South West District (British Army)

South West District
Active	1967–1995
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	District Command
Garrison/HQ	Bulford Camp

South West District was a district command of the British Army between 1967 and 1995.

History

Bulford Camp, command headquarters

The district was formed from 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division as part of the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve in 1967. ^[1] It had its headquarters at Bulford Camp, Wiltshire, and was placed under the command of HQ United Kingdom Land Forces in 1972. ^[2]

In 1984-85 the district controlled a number of individual units, including 94th Locating Regiment, Royal Artillery at Roberts Barracks, Larkhill; the Support Regiment RA; Headquarters 7 Regiment Army Air Corps; the UK contingent of the ACE Mobile Force; 1st Infantry Brigade at Tidworth; 43 Wessex Brigade in Exeter; and five planned companies of the Home Service Force. ^[3]

In 1992, Headquarters South West District controlled three of the Army's 20 training areas on Salisbury Plain. ^[4]

The district was disbanded on the formation of HQ Land Command in 1995. ^[5]

Commanders

General officers commanding included: ^[6]

• 1967–1970 Major-General Thomas Acton
• 1970–1971 Major-General John Douglas-Withers
• 1972–1974 Major-General Hugh Cunningham
• 1974–1975 Major-General George Cooper
• 1975–1978 Major-General Robert Lyon
• 1978–1981 Major-General Sir John Acland
• 1981–1984 Major-General Michael Gray
• 1984–1987 Major-General Barry Lane
• 1987–1990 Major-General Anthony Jeapes
• 1990–1992 Major-General Anthony Pollard

See also

• Headquarters South West (United Kingdom)

References

1. Steinberg, S. (1967). The Statesman's Year-Book 1967-68: The Encyclopaedia for the Businessman-of-The-World. Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 106. ISBN   978-0230270961.
2. Paxton, J. (1972). The Statesman's Year-Book 1972-73: The Encyclopaedia for the Businessman-of-The-World. Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 104. ISBN   978-0-230-27101-2.
3. Isby and Kamps, Armies of NATO's Central Front, 1985, 254-55.
4. "Ministry of Defence: Management and Control of Army Training Land" (PDF). National Audit Office. 4 February 1992. p. 36. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
5. "Land Command Shapes Up", Jane's Defence Weekly, 15 July 1995.
6. "Army Commands" (PDF). Retrieved 2 July 2016.