Our Sporting Heroes Exhibition

On Friday 29th June, we held an official opening ceremony
for ‘Our Sporting Heroes’ Exhibition. The guest VIP who
performed the opening ceremony was Claire Perry MP. Guests included
representatives from the other tourist attractions in Salisbury and from Visit Wiltshire.

Below is some background information about the exhibition.

This new exhibition tells the story of some of the sporting achievements of soldiers who served with the Royal Berkshire Regiment, The Wiltshire Regiment, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and who are serving with today’s Regiment – The Rifles.

The sporting life of British soldiers from the 19th Century through to today at home and abroad, in times of peace as well as war, is something that sometimes gets forgotten. Sport's role within the army was to develop physical fitness, advance esprit de corps, raise morale and, at times to relieve boredom.

Since the game’s earliest years, members of the army have been keen players of rugby but it was not until the Crimean War (1854–56) that a record was made of a game being played. Thereafter regiments of the British Army played wherever they were stationed in the British Empire spreading its popularity around the globe. It was a result of a game being played in British India in the 1870s that led to The 3rd (East Kent) Regiment and the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment having a hand in the creation of the Calcutta Cup, the oldest international rugby trophy.

Behind the trenches of the Western Front and in the midst of the Desert War, British servicemen and women have played sport in the least promising circumstances. When 400 soldiers were asked in Burma in 1946 what they liked about the Army, 108 put sport in first place - well ahead of comradeship and leave. Organised sport was developed in the Victorian army and navy but became the focus of criticism for Edwardian army reformers. It was officially adopted during the Great War to boost morale and esprit de corps.

The exhibition includes details of individuals from our forming regiments and the story of their success, such individuals include; International Cricketer Ken Barrington who served with The Wiltshire Regiment and who played for England and Surrey; Peter Martin a Wiltshire Regiment and Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment Officer, who was Great Britain and British Army shot (he is here today); and Major Thomas Wand-Tetley, Wiltshire Regiment Officer, Olympic athlete and fencer.

Today, wounded soldiers use sport to overcome injuries and all soldiers who are keen to pursue a sporting interest can do so - whatever their ability. This includes the injured and disabled, who are able to participate in sport through an initiative called ‘Battle Back’ which is a UK Military initiative and backed by Help for Heroes. They train with and compete alongside the able-bodied, as all Battle Back activities are integrated into able-bodied programmes. Battle Back uses Adaptive Adventure Training and Sports Rehabilitation to help seriously wounded Service personnel gain confidence and return to an active life.

The best athletes in the Army can compete internally and also at a Combined Service level against Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and civilian teams. ‘Elite' athletes are given encouragement and assistance to compete at the highest level possible.

Mrs Perry paid tribute to the many injured servicemen who are
currently being given rehabilitation by being offered sport to regain
their strengths.

The photograph shows (from left to right) Claire Perry MP, Simon Cook Manager/Curator and Assistant Curator Jackie Dryden who curated and designed the exhibition.