In April 2005, we were invited to visit Larkhill by Major Bill Clarke (rtd). The camp is now the home of the Royal School of Artillery.

In fact there is still a Salvation Army presence at Bulford Camp, though we were unable to visit on this occasion.

Larkhill Camp began on 12 August 1914, and completed in early 1915, was designated as the School of Instruction for Royal Horse and Field Artillery (Larkhill).

Towards the end of the war, it would have had a population of approximately 20,000 soldiers as it contained 34 camps each training a battalion of 600-800 men.

Larkhill received large contingents of soldiers from Australia and Canada for training before being sent to France.

Major Clarke gave us an extensive tour of the camp pointing out buildings and features dating from that period.

Horses and mules were the predominant motive power within the camp, as can be seen in the picture below.

The stables on the left, typical of buildings of the period, were built to house them and are still in use today although their days are now numbered.

These are located near a coal depot on the, now dismantled, light railway from Amesbury.