Description:This photograph taken in 1980 is of "D" Range, one of the eight full-bore rifle ranges that the troops used during the Great War whilst being trained to fire the Lee-Enfield .303 rifle. If the recruits had not fired a gun before, they were trained in one of the indoor ranges spread throughout the Camps on a small bore rifle before progressing to the main ranges. If the recruit was previously employed as a gamekeeper he was usually fast-tracked as a sniper as they were predominately good shots. Cannock Chase reportedly had one of the finest sniper schools in the Country.
"D" Range is in almost pristine condition considering the time that has elapsed since it was last used in anger and is now protected as a remnant of the Chase's rich military history. All eight of the ranges can be found but most of them are in poor condition due to a number of factors. Logically, four of them would have been used by Brocton Camp (A to D Ranges) and the other four (E to H Ranges) by Rugeley Camp, as they were divided by Abraham's Valley and the time to train troops was on a strict timetable. The longest of the ranges were 600 yards whilst others were as close as 100 yards from the targets.