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