The Canadian Army Battle Drill School at Rowlands Castle – 1942
This report has been inspired by the “Secrets of the High Woods” Project, funded by the South Downs national Park and the National Lottery. The project is based on an airborne LiDAR survey covering an area of the South Downs National Park roughly between the A3 road in the west and the river Arun in the east. The survey was carried out to reveal archaeological ground features currently hidden and protected by existing woodland. A key element of the project was volunteer community involvement. This took the form of field surveys to verify and assess the data, archival research to complement and build on the field survey data and oral history research to capture personal recollections about woodland, agricultural, industrial and other experiences of the Downland area residents, past and present.
The object of this report is to link features identified by the LIDAR survey with military activities in the Rowlands Castle/Stansted Park area and specifically to tell the story of the Canadian Army Training School while it was located in Rowlands Castle. Apart from being of interest to local residents it is also hoped that the report will assist people engaged in family history research. The report reflects the current state of research and may change if new information emerges.
I would be very pleased to hear from anyone who has further information about the school or its personnel when it was at Rowlands Castle. Please contact: Brian Tomkinson by e-mail via the editor.