Dartmoor Training Area
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Integrated Land Management Plan (ILMP)
Environmental
Management
System
(EMS)
History of Military Use
Dartmoor’s special qualities have attracted military training for over 200 years. Militia men in bright coloured uniforms learned to shoot and manoeuvre, batteries of horse drawn artillery came into action, khaki clad soldiers mobilised for the Second World War, Americans prepared for the assault on Normandy and light forces continue to achieve operational effectiveness thanks to Dartmoor.
During the Napoleonic wars of the early 1800’s, regular and militia units exercised with large manoeuvres held in 1853 and 1873. Dartmoor was selected as the first artillery training ground in 1875, with horse drawn batteries travelling to the moor to fire during the summer months. The successful training was consolidated with the building of Okehampton Camp in 1893.
Willsworthy was purchased in the early 1900s to provide the Plymouth Garrison with ranges and training area.
Artillery training continued though to the Second World War, when all of Dartmoor helped to prepare first British forces and then the 4th and 29th United States Divisions for the invasion.
A brief history of the Armed Forces on Dartmoor is available here .
A book on the history of the military use of Dartmoor is being prepared. Anyone with memories, stories or photographs is invited to contact the Commandant.
