MoD Donnington

Last updated

MoD Donnington
Donnington, Telford
Entrance to Venning Barracks - geograph.org.uk - 832371.jpg
Entrance to Venning Barracks
Shropshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
MoD Donnington
Coordinates 52°43′19″N2°26′39″W / 52.72182°N 2.44415°W / 52.72182; -2.44415
TypeBarracks
Logistics Centre
Site information
Open to
the public		No
Site history
Built1936 (1936)
In use1936–Present
Garrison information
OccupantsHQ 11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade
174 Provost Company, RMP

MoD Donnington consists of a British Army barracks and the Defence Fulfilment Centre, and is situated to the north of Donnington, Telford, Shropshire. The barracks on the site will close in 2029.

Contents

History

The site was chosen in 1936 as one of a number of less vulnerable locations for storing ordnance and other military equipment previously kept at London’s Woolwich Arsenal. This was designed to provide employment in what was then a depressed area, following the closure of the Lilleshall Company’s New Yard engineering works in St George's several years earlier. [1]

Development from greenfield site begun in 1939, during 1940 the depot was established and at the end of the year Brigadier Charles Esmond de Wolff was appointed commandant and garrison commander. During 1941–1942, the depot increased significantly in size, and at the end of 1941, 9,600 all ranks worked on the site. Brigadier de Wolff also convinced Wellington District Council to build housing for the civilian staff, many of whom had moved from Woolwich. Eventually 1,500 houses were built outside the COD. [2]

By 1980, COD Donnington (along with COD Bicester) was one of just two remaining Central Ordnance Depots overseen by the Royal Army Ordnance Corps; nevertheless, in the 1970s and 80s, it grew to be one of the largest military store complexes in Europe. [3] It remains in use as a storage depot, although the complex was scaled back following two serious fires (in 1983 and 1988). [4]

At the turn of the millennium, further investment took place as Parsons Barracks (named after Major-General Sir Harold Parsons) and Venning Barracks (named after General Sir Walter Venning) were developed. [5]

The base housed the Historic Weapons Collection until it moved to Maldon, Essex in 2010. [6]

In March 2014, there was reason for local optimism that MoD Donnington would once more be radically expanded, with another 500 to 700 jobs being added to the 1,000 jobs that MoD Donnington then currently required. [7] The expansion plans were approved early that month. [8]

In 2015, Donnington was selected as the site for a new 'Defence Fulfilment Centre' for the newly-privatised Logistics, Commodities and Services element of Defence Equipment and Support. The new office and warehouse buildings were built alongside the former Defence Storage Distribution Centre on the site and opened in early 2017. [9] [10]

In November 2014, Venning Barracks became headquarters of the newly-formed 11th Signal Brigade and Headquarters West Midlands, formed by the amalgamation of 11th Signal Brigade who were already based here since 1992, and the hitherto Shrewsbury-headquartered 143rd (West Midlands) Regional Brigade. [11]

In September 2016, it was announced Parsons and Venning Barracks were among 13 sites named by the Ministry of Defence for future disposal. [12]

Future

In November 2016, the Ministry of Defence announced that the Parsons and Venning Barracks sites would close, with an "Estimated Date of Disposal" in 2020. [13] This was later extended to 2022, [14] and once more to 2029. [15]

Current units

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donnington, Telford</span> Human settlement in England

Donnington is an area / housing estate located in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England. The population of Donnington Ward was 6,883 at the 2011 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Army Ordnance Corps</span> Military unit

The Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) was a corps of the British Army. At its renaming as a Royal Corps in 1918 it was both a supply and repair corps. In the supply area it had responsibility for weapons, armoured vehicles and other military equipment, ammunition and clothing and certain minor functions such as laundry, mobile baths and photography. The RAOC was also responsible for a major element of the repair of Army equipment. In 1942 the latter function was transferred to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and the vehicle storage and spares responsibilities of the Royal Army Service Corps were in turn passed over to the RAOC. The RAOC retained repair responsibilities for ammunition, clothing and certain ranges of general stores. In 1964 the McLeod Reorganisation of Army Logistics resulted in the RAOC absorbing petroleum, rations and accommodation stores functions from the Royal Army Service Corps as well as the Army Fire Service, barrack services, sponsorship of NAAFI (EFI) and the management of staff clerks from the same Corps. On 5 April 1993, the RAOC was one of the corps that amalgamated to form The Royal Logistic Corps (RLC).

11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment RLC is a specialist regiment of the British Army's Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) responsible for counter terrorist Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), the safe recovery or disposal of conventional munitions. The regiment also has an ammunition inspectorate role supporting the Inspector Explosives (Army). With headquarters in Didcot, the regiment has sub units geographically based throughout the UK to provide a nationwide high readiness response capability in support of the police.

The Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Munitions and Search Training Regiment is an element of the Royal School of Military Engineering responsible for the delivery of training to British Army Ammunition Technicians, Ammunition Technical Officers and Search Operators. The Regiment delivers training from two locations: Marlborough Barracks, MoD Kineton near Kineton, Warwickshire and St George's Barracks, MoD Bicester, near Bicester, Oxfordshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade</span> Military unit

The 11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade is a signal formation of the British Army's 3rd UK Division. Its headquarters is located at Venning Barracks, in Donnington in Shropshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copthorne Barracks</span> British Army military installation in England

Copthorne Barracks was a British Army military installation in Copthorne, a suburb of Shrewsbury in Shropshire, England.

General Sir Walter King Venning was a British Army officer and administrator who served in both World Wars. Known for his excellency as an administrator, he served as Quartermaster-General to the Forces from 1939 to 1942 and Director General of the British Supply Mission in Washington, D.C. from 1942 to 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MoD Corsham</span> Ministry of Defence site in Wiltshire, England

MOD Corsham is a Ministry of Defence establishment located between the towns of Corsham and Box in Wiltshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imphal Barracks</span>

Imphal Barracks is a military installation located in Fulford, York, England. The site will close in 2030.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wyvern Barracks</span>

Wyvern Barracks is a military installation on Topsham Road in Exeter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chetwynd Barracks</span> Military installation in Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom

Chetwynd Barracks is a British Army installation at Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is set to close in 2026.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince William of Gloucester Barracks</span> Barracks near Grantham, Lincolnshire, England

Prince William of Gloucester Barracks is a British Army installation near Grantham in Lincolnshire. It is set to close in 2028.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">8th Engineer Brigade (United Kingdom)</span> Military unit

8th Engineer Brigade is an engineering support formation of the British Army, which forms part of 1st Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Military Police Brigade</span> Military unit

The 1st Military Police Brigade is a policing formation of the British Army, which is the only one-star command of the Royal Military Police. The brigade was formed in 2014, but due to be reduced to a Colonel's command in 2022 and re-structure by 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MoD Bicester</span>

MoD Bicester is a large military storage and distribution centre just outside Bicester in Oxfordshire. The St David's Barracks part of the base is home to 1 Regiment RLC, and is set to close in 2028.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Structure of the British Army</span> Organisation of the British Army

The structure of the British Army is being reorganised to the Future Soldier structure. The Army is commanded by the Chief of the General Staff (CGS), with Army Headquarters which is located in Andover, Hampshire. Subordinate to that post, there is a Commander Field Army, and a personnel and UK operations command, Home Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chattenden and Lodge Hill Military Camps</span>

Chattenden and Lodge Hill Military Camps were British Army training camps in Chattenden and Hoo St Werburgh in Kent. They were built as ordnance depots and functioned as such through to the second half of the twentieth century.

The following is a hierarchical outline for the structure of the British Army in 1989. The most authoritative source for this type of information available is Ministry of Defence, Master Order of Battle, and United Kingdom Land Forces, HQ UKLF, UKLF ORBAT Review Action Plan, HQ UKLF, 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MoD Feltham</span>

MOD Feltham is a secure 30-acre (12 ha) military installation in Feltham, Middlesex.

References

  1. ↑ "Lilleshall Company New Yard, St Georges". The Miner's Walk. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  2. ↑ Brigadier A. H. Fernyhough, History of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, 1920–1945, RAOC, Blackdown, 1966, pp.412–419
  3. ↑ "Dreams that glory days will return to Telford's Donnington army base". Shropshire Star.
  4. ↑ "Shropshire History" . Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "Leisure Time" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "Firearms collection opens to the public". Yellow Advertiser. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  7. ↑ "MoD Donnington base expansion plans unveiled". BBC. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  8. ↑ "MoD Donnington base expansion plans approved". BBC. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "MOD announces contract to run military logistics". MOD. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  10. ↑ Claridge, Roisin (4 April 2022). "Defence Fulfilment Centre 5th Anniversary: Supplying the military with over £1 billion worth of kit". Defence Equipment & Support. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  11. ↑ Owen, Andrew (17 November 2014). "Flag is flying for new Army brigade". Shropshire Star. p. 1.
  12. ↑ "Ministry of Defence to sell 13 sites for 17,000 homes". BBC. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  13. ↑ "A Better Defence Estate" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  14. ↑ "Is Your Military Base Closing? Read The Full List Of Sites Shutting". Forces News. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  15. ↑ "Disposal database: House of Commons report" . Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "The logistics centre that has supplied the UK military with over £1 billion worth of kit celebrates its fifth anniversary". Defence Equipment & Support. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  17. ↑ "HQ 11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade | The British Army".
  18. ↑ "Shropshire base flying the flag for military future". www.shropshirestar.com. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.