Bulford Kiwi

The Bulford Kiwicoord|51|11|38.84|N|1|42|54.20|W|type:landmark|display=title is an immense drawing of a kiwi carved in the chalk on Beacon Hill above the then-military town of Bulford on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. It was created by New Zealand soldiers awaiting repatriation following the end of World War I.

History

The Kiwi was constructed on Beacon Hill overlooking the Sling Camp (now gone), part of Bulford Camp, during the occupation of the Camp by New Zealand troops since June 1916.

After the war was over, the troops were eager to return home, but no troop ships were available. In the wake of riots by disaffected New Zealanders, officers decided that the troops should be kept busy carving an enormous Kiwi into the chalk of the hill. This was done in February and March 1919, by the Canterbury and Otago Engineers Battalions [ [http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/WILTSHIRE-EMI/2001-01/0979549654 RootsWeb: WILTSHIRE-EMI-L 3 RSA review The KIWI Bulford/Sling Camp ] ] .

The Kiwi is cut out of the chalk hillside, and stands out in contrast from the surrounding vegetation.

The design was executed by Sergeant-Major Percy Cecil Blenkarne of the Education Staff from a sketch of a stuffed kiwi specimen in the British Museum [ [http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/WILTSHIRE-EMI/2001-01/0979549248 RootsWeb: WILTSHIRE-EMI-L 1 The KIWI Bulford/ Sling Camp ] ] . The site was surveyed and the design extended on to the site by Sergeant-Major V.T. Low, NZE of the Education Staff.

ize

* The Kiwi's body is convert|1.5|acre|m2.
* From the Kiwi's feet to the top of its back is convert|420|ft|m.
* The Kiwi's beak is convert|150|ft|m long.
* The letters "N.Z." are convert|65|ft|m long.

After the War

In the years after the Kiwi's creation, the Kiwi Polish Company maintained the Kiwi through their offices in London, employing local villagers to do the work. Although it had "little if any advertising value [for us] "; they explained their interest in its upkeep as its being a memorial to the New Zealand troops. [ [http://www.armymuseum.co.nz/museum-news/acquisitions.html Recent Acquisitions: Army Museum Waiouru, New Zealand : Military History & Army War Museum ] ]

During World War II, the Kiwi was camouflaged with leaf mould, out of concerns that German bombers would use the Kiwi as a navigation marker during their raids over Britain. In 1948, the leaf mould was removed by local Boy Scouts [ [http://www.wiltshirescouts.org.uk/1stBulford/Kiwi%20History.htm No title ] ] ,and fresh chalk was added. The Scout troop subsequently renamed themselves in the Kiwi's honour.

In the early 1950s, Blenkarne negotiated for the Kiwi to be maintained by the British Army’s 3 (UK) Divisional Headquarters and Signal Regiment following on from the work done by 249 Signal Squadron.

As of 2007, the Kiwi is maintained by the Ministry of Defence. [ [http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EstateAndEnvironment/BulfordKiwiGetsAFacelift.htm Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Bulford Kiwi gets a facelift ] ]

External links

* [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=102136723902988507101.000001122d12edc847712&ll=51.194248,-1.716238&spn=0.001748,0.006781&t=h&z=18&om=1 Google Maps image of the Kiwi]

References