| Branston Depot | |
|---|---|
| Branston, Staffordshire | |
 Branston Depot | |
  Branston Depot Location within Staffordshire | |
| Coordinates | 52°47′19″N1°39′23″W / 52.7886°N 01.6564°W Coordinates: 52°47′19″N1°39′23″W / 52.7886°N 01.6564°W |
| Type | Depot |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator |  British Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1917–1918 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1940-1961 1964-1975 |
Branston Depot is a former ordnance facility at Branston, Staffordshire.
The site was originally conceived as the National Machine Gun Factory but by the time construction was completed in November 1918 the First World War was over and no machine guns were ever manufactured there. [1] Crosse & Blackwell briefly used the factory for producing pickle (Branston Pickle) between 1920 and 1925 and the Branston Artificial Silk Company produced Rayon there between 1927 and 1930. [1] In the late 1930s the site was again acquired by the War Office, purchased and converted at a cost of £500,000, to serve as the Army's main clothing depot. [2] During the Second World War Branston Depot served as a major ordnance facility; the depot closed in 1961 when operations moved to Bicester. [1] Parts of the site were used for the storage of components for Royal Ordnance between 1964 and 1975 [1] and more recently parts of the site have been developed for housing. [3]
The Bren gun was a series of light machine guns (LMG) made by Britain in the 1930s and used in various roles until 1992. While best known for its role as the British and Commonwealth forces' primary infantry LMG in World War II, it was also used in the Korean War and saw service throughout the latter half of the 20th century, including the 1982 Falklands War. Although fitted with a bipod, it could also be mounted on a tripod or be vehicle-mounted.
The Board of Ordnance was a British government body. Established in the Tudor period, it had its headquarters in the Tower of London. Its primary responsibilities were 'to act as custodian of the lands, depots and forts required for the defence of the realm and its overseas possessions, and as the supplier of munitions and equipment to both the Army and the Navy'. The Board also maintained and directed the Artillery and Engineer corps, which it founded in the 18th century. By the 19th century, the Board of Ordnance was second in size only to HM Treasury among government departments. The Board lasted until 1855, at which point it was disbanded.
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