THE last 12 months have seen some of the biggest changes to the role and structure of the Army which will have a huge effect on the military community around Salisbury.

This was the first year that there were no operational fatalities to soldiers based on the Plain and, with the return of gunners from Larkhill based 32 Regiment, Royal Artillery, there were no local units on operations for the first time in over a decade.

The Army 2020 plans envisage major changes to the military population in our area with a huge expansion of barracks and married accommodation planned.

The first Planning Applications have been submitted and we can expect to see building work commence in 2015.

The first unit moves have begun, with 47 Regiment RA moving up from Thorney Island and co-locating with 32 Regiment in Larkhill. 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment have left Bulford to move to Woolwich and have been replaced by 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment who are settling in and converting to the Armoured Infantry role.

The Invictus Games, the brainchild of Prince Harry, saw large numbers of wounded and injured soldiers training fiercely at Tedworth House and competing for a place in the Games.

The GB Team was led by Captain Dave Henson from Perham Down-based 26 Engineers Regiment and, to cap the year, won a special award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.

Highlights of the year included: January: Sappers from Perham Down-based 30 Armoured Engineer Squadron deployed to Kenya to construct a new camp for the British Army Training team. Soldiers from 2 Royal Welsh in Chester moved to Tidworth in preparation for the amalgamation of the two battalions.

February: Troops and an operations room from 43 Brigade were deployed to assist in the floods in Somerset and on the Thames. The Royal Artillery Band left its home in Woolwich and moved to Tidworth. 32 Regiment RA began training and operating its Watchkeeper Unmanned Aerial System from Boscombe Down.

March: 12 Mechanised Brigade became 12 Armoured Infantry Brigade. Many local soldiers received awards in the Operational Honours Awards, led by a CBE for Brigadier Rupert Jones for his work as Commander Task Force Helmand, April: An historic parade at Tidworth saw the merger of 1 and 2 Royal Welsh to become the only regular Welsh infantry battalion.

May: The annual Ten Tors competition on Dartmoor run by 43 Bde was a resounding success. During the month the last Afghanistan pre-deployment exercise took place on the Plain.

June: A public meeting saw the Army reveal its plans to house the additional troops and families when they return from Germany. Soldiers and veterans from 3rd Division and 43 (Wessex) Brigade took part in the D-Day 70th Anniversary celebrations in Normandy.

July: The King’s Royal Hussars and 1 R WELSH deployed to Canada for a 36-day training exercise.

August: Lance Corporal Ashley Williams from 1 R WELSH won a Bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games. 1 and 2 Royal Tank Regiment merged at a parade at Carter Barracks.

September: Huge success for local disabled athletes at the Invictus Games. A commemorative stone was dedicated at Lockerley to commemorate the award of the Victoria Cross to Fred Luke in the First World War October: 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment arrived and held a formation parade at Bulford. The ‘Digging Warhorse’ project was successfully concluded with a display at Larkhill School .

November: The Royal Wessex Yeomanry showed off their new-found skills at Lulworth providing full crews for Challenger 2 tanks. The King’s Royal Hussars and 1 R WELSH deployed to Poland for exercises to show strength for NATO.

December: The Wessex Wyvern flag was lowered for the last time as 43 (Wessex) Brigade was closed and its duties handed over to 1st Artillery Brigade.