The New School of Musketry-Small Arms School Memorial. Military Road Hythe Kent

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"The School of Musketry was founded in 1853 and set up at Hythe, Kent. The first mention of the establishment of the School was in the Army List of 1854 when it was referred to as the School of Musketry, a name it bore until 1919 when its name was changed to the Small Arms School. In September 1855 a Corps of Instructors was added to the establishment, consisting of 100 First Class, and 100 Second Class Instructors who, as soon as they were sufficiently experienced (except for three who remained at Hythe), were distributed to Depot Battalions and Regiments as required. These men were the Corps of Instructors of Musketry, a misnomer as muskets were being withdrawn from service. The original badge of the School was crossed rifles surmounted by a crown. In 1929 the present badge as shown below was introduced, comprising of crossed rifles and a Vickers machine gun, surmounted by a crown and surrounded by a laurel wreath. The title Small Arms School Corps also came into being at this time. In 1969 the School moved from Hythe to Warminster, Wiltshire where Headquarters S.A.S.C. remains to this day. The plaque in Military Rod, Hythe as shown above marks where the former entrance to the School of Musketry, and later the Depot of the Small Arms School Corps. Hythe Museum contains memorabilia depicting the civic and social history of the town, together with a reminder of the importance of the Small Arms School Corps. The Small Arms School Corps exercised their 'Freedom to March' through the Cinque Port town of Hythe, Kent during its 150th Anniversary on 20 August 2003."