Hurdcott

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Remarks

Known as Hurdcott, this was a large camp at Compton Chamberlayne, an extension of those near Fovant. Named because it was on land that was part of two farms, with one that bore its name.

Australian battalions moved to Hurdcott in 1916 to undertake extensive training and in March 1917 Hurdcott House became the headquarters of the No. 3 Command Depot for the AIF. Five huts were transformed into a hospital and the nearby training grounds hosted practice trenches, a bayonet fighting assault course, and a bombing ground.

In November 1917 the No. 4 Command Depot moved from Codford to Hurdcott, and by January 1919 the Command Depots had ceased to exist in their primary function, acting instead to hold men being processed for their return to Australia.

Australian soldiers stayed in Hurdcott for many months. Lacking the motivation of training and the structure of army discipline, boredom quickly became a problem. Unlike the fatal rioting on the Plain there was a little “rowdyism” at Hurdcott. One farmer tells of being stopped by a barricade at the camp entrance and made to drink a pint of beer with the ‘guard’ before being allowed to continue to his home at Fovant.