Swinton Barracks

Last updated

Swinton Barracks
Perham Down
Swinton Barracks Perham Down MOD 45151538.jpg
Swinton Barracks
Wiltshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Swinton Barracks
Location within Wiltshire
Coordinates 51°14′20″N1°37′55″W / 51.239°N 1.632°W / 51.239; -1.632
TypeBarracks
Site information
Owner Ministry of Defence
OperatorFlag of the British Army.svg  British Army
Site history
Built1915
Built for War Office
In use1915–present
Garrison information
Occupants 1 Signal Regiment
15 Signal Regiment
22 Engineer Regiment
26 Engineer Regiment

Swinton Barracks is a military installation accommodating two engineer regiments and two signals regiments at Perham Down in Wiltshire, England. The site is on the east edge of Salisbury Plain, about 1+12 miles (2.4 km) east of the garrison at Tidworth. The camp forms part of the Tidworth, Netheravon and Bulford (TidNBul) Garrison. [1] [2]

Contents

History

After 2nd London Division held their annual camp at Perham Down in 1914, [3] a hutted army camp was built in the village to provide proper accommodation for the training of large military units. [4]

During the Second World War the barracks were used as a training camp by the 99th Infantry Battalion of the United States Army. [5]

The barracks were rebuilt between 1972 and 1974 and renamed Swinton Barracks at that time. [6] [7] 22 Engineer Regiment arrived at the barracks in January 1975 [8] [9] and were joined by 26 Engineer Regiment. [10] The barracks became a specialist centre for armoured engineering, and its name was chosen to commemorate Major-General Sir Ernest Swinton, who was an early advocate of armoured vehicles and responsible for the recruitment and training of the Tank Detachment in 1916, and, later, Colonel Commandant of the Tank Corps. [11]

Extensive reconstruction at the barracks involving new or refurbished buildings was carried out under Project Allenby Connaught between 2006 and 2014. [12]

Soldier deaths and suicides

In the first half of 2024, two soldiers killed themselves at Swinton Barracks. Royal Engineer sapper Kim Mawa was found to have hanged himself, and 19-year-old Ebrima Nyabally was found dead in Swinton less than a week after joining his squadron. [13]

Units

The units currently based at the barracks are: [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Hussars</span> Military unit

The Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 10th Royal Hussars and the 11th Hussars in 1969 and it amalgamated with the 14th/20th King's Hussars to form the King's Royal Hussars in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Armoured Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)</span> Inactive British Army formation

The 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army with a long history including service during both the First and the Second World Wars. It was based at Tidworth Camp. Previously, it has been designated 1st (Guards) Brigade, 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Mechanised Brigade, and under the initial Army 2020 reforms assumed the title of 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade. Under the Future Soldier programme, the brigade merged with the 1st Artillery Brigade to form the 1st Deep Recce Strike Brigade Combat Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team (United Kingdom)</span> Military unit

The 20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team, previously the 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade, is an armoured infantry brigade formation of the British Army, currently headquartered at Wing Barracks, Bulford, Wiltshire, as part of the 3rd Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">11th Security Force Assistance Brigade</span> British Army unit

The 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade is a brigade of the British Army which is intended to train and assist foreign forces. In 2021, under the Future Army changes, the brigade was redesignated, formerly being the 11th Infantry Brigade & HQ South East. Prior to the Army 2020 changes in 2013, the brigade was temporarily activated for deployment to Afghanistan. Originally formed in the Second Boer War, the brigade was engaged during both World Wars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12th Armoured Brigade Combat Team (United Kingdom)</span> British Army formation

The 12th Armoured Brigade Combat Team, formerly the 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade, is a regular brigade of the British Army which has been in almost continuous existence since 1899 and now forms part of 3rd Division.

<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">Bulford Camp</span> Military camp on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England

Bulford Camp is a military camp on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. Established in 1897, the site continues in use as a large British Army base. The camp is close to the village of Bulford and is about 2+14 miles (3.6 km) north-east of the town of Amesbury. The camp forms part of the Tidworth, Netheravon and Bulford (TidNBul) Garrison.

In September 1939, the British Army was in process of expanding their anti-aircraft and mobile assets. Among these new changes was the formation of Anti-Aircraft Command which was formed on 1 April 1939, and the 1st Armoured Division formed in 1937. The list below will include the British Army units, colonial units, and those units which were in the process of formation.

22 Engineer Regiment is a regiment of the British Army's Royal Engineers. It is based at Swinton Barracks, Perham Down, Tidworth, Wiltshire.

26 Engineer Regiment is a regiment of the British Army's Royal Engineers. It is based at Swinton Barracks, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tidworth Camp</span> Military installation at Tidworth in Wiltshire, England

Tidworth Camp is a military installation at Tidworth in Wiltshire, England. It forms part of the Tidworth, Netheravon and Bulford (TidNBul) Garrison.

Osnabrück Garrison was a major British garrison with facilities located at Osnabrück in Lower Saxony and Münster in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It was home to 4th Armoured Brigade and most of its subordinate units. It formed a major part of British Forces Germany.

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

The page contains the current structure of the British Army. The British Army is currently being reorganised to the Future Soldier structure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barker Barracks</span> Military installation in Paderborn, Germany

Barker Barracks was a military installation in Paderborn, Germany.

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.

1 Signal Regiment is a military communications regiment of the British Army. The regiment is now part of the 11th Signal Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Army Special Operations Brigade</span> British Army special operations formation

The Army Special Operations Brigade, previously called the Specialised Infantry Group, is a formation of the British Army, initially created as a result of the Army 2020 Refine reorganisation, intended to train foreign forces. Its name and role was adapted after the Defence in a Competitive Age reforms, to a unit that not only trains partner nations, but also fights alongside them in "complex high-threat environments".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">15th Signal Regiment (United Kingdom)</span> Special signal regiment of the British Armys Royal Corps of Signals

The 15th Signal Regiment is military communications unit of the British Army's Royal Corps of Signals.

Future Soldier is a reform of the British Army resulting from the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy published in March 2021. The aim of the reform is to create a more lethal, agile and expeditionary force, able to fight and win wars and to operate in the grey-zone between peace and war. Future Soldier was published on 25 November 2021 and deals with the organizational changes of the British Army, with changes to personnel and equipment were set out in the Defence in a Competitive Age paper published on 22 March 2021.

The 1st Deep Reconnaissance Strike Brigade Combat Team is a formation of the British Army, currently headquartered in Delhi Barracks, Tidworth Camp, Wiltshire, as part of the 3rd Division.

References

  1. "Garrison Commander assists with construction of new Officers' Mess". Aspire Defence Limited. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 Hartle, Lisa (7 December 2020). "Royal Signals Celebrates Centenary By Planting 100 Trees". Forces Network. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  3. Westlake, Ray (1997). British Battalions in France and Belgium, 1914. Pen and Sword. ISBN   978-0850525779.
  4. "Tidworth". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  5. "Norwegian-Americans and the 99th Infantry Battalion" (PDF). Military Historical Society of Minnesota. p. 2. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  6. "Barracks". Tidworth Town Council. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  7. Baggs, A.P.; Freeman, Jane; Stevenson, Janet H (1995). Crowley, D.A. (ed.). "Victoria County History: Wiltshire: Vol 15 pp153-163 – Parishes: North Tidworth". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  8. "22 Engineer Regiment". British Army Units 1945 On. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  9. "22 Engineer Regiment". British Army. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  10. "26 Engineer Regiment". British Army. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  11. "Who's Who – Sir Ernest Swinton". First World War. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  12. "Army Basing Programme Update" (PDF). Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  13. Davis, Barney (28 May 2024). "Young soldier, 23, found dead at barracks as army investigation launched". The Independent.
  14. "Order of Battle, Manpower, and Basing Locations" . Retrieved 20 November 2020.