List
"Wiltshire and the Great War"
Terry Crawford
DPF Publishing, Reading
35 Photographs
Published 1999
ISBN 0 9535100 0 X
£12.95
The book describes the turbulent and fascinating period of the Great War as it affected Wiltshire. It assesses pre-war training, showing how inappropriate it was to future battles, outlines the pioneering of military aviation in the county, and describes the role of railways in moving tens of thousands of troops. There are accounts of shirkers, spies, escaped prisoners of war, prostitutes, the ‘landship’ which clanked across the county, and the wireless station which pinpointed Zeppelins. Also described are advances in military technology, the camp building scandals that led to an enquiry by a Royal Commission, press censorship, and the blighting of the Stonehenge landscape. Few books describe the Home Front or the training of soldiers between 1914 and 1918, but Wiltshire and the Great War treats the county as a microcosm for the rest of Britain. It is peppered with fascinating facts and anecdotes and provides a wealth of detail for those interested in local, military and social history.
County Library Allocation – Amesbury, Bradford-on-Avon, Calne, Chippenham, Corsham, Devizes, Ludgershall, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Melksham, Salisbury, Tidworth, Trowbridge, Warminster, Wootton Bassett.
"Gunners at Larkhill"
N.D.G. James
Gresham Books, Henley-on-Thames
51 Photographs
Published 1983
ISBN 0 946085 07 8
The book relates the history of the Royal School of Artillery from the end of the 19th Century when the War Office bought the land for the ranges, until the beginning of 1983. It describes Larkhill when it was only a practice camp; covers the period of both World Wars; sketches the days before mechanisation when the horse reigned supreme and recounts the changes that have taken place in equipment, gunnery, and in the School itself. It also includes numerous first hand accounts by those who have served at the School and so recalls, over the years, the story of gunners at Larkhill.
County Library Allocation – Devizes Reference, Salisbury, Trowbridge Reference
"Plain Soldiering"
N.D.G. James
Hobnob Press, Salisbury
73 Photographs
Published 1987
ISBN 0 946418 03 9
From the initial purchase of thousands of acres of chalk farmland and sheep-pasture, this book is concerned with the prodigious energy expended in building up the military establishment on the Plain – the building and rebuilding of roads, railways, barracks, gunnery ranges, accommodation, hospitals and leisure facilities. The book is equally concerned with the soldiers – transients all and upward of a million of them – for whom the Plain was a staging post before departing for whatever destiny had in store. Every conceivable source has been consulted in researching this book. The minutes of Government committees, barrack-books, newspapers, the memoirs of soldiers and residents have all been carefully sifted for relevant information. The role, which the area has played in aeronautical development, is recounted at some length. This book without a doubt is the bible of military history on Salisbury Plain.
County Library Allocation – Amesbury, Durrington, Devizes, Ludgershall, Marlborough, Netheravon, Salisbury, Tidworth, Tisbury, Trowbridge, Warmisnster, Wilton.
"CFS Birthplace of Air Power"
John W.R. Taylor
Putnam, London
17 Photographs
Published 1958
Pre -ISBN
This is the complete story of the Central Flying School from its formation at Upavon in 1912. It tells of the development of the infrastructure from temporary wooden buildings to the permanent ones which still stand in 2001. The names of staff and students who passed through the Station are a roll-call of the RAF elite, many of whom later were awarded the Victory Cross for their bravery in action. Students at Upavon worked hard and played hard and some of their escapades make fascinating reading. The book is written by an author who himself was at Upavon and who knew many of those who also served there. This is a book which will transport you back to the halcyon days of flying.
County Library Allocation – Amesbury, Devizes, Ludgershall, Salisbury, Trowbridge, County Reference.
"Boscombe Down 1939-45 A Most Secret Place"
Brian Johnson & Terry Heffernan
Jane’s Publishing
64 Photographs
Published 1982
ISBN 0 7106 0203 0
Boscombe Down in Wiltshire is probably one of the most well known military airfields in the world by virtue its role as an experimental establishment and home of the Empire Test Pilots School. The book reveals some of the fascinating work done by the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment during the five years of World War 2. Investigations such as were carried out into the mysterious losses of the early RAF Halifax bombers. In the early years of the war, American aircraft were arriving in the U.K. as part of the Lend/Lease Scheme. Each type was taken to Boscombe Down for Handling Trials and some of these reports and amusing tales are examined in the book.
County Library Allocation – Amesbury, Chippenham, Devizes, Durrington, Marlborough, Netheravon, Salisbury, Trowbridge Reference.
"From Many Angles"
Sir Frederick Sykes
Harrap & Co Ltd
15 Photographs
Published 1942
pre – ISBN
This autobiography tells of a military man, ambassador, Member of Parliament and friend of royalty. Much of his life was of course conducted outside of Wiltshire where he lived at Conock Manor near Devizes. It was the influence of Sir Frederick as a senior officer of the RFC in its infancy here in Wiltshire, which helped to shape the early beginnings. He was one of the two officers who selected Upavon as the sight for the Central Flying School formed in 1912. In June 1914 he concentrated the whole of the Military Wing of the RFC at Netheravon for training under his command. Details of the training covering all aspects of aerial warfare are included in the book. The timing and benefit of the training became apparent when war was declared in August. Sir Frederick who later became Chief of the Air Staff explains the reasons for friction between himself and Hugh Trenchard who was also Chief of the Air Staff and is recognised as ‘Father of the RAF’.
County Library Allocation - Inter-Lending only
"Nicholson VC"
Peter D. Mason
Geerings of Ashford Ltd
99 Photographs
Published 1991
ISBN 0 9513042 9 1
This is the biography of Flight Lieutenant James Brindley Nicholson VC; the only pilot of Fighter Command in World War 2 to be awarded the Victoria Cross. The action for which it was awarded took place on 16th August 1940 when he was serving with No.249 Squadron based at Boscombe Down. Drawing from the store of memories of the pilot’s widow Muriel Nicholson, his abundant friends, former comrades-in-arms, and official records, the author has captured the true and unembellished character of James Nicholson. The book presents a compelling and penetrating portrait of the man – unconventional – perhaps something of a maverick – yet popular, amusing, gregarious, brilliant pilot and leader but essentially ‘one of the boys’ to all ranks. The engagement, which earned him the highest honour when flying his Hurricane over Southampton in August 1940, is explained in detail.
County Library Allocation – Warminster, Inter-Lending
"Pioneer Pilot"
F.D. Tredrey
Peter Davis Ltd, London
18 Photographs
Published 1976
ISBN 432 16515 0
This biography is of a man of whom Lord Hugh Trenchard once wrote "The great Smith Barry…he was the man who taught the Air Forces of the world how to fly". Robert Smith Barry took flying lessons in 1911 at Larkhill, the first aerodrome in Wiltshire. He was a pupil on the first course held at the Central Flying School at Upavon in 1912. Enigmatic, eccentric, brilliant, he went on to become one of the small band of pioneers who became accomplished pilots before the First World War. During that time he flew anti-Zeppelin patrols by night, was Albert Ball’s commanding officer in No.60 Squadron on the Western Front and fought successfully against the most relentless German aces. He was very much aware of the appalling waste of life among young pilots who were thrown into combat with inadequate training. With the support of Trenchard he returned to Britain where he created a systematised and sophisticated form of flying training – the Gosport School – which revolutionised the instruction of RFC pilots, and led to the adoption of new standards in all of the world’s Air Forces. At the outbreak of WW2 he was living at Conock Manor near Devizes and he reported to Upavon, rejoined the RAF to play his part. Every aviation enthusiast should read this well written book about a well-respected airman.
County Library Allocation – None
"RAF Lyneham"
Wilf Pereira
Haynes Publishing, Sparkford
217 Photographs
Published 1990
ISBN 0 85429 76 7 7
£15.95
The book includes the history of the airfield from its opening on 18th May 1940 until the end of the 1980’s. It describes the day to day working which is 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. It is of course the home of the RAF’s Hercules fleet and is famous throughout the world for its humanitarian role and transportation of Army personnel and equipment to troubled corners of the globe. Those of us who live in the vicinity of Lyneham are familiar with the flights of ‘Fat Alberts’ in the skies over Wiltshire. It is hard to understand the threat of closure the Station is now under in 2001, when one considers the huge amount it contributes to Wiltshire, the UK and most of the world.
County Library Allocation – Calne, Corsham, Devizes Reference, Malmesbury, Market Lavington, Marlborough, Melksham, Purton, Trowbridge, Trowbridge Reference, Westbury, Bradford-on-Avon, Chippenham Mobile, Devizes Mobile.
"Wings over Wiltshire"
Rod Priddle
ALD Design & Print
Published in 2003
ISBN 1-901-587-34-7
£44.95
This impressive work has over 400 A4 size pages covering airfields and landing grounds past and present in Wiltshire. The Sub-title - An Aeronautical History of Wiltshire – sums up the remarkably detailed contents. Sixty sites are listed with a history of each, containing details of Units, personnel, aircraft and incidents. There are maps, airfield layout diagrams, and black and white photographs, many previously unpublished, to illustrate each chapter. Some sites are covered in a single page however RAF Lyneham required 21 pages to cover the whole period from building work starting in 1937 through to the present day. Aviation related memorials and memorabilia are also detailed: Calne Town Hall is listed as having a block and gavel presented by RAF Compton Bassett in 1960, together with plaques from RAF Lyneham, the Royal Air Forces Association and the RAF Boy Entrants Association.
Rod Priddle spent 6 years putting this book together and has produced a very thorough and detailed account of Wiltshire’s links with aviation. The earliest is probably Elmer, a monk who jumped from the roof of Malmesbury Abbey in about 1000 AD with wings attached to his hands and feet – surprisingly he covered some 200 feet before crashing to the ground, surviving but breaking his legs.
There is a mine of information for aviation enthusiasts and local history buffs.
County Library Allocations -
Calne, Chippenham, Salisbury and Trowbridge Reference. |
