Wiltshire Home Guard
Living History Group
7TH BATTALION, SALISBURY
Date Raised | 16 May 1940 |
Commanding Officer | Maj.-Gen. W.P.H. Hill, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.; Jan. 1941 Lt.-Col. A.E. Phillips, D.S.O. (age retired); 1 Nov. 1943 Maj.-Gen. G. Brooke, C.B., D.S.O., M.C. |
Approximate Strength | 2,433 |
Companies | 10 (plus 2142 M.T. Coy., formed Feb. 1942 - see separate page) |
Area | 500 square miles |
Stand Down Parade | 3 December 1944 with 8th Bn., City of Salisbury; c.1,200 members attended |
Salute Taken By | Gen. H.C. Loyd, G.O.C.-in-C. Southern Command |
COMPANIES | ||
Battalion H.Q. | Alderbury | Bourne Valley |
Amesbury | (Sarum City) | Ebble Valley |
A: Wilton | Shrewton | Cholderton |
Downton | F: Mobile Columm |
Are you able to assist with Coy. designations?
Battalion H.Q.
Commander: Maj.-Gen. W.P.H. Hill, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.; Jan. 1941 Lt.-Col. A.E. Phillips, D.S.O. (age retired); 1 Nov. 1943 Maj.-Gen. G. Brooke, C.B., D.S.O., M.C.
Strength [ ]
SECTIONS - Strength & Commander/s
We have limited information of the Bn. H.Q. Sections. If you are able to assist please contact us
Ammunition | Lt. H.C. Travers, C.B.E., D.S.O. | |
Medical | Maj. J.C. Mathews, M.C. | |
Intelligence (1 Oct. 1943) | Lt. F.F. McNeil | |
Signals (early 1944) | Lt. M.W. Emly, O.B.E., T.D.; Jul. 1943 Lt. W.W. King | |
Press Office (early 1944) | Lt. G.W. Bourne | |
Artillery Training (early 1944) | Lt. J.S. Woolley, M.C. |
OFFICERS
Maj.-Gen. W.P.H. Hill, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. | Lt. F.F. McNeil |
Lt.-Col. A.E. Phillips, D.S.O. | Lt. M.W. Emly, O.B.E., T.D. |
Maj.-Gen. G. Brooke, C.B., D.S.O., M.C. | Lt. W.W. King |
Lt. H.C. Travers, C.B.E., D.S.O. | Lt. G.W. Bourne |
Maj. J.C. Mathews, M.C. | Lt. J.S. Woolley, M.C. |
AMESBURY COMPANY
(Oct. 1940 - Coy. at over 700; split into Amesbury Coy. (comprising Amesbury and the villages in Avon & Bourne Valleys) & Shrewton Coy.))
Commander: Lt.-Col. R. Stephens; Maj. Faris, O.B.E.
Strength [ ]
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
We have limited platoon information for Amesbury Coy., including it's alphabetical designation. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
Amesbury | 110 | |
Avon Valley | ||
Cholderton* |
*Mar. 1943 transferred to form Cholderton Coy.
OFFICERS
Lt.-Col. R. Stephens |
Maj. Faris, O.B.E. |
Maj. L. Edmunds |
MEMBERS
Cpl. H.J. Burrows |
A COMPANY (WILTON)
Commander: Brig. T.O. Seagram, C.M.G., D.S.O.; Lord Pembroke
Strength [ ]
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
We have limited platoon information for Wilton Coy., including if 'A' if the correct designation. We're also not sure if Porton and Winterbourne Gunner platoons were part of Wilton Coy. If you are able to assist, including information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
Wilton | |
Porton* | |
Winterbourne Gunner* | |
Nadder Valley# |
*Oct. 1942 transferred to become Bourne Valley Coy.
#Oct. 1942 transferred to become Nadder Valley Coy.
OFFICERS
Brig. T.O. Seagram, C.M.G., D.S.O. |
Lord Pembroke |
Maj. Garnett |
Maj. Woolley |
AWARDS
M.B.E.
Maj. J.C. Wyatt
DOWNTON COMPANY
Commander: Earl of Essex (Reginald George de Vere Capell, 9th Earl of Essex); Maj. Parsons;
Maj. E.T.M. Moody
Strength [ ]
Oct. 1941 split into Downton Defences (Lt.-Col. Tarleton, D.S.O.) & Coombe Bissett Defences (Earl of Essex)
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
We have limited platoon information for Downton Coy., including it's alphabetical designation. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
Downton | |
Ebble Valley* |
*Mar. 1943 transferred out to form Ebble Valley Coy.
OFFICERS
Earl of Essex |
Maj. Parsons |
Maj. E.T.M. Moody |
Lt.-Col. Tarleton, D.S.O. |
ALDERBURY COMPANY
Commander: Maj. W.M.J. Martin; Jul. 1940 Maj.-Gen. Sir H. Everett, C.B., K.C.M.G.;
Lt.-Col. D.D. Haskard, M.C.
Strength [ ]
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
We do not have any platoon information for Alderbury Coy., including it's alphabetical designation. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
Alderbury |
OFFICERS
Maj. W.M.J. Martin |
Maj.-Gen. Sir H. Everett, C.B., K.C.M.G. |
Lt. W. Foster, M.C., D.C.M. |
MEMBERS
Sgt. J. Williamson |
AWARDS
George Cross
Lt. W. Foster, M.C., D.C.M.
"On 13th September 1942 Lt. W. Foster, M.C., D.C.M., of Alderbury Company, lost his life whilst supervising the throwing of No. 36 grenades by members of an A.A. battery. He deliberately laid himself on a grenade which had rolled back into the throwing position at the feet of the thrower. Lt. Foster's great gallantry was officially recognised and on 27th November it was announced by the B.B.C. that he had received the posthumous award of the George Cross."
SARUM CITY COMPANY (subsequently No. 5 Coy.) - Oct. 1940, transferred out to form 8th Bn.
Commander: Maj.-Gen. H.G.B. Freeth, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
Strength: 200
Headquarters: 56 The Close; 89 Crane Street
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
Information on Sarum City Company plantoons prior to its transfer to 8th Bn. was obtained from details provided at the beginning of the 8th Bn. chapter.
No. 14 pl. | Maj.-Gen. Sir H. de C. Martelli, K.B.E., D.S.O. | |
No. 15 pl. | Brig. H.J.G. Gale, D.S.O. | |
No. 16 pl. | Lt.-Col. F.W. Vanderkiste, D.S.O. | |
Factory defence units Jun. 1940: | ||
Wilts. & Dorset Bus Coy. | [ ] Mr. H.J. Crabble | |
Salisbury Electric Light Coy. | [ ] Mr. W.J. Deacon | |
Salisbury Gas Coy. | [ ] Mr. Downer | |
Nestles Milk Factory | [ ] Mr. A.W. Crick | |
R.A.F. L.D.V. Pl. Old Sarum | [ ] Mr. H.C. Egerton |
OFFICERS
Maj.-Gen. H.G.B. Freeth, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. | [ ] Mr. W.J. Deacon |
Maj.-Gen. Sir. H. de C. Martelli, K.B.E., D.S.O. | [ ] Mr. Downer |
Brig. H.J.G. Gale, D.S.O. | [ ] Mr. A.W. Crick |
Lt.-Col. F.W. Vanderkiste, D.S.O. | [ ] Mr. H.C. Egerton |
[ ] Mr. H.J. Crabble |
SHREWTON COMPANY (formed Oct. 1940 from Amesbury Coy.)
Commander: Brig. O.S. Cameron, D.S.O.; Maj. P.W.F. Elderkin
Strength [ ]
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
We have limited platoon information for Shrewton Coy., including it's alphabetical designation. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
Shrewton | |
Winterbourne Stoke | |
Durrington |
OFFICERS
Brig. O.S. Cameron, D.S.O. |
Maj. P.W.F. Elderkin |
F COMPANY (MOBILE COLUMN) (Originally called Sarum City Mobile Reserve)
Commander: Maj.-Gen. G. Brooke, C.B., D.S.O., M.C.; 1 Nov. 1943 Maj. J.C. Wyatt
Strength over 350
SQUADRONS & TROOPS - Strength & Commanders
We know that F Coy. had the following sections, squadrons and troops, but do not have any other platoon information. If you have information relating to strength, commanders and members please contact us
Signals | |
Intelligence | |
H.Q. Squadron | |
Anti-Tank Troop | |
3x Armoured Car Recce. Troops | |
A Squadron: | |
Anna Valley Troop | |
Wessex Troop | |
ANO Troop | |
B Squadron: | |
Goddards Troop | |
Laundry Troop | |
Artillery Troop(?) |
(?) Was this troop in A or B Squadron?
Ambulance Unit, Wiltshire 5, B.R.C.S.
Commander: Commandant C.H. Harris, M.B.E.
OFFICERS
Maj.-Gen. G. Brooke, C.B., D.S.O., M.C. |
Maj. J.C. Wyatt |
Commandant C.H. Harris, M.B.E. |
[ ] Dr. R. Foster Moore, O.B.E. (Column Medical Officer) |
BOURNE VALLEY COMPANY (formed Oct. 1942 from A Coy.)
Mar. 1943, became composed of C.D.E.S. personnel only
Commander: Maj. Garnett
Strength [ ]
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
We have limited platoon information for Bourne Valley Coy., including it's alphabetical designation. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
Porton | |
Winterbourne Gunner* |
*Mar. 1943 transferred to new Cholderton Coy.
OFFICERS
Maj. Garnett |
MEMBERS
Sgt. A. Howden |
Cpl. M. Bowers |
NADDER VALLEY COMPANY (formed Oct. 1942 from A Coy.)
Commander: Maj. Woolley
Strength [ ]
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
We do not have any platoon information for Nadder Valley Coy., including it's alphabetical designation. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
Nadder Valley |
OFFICERS
Maj. Woolley |
CHOLDERTON COMPANY (formed Oct. 1943 from Amesbury Coy.)
Commander: Maj. L. Edmunds
Strength [ ]
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
We have limited platoon information for Cholderton Coy., including it's alphabetical designation. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
Cholderton | |
Winterbourne Gunner |
OFFICERS
Maj. L. Edmunds |
IMAGES
We do not yet have any images of 7th Bn. Coy.s or Pl.s. If you have any you'd like to share with us, please contact us
WHICH COMPANY?
We have some platton names but don't know which Coy.s they belonged to. If you can assist, please contact us
Bodenham
Odstock
Whiteparish
Larkhill
ACTIVITIES
Watch and report enemy airborne landings;
Delay the enemy at specified road-blocks;
O.P.s at commanding points;
Mobile fighting patrols
TRAINING
Methods of defence and parade training at road-blocks
WEAPONS
Pikes (at start before weapons issued);
Bludgeons (at start before weapons issued);
Molotov bombs;
Shotguns;
Rifles;
74 grenades (stickies);
36 grenades (Mill grenades);
Lewis machine-guns;
Northover Projectors;
Spigot mortars (Blacker Bombards);
3x 6-pounder guns (F Coy.);
Boys anti-tank rifles;
2-pounder guns (F Coy.)
MOBILE COMPANY
Mar. 1943 was issued with 10 armoured recce. cars
PARADES
16 May 1943
Third Anniversary Parade with 8th Bn. in Salisbury; Gen. H.C. Loyd took the salute; about 1,400 men from 7th Bn.
OPERATIONAL GUARDS
In the spring and early summer of 1944, members from 7th Bn. provided operational guard duties at Hampshire and Dorset District Headquarters (F Coy.), Southern Sector Headquarters (Larkhill Pl.), and railway guards (Downton, Alderbury, Bourne Valley and Cholderton Coy.s).
HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES
676 members of 7th Bn. joined His Majesty's Forces.
WOMEN HOME GUARD AUXILIARIES
135 women enrolled with roles in the orderly rooms, at feeding stations and other roles.
AWARDS
B.E.M. (Military)
Sgt. M.F. Wallis
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