Battalion Colonel seeks closer links with Warminster town

Among the closer links with Warminster that Lieutenant

Colonel Tom Vallings suggests is that Kingdown School

might share their playing fields in Battlesbury Barracks.  “Why not?” he asks, “The tax payer is

currently paying for staff and maintenance of two sets of grounds within a few

hundred yards of each other.  It might also

be possible for our Physical Training Instructors to be shared with the school.” 

Colonel Vallings is the Commanding Officer for the 600 serving military

personnel of 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, (Duke of

Wellington’s), currently stationed in Battlesbury Barracks, Woodcock Road, Warminster.  250 of  these are married with around 180 couples living

in married quarters.  About 60 civilians

also work in the barracks.                

This infantry battalion moved to Warminster from Osnabrück in Germany in 2005.  “Life was a lot cheaper there,” Col

Vallings explains.  “Everybody enjoyed a fuel and

alcohol subsidy there and the cost of living in UK came as quite a shock. At the time we thought we were on a two

year posting but have now learned that the battalion is here

indefinitely."  He adds that much work is currently underway to upgrade facilities and accommodation in the

barracks.   

 

For a regiment which recruits its soldiers from Yorkshire, Warminster is a long way from home.  “We have adapted our working week so that the

single soldier can travel home at  weekends,” says Col Vallings, “They finish

work at midday on Friday and we expect them back by lunchtime on Monday.  To make up the time we work till 6 pm four

days a week.”

So how do the Yorkshire men

and women feel about being in a small market town in Wiltshire? “We have found the

people of Warminster very friendly and are keen to develop our links,”

says Col Vallings. “We have good relationships with the three schools that our

children go to - Kingdown, New Close and The Avenue. In the summer we had an

open day for the schools and I’d like to have one for the town next year.”

 “Some of our soldiers go into Kingdown as mentors and I am

keen for there to be more interaction. 

At the moment both school and barracks have playing fields.  I’d like to think these could be shared.  After all they are both being funded by the

taxpayer. It should be possible for our Physical Training Instructors to work

there as well.”  Sporting links already

exist with the town as the regimental team has a fixture to play Warminster

Rugby Club in November.

 Physical fitness is an important part of any Army routine.  The regiment’s role at Warminster is based on

an official mission statement “to train and deliver forces able to execute

complex operations in order to ensure mission success on current and future

operations.”  

 Col Vallings explains this means they have a wide variety of

tasks to perform.  “One week we may be

training on new equipment, the next we are all out on exercise on the

Plain.  We currently have 137 soldiers in

Afghanistan

and we have to make sure we keep fit so that we can provide re-inforcements

when needed.  Next year we have to find

112 soldiers for a posting to the Falklands.”

  The activities of Battlesbury Barracks may take place behind

the wire but by giving time to talk to Warminsterpeople the battalion’s

commanding officer has shown they are keen to forge links with the town.

 Major Christian Schofield has been appointed as a Liaison

Officer and can be contacted on 01985 223407.

Photos show

1. Regimental sign outside Battlesbury Barracks

2. Soldiers preparing for operations in Afghanistan

3. Commanding Officer 3 Yorks, Lieut Colonel Tom Vallings.

See also photo in Gallery