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Imagining Sherwood's Military Training Camps Through Poetry

During the Second World War several areas of Sherwood Forest were requisitioned to be used by the military for camps for training soldiers, for displaced persons and for prisoners of war. There are only traces of these camps left now and often they are only detectable by using archaeological survey techniques such as Lidar and GPR. As part of our Spirit of Wartime Sherwood Project, we will be working with local archaeologists to survey specific areas of Sherwood to detect and record some of the areas used by the military.


On Thursday 1st October it was National Poetry Day, and I found a poem which helped me to imagine the atmosphere and activity of these military training camps. Although not specifically written about Sherwood Forest, this poem from 1943 reflects on a soldier's experience in a camp which may have been similar to those we are investigating.


Military Camp

by Patrick Anderson


Learning the parts of a rifle, the smell of oil,

learning to march, to wheel in the rub of khaki,

learning to hate, to be resourceful and kill,

they grope like wind through the night or rain in a hill.


Definite weapons, slicker than wounds, surround them,

they camouflage, they bristle with arms to the teeth,

they implement with knives their patient wonder,

and wander like children the iron techniques of death.


The military camp, the rows of huts,

the tanks and guns, here and there grow strange

with a new thought that scraps old discipline,

germ of a people's army trained to change.


Who whispers freedom, soon must learn to shout,

brighter than bayonets or first conquest come

rolled back by seas to play a finer part -

the greatest victory is the one at home.



If you would like to get involved with the archaeological work in Sherwood Forest, get in touch at susie.mcgraw@sherwoodforesttrust.org.uk. We are keen to hear from community members who would like to learn new skills by working with the archaeologists, or who have information they would like to share.



This poem and others from WW2 can be found at www.poetryfoundation.org


Imperial War Museum Photo: H 17112 (Part of the War Office Second World War Official Collection). Photo taken by Lieutenant JR Bainbridge - Official War Office Photographer. Photo shows a patrol from 4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment on training exercises in Northern Ireland.


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