The Blandford Branch is situated in the heart of Blandford Forum, at Legion House.
After the First World War, thousands of young men returned from the battlefields of Northern France to find that they were returning to a different world to the one that they had left behind. There were virtually no jobs available, there was a shortage of places to live and no welfare system as we know it today. Their situation was desperate and they were reduced to living on the streets and begging for food. Young war widows were forced to go and live in degrading workhouses and their children were taken away from them, often to be put into children's homes.
The Government could do very little to make these men and their families' lives more bearable, so a group of young ex-Service men decided to do something about the situation. They collected donations to provide food and shelter for other less fortunate young men and they helped find them jobs. They set up clubs so that ex-Service people could meet others like them and have some kind of social life. They repaired houses for the widows to live in, enabling them to be reunited with their children and live together again under one roof.
Gradually their work was taken up by other volunteers until it spread all over Britain. In 1921, these volunteers banded together to form an organisation which was to become The Royal British Legion and to this day there are Royal British Legion clubs and branches all over the country.
In the two weeks leading up to the 11 November, poppies are sold all around the country to raise money for the work of the Legion among the ex-Service community.
Blandford Camp
With almost 300 years of use Blandford Camp has had an important presence and effect on the local area.
During 1724 it is recorded that anti smuggling troops were based in the area, 32 years afterwards the Blandford Down's (on the site of the present day camp) became the major focus of military exercises due to the potential threat of invasion during the Seven Years War with France.
During the end of the Napoleonic wars the area was used as a training ground for the yeomanry and volunteer units, To help with this a permanent rifle range was constructed.
The First World War changed the area and set the foundations for the current camp. Due to an excess of Royal Naval reservists required to man the ships the Royal Naval Division was formed to make use of the man Power.
After action on the front lines, the Division returned and built a base, a depot and a training camp on the downs. A prisoner of war camp was also set up at this time at the Mildown and soon was in use.
During 1918 another change came to the camp, it became an intake camp for the Royal Flying Corps which was moving towards being the Royal Air Force. A railway was connected to bring in materials and personnel and there was a daily passenger service moving civilian staff back and forth to the camp. At the end of 1919 the camp was closed and the railway and the huts were removed, By the start of 1921 the Blandford Down's was once more an agricultural area.
With the build up of the Second World War the camp was brought back up online in 1939 as a mobilization and training centre for reservists to prepare for the coming war. New huts buildings and trenches were built to house a prepare the men for the coming conflict.
A 5 large hospitals were set up and a contingent of Americans also set up base with another prisoner of war camp to prepare to hold German officers as the fighting progressed. In the surrounding area multiple airfields were set up to prepare for the upcoming fight. Blandford was on a direct flight path to the Bristol docks and during the war there were multiple dog fights in the skies. This is why there are war graves with Canadians and Germans in the Blandford graveyard.
The hospitals treated over 20,000 patients until they were closed after VE day.
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RAID BLANDFORD ARMY CAMP
(raised in the uk parliament)
17 February 1958
(By Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any statement to make about the raid on Blandford Camp.
Soon after one o'clock yesterday morning a party of men armed with revolvers entered Blandford Camp, in Dorset. They forced their way into the armoury guard room at revolver point and tied up the armoury guard. At the same time, two sentries outside the armoury were attacked. They resisted and one of them was shot. I am glad to say his injuries do not seem to be serious.
The raiders were disturbed by two other soldiers returning to camp, one of whom was injured by a blow on the head. By then, the main guard was aroused and the party of raiders made off without attempting to force the armoury itself. An immediate inquiry into the incident is being held.
While thanking my right hon. Friend for his statement, may I ask him whether he is aware that none of the young men concerned has been in the Army more than a few weeks? Would he not agree that, in the circumstances, they displayed a courage and determination which is worthy of great praise, and that their comrades and relatives are entitled to be very proud of these young citizen soldiers, as I feel sure hon. Members of this House are proud of them?
Yes, Sir. The two sentries who were attacked, and who resisted, were recruits of only a few weeks' service. It was undoubtedly owing to their action that the alarm was raised and the raid was thwarted, and all credit is due to them.
As, since the right hon. Gentleman became Secretary of State of War, I understand that this is the first battle in which he has been engaged, may I ask him whether he regards it as a success for the War Office?
The raid was not a success. The armoury was not broken into.
While concurring entirely in what the hon. and gallant Member opposite said about the actions of the soldiers, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he would not agree that, after all, five men broke into this camp and succeeded in overpowering ten of the guard? Is it not rather remarkable? What sort of inquiries is the right hon. Gentleman making?
There will be a full inquiry—a board of inquiry—into it. These men were armed with revolvers. The soldiers had rifles, but they are not loaded for guards of this character. All sorts of incidents might happen from time to time if they were. The men succeeded in overpowering the soldiers, but the raid was not a success.
