Soldiers' exercise invaded
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.AN INTERNAL inquiry is to be held by the Army after civilians descended on the deserted village of Imber, on Salisbury Plain, in the middle of a military exercise.
Imber, evacuated for Army training in 1943, has traditionally been open to the public on August bank holiday. A caller who rang the Army's switchboard at its headquarters in Warminster during the bank holiday afternoon was told the normal access arrangement was operating.
Visitors arrived to find signs of military activity with Army Land- Rovers speeding along the roads. While a permanent notice at the approach road from the village of Bratton stated the way ahead was closed, the barriers to traffic were raised and there were no soldiers on sentry duty.
A patrolling land warden, battling to turn back a constant flow of vehicles, said an exercise was due to start at 6pm involving tanks and firing live ammunition. But Major Alec Bain, duty field officer at Warminster barracks, said there were no tanks and only blanks were to be used.
He said: 'We only man the barriers when the ranges are live or if there are exercises involving firing live ammunition. If it is ordinary soldiering then we don't man them. But the position will be looked at within the School of Infantry, which mans the ranges.'
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments