2022 Military on Salisbury Plain

The SPTA Newsletter is now available on line. I hope you find it useful.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/salisbury-plain-training-area-spta-newsletter

Reservist Crews on the Royal Tank Regiments Cyclops Squadron and their Challenger 2 Tanks - 04.05.22

The Black Beret

Much of the uniform and equipment of soldiers during the First World War was quite impractical for use inside a tank. In particular, the vision apertures in a tank were so small that it was necessary to keep the eyes very close to them in order to get even a limited vision. Thus, any headdress with a peak was entirely unsuitable. In May 1918, General Elles and Colonel Fuller were discussing the future of the Tank Corps and its uniform and General Elles tried on a beret of the 70th Chasseurs Alpins, which was billeted nearby. A black beret was selected as it would not show oil stains. No change in uniform was possible during the war, but after a prolonged argument with the War Office, the black beret was approved by King George V on 5 March 1924. The black beret remained the exclusive headdress of the Royal Tank Corps until its practical value was recognised by others and its use extended to the majority of the Royal Armoured Corps in 1940. On the introduction of the blue beret in 1949, the Royal Tank Regiment reclaimed its right to the exclusive use of the black beret, which may not be worn by any other Regiment or Corps with the exception of the Berkshire and Westminster Dragoons Squadron of The Royal Yeomanry.

Black Coveralls

The wearing of black overalls is a custom reserved to the Regiment by Material Regulations for the Army, volume 3, Pamphlet No 4 (Code 13251). It stems from the Royal Review held at Aldershot in the presence of King George V on 13 July 1935 on which occasion black overalls were worn on parade by all ranks of the Royal Tanks Corps. The practice lapsed during the Second World War, but was re-introduced in the 1950s.

Black Accoutrements

Royal Tank Regiment officers and senior warrant officers also wear both a black sam browne and a black sword scabbard, while other ranks wear a black parade belt.

Sleeve Badge

The sleeve badge of a First World War Mk 1 tank preceded the formation of the Royal Tank Corps when it was worn by the Heavy Branch of the Machine Gun Corps Authorised on 7 May 1917, it is still worn today.

The Ash Plant

During the First World War, walking sticks were often carried by officers. Such sticks came to have a new and more important use with the introduction of tanks, which often became 'bogged' on battlefields, particularly in Flanders. Officers of the Tank Corps used these sticks to probe the ground in front of their tanks testing for firmness as they went forward. Often, the commanders led their tanks into action on foot. To commemorate this, officers of the Regiment carry ash plant sticks instead of the short cane customary to other arms.

Battle of C Crossing on Salisbury Plain - 08.04.22

This morning saw a tank confrontation on Charlie crossing causing an amusing situation, had everyone amused, in a harmless piece of fun.

Museum Piece Russian Vehicles seen on Salisbury Plain - 03.03.22

These photographs taken today in very wet conditions on Salisbury Plain.

The exercising of men and equipment continues over the areas of Salisbury Plain and adding authenticity to the scene were museum piece Russian vehicles.

MT-LB Armored Personnel Carrier (Russia)

The Ural-4320 is a general purpose off-road 6×6 vehicle, produced at the Ural Automotive Plant in Miass, Russia for use in the Russian army. Introduced in 1976, it is still in production today.

Royal Marine Commando on Salisbury Plain - 28.02.22

These photographs show the Royal Marine Commandos on one of their marches on the Plain, this unit is from Devon and are seen here at a very brief rest stop. The exercising of personnel and equipment continues over the areas of Salisbury Plain.

The packs they are carrying are very heavy, yet they manage to cover the rough terrain, making it look, dare I say quite easy, I could not even lift one off the ground!

QRH Delta Squadron - Diamond - 16.02.22

These photographs were taken this afternoon.

Diamond became a battlefield casualty when its hydraulics failed. This was not a problem as it was just a union which had broken and it lost its hydraulic oil. However, it was in simulated enemy ground and the Crarrv was not available. Therefore, the crew stripped out the item to replace the union and then cammed up the tank to hide its whereabouts and had two other tanks cover the area until it was repaired an hour later.

A great bunch of personnel, who permitted us to take these pictures of the step by step situation as it would happen, in a real scenario.

If you have any queries or wish to purchase a photograph, please contact me:

+44 7831237759

dcrh@supanet.com

If you wish to send a donation to the Alzheimer's Society, you can now click on the link on the Alzheimer's Society page.

Get social with us.

Tweet this page

Comments

Eleanor firmstone (Thursday, January 23 20 09:20 am GMT)

Hi, do you have any information on the steam roller ru7342. We now own the roller and wondered what year this was taken.
Thanks Eleanor
Sarah Mitchell (Wednesday, September 11 19 10:31 pm BST)

Hi there is a wonderful picture you took of a dear friend of mine on his journey to the gdsf this year. It is in the western daily press dated 22/08/19 Carl Brown roading the Marshall to gdsf. I cannot locate this picture on any website to purchase and was hoping i could purchase through yourself many thanks Sarah
John Baines (Friday, April 05 19 03:45 pm BST)

Have you any photogaphs of James & Crockerills yard in Durrington? Their MD Peter Barber owned the Burrell Scenic Road loco 'Prince of Wales@ and other engines including Burrell roller 'Daffodil'
Zoe Read (Saturday, March 02 19 07:08 pm GMT)

I see you already have dates for this one but I wondered if you would consider adding Purbeck Rally to your event list?
9th -11th August
worgret road, wareham, dorset, BH20 6AB
Raising funds for Forest Holme Hospice Charity & other local causes.
Andrew Gray (Wednesday, February 20 19 07:55 pm GMT)

Is that Mr Dimmer and the train made at Durrington Sec Modern, I started there 1963 and left 1968. Mr Dimmer (Regg) was such a great teacher. Wonderful set of images to treasure. p.s we met today at the Boscombe Down Tornado fly past.
Jamie (Saturday, September 01 18 01:39 am BST)

Hi!

I am Jamie. One of the coalomen from last weeks steam fair. I know you mentioned taking lots of photos of us and it would be lovely to see them. Please get back to me when you can with prices ect i will most certainly purchase a few! In the meantime i will admire wgat you have on your page here already, hope you enjoyed the show! Speak soon

Regards
Jamie
Don Russell (Friday, August 17 18 08:51 am BST)

Hullo, found your site when looking for GDSF info. I was wondering if you had any information regarding engines travelling to the GDSF. I read engines will be raising money for cancer on there journey but I cannot find any info regarding route and timings.Thanks
Brian Moore (Saturday, August 04 18 12:40 pm BST)

Thanks David: Brian
Peter Freeman (Thursday, May 10 18 09:56 pm BST)

Fantastic site, easy to read and great pics! Keep up the good work.

Print Sitemap
This website and its content is copyright of DCRH - © DCRH 2022. All rights reserved. Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following: • you may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non- commercial use only • you may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material. You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

Web View Mobile View

Logout Edit page