War memorial

The poppy wreaths were still in place at the war memorial in front of the cathedral, looking very bright on the misty morning that I was there

Remembrance Sunday

 
At the Cathedral a service was held today to mark Remembrance Sunday when we remember those in the armed forces who have lost their lives in service. Just outside the Cathedral was this collection of crosses and poppies.

Skinner's Horse

At the Armed Forces fun day at Peninsula Barracks last Sunday there were a number of military re-enactment societies including Skinner's Horse. This was a unit of the British Indian Army founded by Colonel James Skinner in 1803. After Indian independence the regiment became part of the Indian Army.

Royal Logistics Corps Band

Yesterday there was an Armed Forces day at Peninsula Barracks. It was a beautifully hot and sunny day although I did feel sorry for the Royal Logistics Corps Band who were playing in this heat!

Lord Lieutenant

This is the last photo from the military parade and flag raising ceremony held this week. The servicemen reached The Great Hall and were presented to the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Dame Mary Fagan. The role of Lord-Lieutenant began during Tudor times as monarchs had no standing army and relied on noblemen within each county to organise men and arms for the defence of the realm. These days the role is to be the Queen's representative in the County, which includes making arrangements for all Royal visits to Hampshire and representing The Queen by presenting certain honours, medals and awards, and inspecting troops etc. The modern Lord-Lieutenant’s role is unpaid and non-political.

March via Westgate

Parading through Winchester passing by the Westgate on the way to The Great Hall.

Army Band

More from the Army Band of the Adjutant General’s Corp as they lead out the 80 servicemen through the High Street

Navy, Army, Air Force

The military march through Winchester High Street on Monday en-route to the Great Hall

Military Week

25th June is National Armed Forces Day and all week Winchester is embracing its military heritage with a number of events which began yesterday. Here are the Army Band of the Adjutant General’s Corps who played in the city centre outside the Buttercross before leading 80 servicemen to the Great Hall to where crowds gathered along with the Mayor of Winchester and Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Dame Mary Fagan for a flag raising ceremony

USS George H.W. Bush

If you look on a map then you know that this cannot be Winchester, but I feel I am allowed artistic licence to stretch our city's boundaries when something interesting is happening nearby and this is our nearest seaside and still Hampshire! Head south east from Winchester for about 20 miles and you will come to Stokes Bay, and right now anchored out there is the USS George H.W. Bush American Aircraft carrier, the world's most powerful warship. The ship carries in excess of 70 aircraft and 5,300 sailors and aircrew, it has 2 nuclear reactors and can operate for over 20 years without refueling if required. It is too large to drop anchor in Portsmouth harbour, hence sitting outside it in Stokes Bay.

The ship has just finished Saxon Warrior one of the biggest exercises in UK waters in recent history along with the Royal Navy, RAF and other NATO forces. Myself & my colleges were involved in the exercise and some of them had a visit onboard the ship yesterday.

The ship is also joined by American destroyer USS Truxtun and a Spanish frigate bringing the total number of sailors ashore to almost 6,000. Apparently in Portsmouth 1000s of extra pints of lager have been shipped into the city with pubs opening early and extra staff being drafted in!

Royal Air Force Concert

Not a great photo in itself but I thought I would post it anyway...last night I went along to the Royal Air Force Festival of English Music concert held at the cathedral. It was a great setting with wonderful music from composers such as Elgar, Holst and Vaughan Williams played by Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment. A great evening!

Baron Seaton

At the entrance to Peninsula Square is this statue of Baron Seaton. I hadn't heard of him before, but a quick google lead me to discover what an amazing life he must have had...

He was born in Hampshire, and educated at Winchester College. He joined the military and served in Egypt (1801) and Sicily (1806), participated (1808–14) in the Peninsular War, and helped to defeat Napoleon at Waterloo. He was appointed lieutenant governor of Guernsey (1825) and lieutenant governor of Upper Canada (1828). In 1835 he was made commander in chief of Canadian forces, governor in chief of British North America in 1839, the year he was made a baron. After he left Canada he served as lord high commissioner of the Ionian Islands (1843–49) and commanded the forces in Ireland (1855–60). He was made a field marshal in 1860 and was appointed honorary colonel of the Rifle Brigade (95th) in February 1862 (the Peninsula Barracks here in Winchester becoming the home of the Rifle Brigade in 1858.) Quite a life he must have lead with so many experiences..

Afghanistan

Within the cathedral there are numerous military memorials throughout. Here is one in particular to the men of the 4th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade who died in the campaign in Afghanistan in the 1870s.

US Army

In the Mayor's Parlour at the Guildhall is this bell which the plaque says was presented to the City Of Winchester by the men of the 9th infantry division United States army as a token of their appreciation for the most cordial hospitality extended to them during World War II.

The 9th Infantry Division was among the first U.S. combat units to engage in offensive ground operations during World War II. During the winter and into the spring of 1944 the 9th were stationed at Winchester's Peninsula Barracks preparing for the invasion. General Eisenhower and Churchill visited and addressed troops at the barracks before the invasion:

(Photo - Royal Green Jackets Museum)

On 3 June the Division began moving by motor and rail from Winchester to marshalling areas in the vicinity of Southampton and Weymouth, in preparation for the D Day landings in Normandy. They landed at Utah Beach on 10 June 1944.

The King's House

This is Peninsula Square that I have visited previously in this blog. The luxury houses and apartments here are housed in what was previously Peninsula Barracks.

The original buildings which stood here before were built by Sir Christopher Wren for King Charles II and were destroyed in a fire in 1894. King Charles fell in love with Winchester, and was determined to build a huge royal palace here. He was offered the site of Winchester Castle  and Sir Christopher Wren produced a superb design which was to rival the palace of Versailles. Work began demolishing all the remaining traces of Henry III's medieval castle except the Great Hall in early 1683. Charles II, knowing that he was approaching the end of his life and wanting to see his palace completed before his death, said, 'If it be possible to be done in one year, I will have it so, for a year is a great deal in my life.'

Sadly it was not to be, Charles II died in February 1685 and although the outside of the Palace was built and roofed, it was little more than an incomplete shell. The following monarch (James II), abandoned the project and the building, known as the King's House, fell into disrepair. In the 18th century it was used to hold military prisoners and eventually became military barracks in 1796.

 From the Winchester Museum Archives here is a photo of the original King's House, the style being not too dissimilar to the building of today

Oldest house in Winchester

Here on the corner of Blue Ball Hill and St John's Street is what is supposed to be the oldest house in Winchester. It's the Old Blue Boar and was built around 1340. The property which is now a private house was originally an inn known as The White Boar which was the emblem associated with King Richard III. King Richard was killed in a battle at Bosworth Field in 1485 by Henry VII who had been helped by the Earl of Oxford. The Earl's badge was a Blue Boar and in order not to upset the new King many owners of White Boar Inns were reported to have quickly painted their white boars blue!

The pub is also renowned for being the place in 1764 where a volunteer solider called Thomas Thetcher "died of a violent fever contracted by drinking small beer when hot". He is buried in Winchester cathedral as my post yesterday showed.

A small beer..

In the grounds of Winchester Cathedral is this gravestone of Thomas Thetcher a grenadier in the North Hants Militia who died of a violent fever due to drinking a small beer when hot.

The gravestone gives advice to the drinkers among us "Here sleeps in peace a Hampshire Grenadier, Who caught his death by drinking cold small Beer, Soldiers be wise from his untimely fall And when ye're hot drink Strong or none at all."

Not so easy to see on the gravestone, but the memorial was restored in 1781, replaced in 1802 by the North Hants Militia and again replaced by The Royal Hampshire Regiment in 1966. Tomorrow I have a photo of the fateful pub where Thomas had his small beer!

Military Museums

The military museums of the Gurkas and the King's Royal Hussars at Peninsula Square. The Hussars are a cavalry regiment and played a prominent part in the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava. The Gurkas of Nepal have been fighting with the British Army for 200 years. 

Peninsula Square

Many organisations eventually move out of the centre of Winchester to make way for the all important luxury apartment (the Fire Brigade are next..). Peninsula Barracks was a military barracks from 1796-1986. When the military left it was renamed Peninsula Square. Today the site continues to accommodate some Ministry Of Defence offices, including the Regimental Headquarters of The Rifles, and Winchester’s Military Museums. Peninsula Square with its smart houses and landscaped gardens is also one of the most desirable places to live in Winchester.

Serle's House

Serle's House in Southgate Street was built around 1730 as a private residence. The building has been in military use since 1781 when it was bought by James Serle who's son was a captain in the South Hants Militia who turned the family home into a command centre for the regiment. The house was later sold to the government in 1796. The building now houses the Museum of The Hampshire Regiment and the Offices of the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire.

The large garden to the front of the house is dedicated and maintained as a Garden of Remembrance to all Members of the Regiment who have died in action or whilst in Service with the Regiment.