On 26 July 1914, the Wessex Division was on Salisbury Plain carrying out its annual training camp. Three days later, because of the worsening international situation, it was ordered to take 'precautionary measures'. On 30 July the division took up its precautionary positions in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. On August the infantry were ordered to their war stations at the defended ports, and the following day war was declared against Germany. By 10 August the Wessex Division was once more concentrating on Salisbury Plain, but now it was training for war.