New Les Beaucamps Drill Hall Plaque 2021

Les Beaucamps was used as a training ground and barracks by the Royal Guernsey Militia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. When war broke out in 1914 the Militia was mobilised for the defence of the island, and in 1915 the States of Guernsey agreed to offer a company of Militia volunteers to join the British Army and serve overseas.

As a result of this 7 Officers and 239 men left Les Beaucamps and marched to the harbour where they embarked to travel to Fermoy in County Cork to join the 16th (Irish) Division as "D" Company, 6th Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment. Later drafts joined "D" Company, 7th Division, the Royal Irish Fusiliers while the Militia Artillery formed the 9th (Scottish) Division Ammunition Column.

They suffered heavy losses on the Somme in September 1916 and again at Passchendaele and Cambrai in 1917.

After this survivors were assigned to the recently formed Royal Guernsey Light Infantry and fought with them in their final battle at Doulieu in the spring of 1918.

Built in 1882, the Drill Hall is the only existing Militia building on what is now the site of a large Secondary School.

A plaque bearing the crests of the two Irish Regiments was installed in October 2021 by the Guernsey Sporting Club.

The club itself was set up after the war as a permanent memorial to the contingent.

The accompanying Interpretation Board was installed by the Guernsey Museum service to mark the historical importance of the site.

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