the battle Hostile_encounter of the beanfield took place Process_start over several hours on 1 june 1985 , when wiltshire police prevented Preventing_or_letting the peace convoy , a convoy of several hundred new age travellers , from setting up the 1985 stonehenge free festival Social_event in wiltshire , england .

Around 1,300 police officers took part in the operation Military_operation against approximately 600 travellers .

The convoy of travellers heading Self_motion for Stonehenge encountered Hostile_encounter resistance Defending at a police road block Hindering seven miles from the landmark .

Around the same time police smashed Bodily_harm the windows of the convoy 's vehicles and some travellers were arrested Arrest .

Conversely , `` The Guardian '' states Statement the travellers were not armed with petrol bombs and that police intelligence suggesting Statement so `` was false '' .

When some of the travellers tried to escape Escaping by driving Motion away through the fields , `` The Observer '' states Statement that the police threw Body_movement truncheons , shields , fire-extinguishers and stones at them in an attempt to stop Preventing_or_letting them .

Dozens of travellers were injured Bodily_harm , 8 police officers and 16 travellers were hospitalised .

Dozens of travellers were injured Bodily_harm , 8 police officers and 16 travellers were hospitalised .

537 travellers were eventually arrested Arrest .

In February 1991 a civil court judgement awarded Giving 21 of the travellers £24,000 in damages Damaging for false imprisonment Prison , damage Damaging to property and wrongful arrest Arrest .