1946
C Company, Sherston notes: Sherston The City of White Walls, A Village History, Cilla Liddington, published 1996
Westbury Platoon, A Company image: www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk
Semley Platoon, F Company image: http://www.wiltshire-footprints.co.uk - Semley tab and Home Guard link (please note that you will need to register to view this site)
Chittern Platoon, G Company image: www.chitterne.com (History Page, scroll down to 1939-45)