MY ARTICLE a few weeks ago regarding the local Home Guard generated quite a response and warrants further discussion. On May 23rd 1940, the 7th (Salisbury) Battalion Wilts Local Defence Volunteers was formed under the direction of Major General Walter Hill whose official title at that time was Group Organiser. The battalion covered the whole Amesbury Police District, including Salisbury City, and consisted of five companies – Amesbury Company, Wilton Company, Downton Company, Alderbury Company and the City of New Sarum Company.

Plans were also made for a Local Defence Mobile Reserve to be raised in Salisbury and this reserve eventually became known as the Mobile Column. The Mobile Column was then organised as a cavalry unit with two squadrons consisting of four troops – ‘A’ squadrons, based on the Anna Valley and Wessex Garages, both of whom provided cars, ‘B’ squadron being drawn in the same way from Goddards Garage and the Salisbury Steam Laundry. The troops were known as Anna Valley, Wessex, Goddards and Laundry Troops. The column, therefore, had the distinction of containing the only laundry troop that has ever existed in the British Army.

My thanks go to Mr. Roy Bray who kindly provided the featured photograph of the Avon Valley Platoon based in the Woodford Valley. It was this squad who in 1943, gave a first class battle drill which was ordered to be repeated in front of representatives from all Home Guard battalions in Wiltshire.

I was also reminded by Mr. John Lindley that Lt. W. Foster, M.C., D.C.M., of Alderbury Company lost his life whilst supervising the throwing of No 36 grenades by members of an A.A. battery. Foster deliberately laid himself on a grenade which had hit the top of a trench and rolled back. This action saved the lives of many men and Lt. Foster’s great gallantry was officially recognised by the posthumous award of the George Cross.