Wiltshire Home Guard
Living History Group
8TH BATTALION, SARUM CITY
Date Raised | 1 October 1940 (from 7th Bn., Sarum City Coy.) |
Commanding Officer | Lt.-Col. G.H.B. Freeth, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. (subsequently appointed first Group Commander (South Wiltshire); May 1941 Lt.-Col. Sir H. de C. Martelli (age retired); Jul. 1942 Lt.-Col. W. Elliott |
Approximate Strength | 1,170 in Jan. 1943; standdown [ ] |
Companies | 9 |
Stand Down Parade | [ ] |
Are you able to assist with standdown strength and stand down parade information?
COMPANIES | ||
H.Q. | C: [ ] | F: [ ] |
A: [ ] | D: Wiltshire & Dorset Bus Coy. | H: [ ] |
B: [ ] | E: [ ] | 26 Pl.: R.A.F. Old Sarum |
H.Q. COMPANY (re-organised Aug. 1943)
Commander: Maj. F.W. Vanderkiste, D.S.O.; Strength: [ ]
Headquarters: Bridge Street; 1 Feb. 1941, 27 Fisherton Street; Sep. 1943, Wiltshire Territorial Army Association, Drill Hall, Salisbury
PLATOONS / SECTIONS: | ||
25 Pl. | [ ] | Lt. J.R. Morgan, M.M. |
Signals | [ ] | Lt. W.E.C. Broadway |
Intelligence | [ ] | Lt. H. Bailey, M.C. |
Medical | [ ] | Maj. F.L. Buttar |
Accounts | [ ] | Lt. F.J. Moore |
Women Auxiliaries | 34 (Jul. 1943) | Mrs. S. Collett |
OFFICERS: | |
Lt.-Col. G.H.B. Freeth, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. | Lt. F.J. Moore |
Lt.-Col. Sir H. de C. Martelli, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O. | Lt. R. Collins |
Maj. F.W. Vanderkiste, D.S.O. | Lt. W.A. Page |
Maj. W. Elliott, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O. | Lt. A.S.G. Hill |
Maj. F.L. Buttar | Lt. J.R. Morgan, M.M. |
Capt. C.H. Robinson, M.B.E. | Lt. H.D.M. Lywood |
Capt. W. Radford | Lt. S. J. Smith |
Capt. R.J.C. Maunsell, O.B.E. | Lt. J.H.R. Bennett |
[Capt.] D.H. Keelan, V.D. | Lt. H. Bailey, M.C. |
[Capt.] W.H.R. Blacking | Lt. W.E.C. Broadway |
[Capt.] A.M. O'Brien | Lt. C.T. Cusworth |
[Capt.] H.J. Gale, D.S.O. |
OTHER STAFF: | |
Mrs S. Collett | Mrs. D.M. Finn (Typist) |
Miss. K. Parken (Typist) |
A COMPANY
Commander: Maj. G.S. Fawcett; Maj. D. McWilliam, M.C.
Strength: [ ]
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
We don't have any information for A Coy. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
B COMPANY
Commander: Maj. J.A. Radford; 1 Dec. 1942 Maj. S. Collett; Maj. S. Leaman
Strength: [ ]
1 Dec. 1942 B Coy. was split into B Coy. led by Maj. S. Collett and E Coy. led by Maj. G. J. Venman
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
We don't have any information for B Coy. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
C COMPANY
Commander: Maj. C.B. Gibbs; Strength: [ ]
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
We don't have any information for C Coy. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
D COMPANY (formed 3 Jun. 1942 from Wiltshire & Dorset Bus Company factory pl.)
Commander: Maj. G.R.E. Wallis; Strength: [ ]
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
We don't have any information for D Coy. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
PLATOONS / SECTIONS: | ||
Wilts & Dorset Bus Coy. | [ ] | [ ] |
E COMPANY (formed 1 Dec. 1942 from B Coy.)
Commander: Maj. G.J. Venman; Strength: [ ]
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
We don't have any information for E Coy. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
F COMPANY (formed Nov. 1942)
Commander: Maj. L.A. Sly; Strength: [ ]
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
We don't have any information for F Coy. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
H COMPANY (formed Aug. 1943 from H.Q. Coy. reorganisation)
Commander: Maj. G.M. Warry; Strength: [ ]
PLATOONS - Strength & Commanders
We don't have any information for H Coy. If you have information relating to platoons, strength, commanders and members please contact us
26 PLATOON: R.A.F. Old Sarum
Commander: Lt. C.A. Payne; Strength: [ ]
SECTIONS - Strength & Commanders
We don't have any information for 26 Pl. If you have information relating to sections, strength, commanders and members please contact us
IMAGES
Do you have any images of 8th Bn., Companies or Platoons that you'd be happy to share with us?
ACTIVITIES included
Manning observations posts
1940 manning of check-points and checking ID cards
Factory guards
Fireguard duties at Salisbury Cathedral and Salisbury Infirmary
1944 V.P. guard duties and patrols
WEAPONS
.303 rifles - exchanged for
.300 rifles (x610).
Are you able to assist with weapon information?
JOINED UP
Over 350 members of the Battalion joined up
AWARDS
As at Sep. 1944:
1x M.B.E.
8x Certificates of Good Service
Do you know the names of any of the receipients of these awards?
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