Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham

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Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham
(HMS Pembroke)
Drill Hall Library School of Sport & Exercise Sciences.jpg
Former drill hall with offices behind
Active1891. formal 1902–1961
Country United Kingdom
Branch Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Navy
Type Reserve Fleet
Rolemanning and training facility
Part of Royal Navy
Garrison/HQ Chatham, Kent, UK

The Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham, also known as HMSPembroke, was a UK naval barracks that was built between the Victorian Steam Yard and Brompton Barracks from 1897 to 1902. It was built on the site of a prison built in 1853 to house over 1,000 convicts, with the intention that they would be used to build the Dockyard extension. [1]

Contents

Background

During the Age of Sail, the Royal Navy manned its ships either by recruitment or impressment; crew were retained for as long as they were needed and then usually dismissed when their ship was paid off at the end of a voyage or campaign. [1] The introduction of Long Term Service in 1853, however, prompted the Navy to look at providing more permanent quarters for seamen in home waters. At first, they were almost invariably housed in hulks; it was only towards the end of the century that purpose-built barracks began to be constructed at each of the three principal Royal Navy Dockyards: Chatham, Devonport and Portsmouth. [1] These barracks were designed to provide not just accommodation but also recreation and training facilities for men who were waiting to be appointed to ships.

History

Designed by Henry Pilkington, construction of the Royal Naval Barracks began in 1897 and was completed by December 1902. [2] By the beginning of the First World War, Chatham was one of the Royal Navy's three ‘manning ports’ – together with Plymouth and Portsmouth—manned by men allocated to the Chatham Division. [3] This role continued until the advent of central manning in 1956. [4]

In September 1917, the barracks Drill Hall (which was being used as overflow accommodation) suffered a direct hit from two bombs, which killed over 130 men. In 1942, King George VI made a visit to Medway and HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Barracks. After the war Chatham became home to the reserve, or standby fleet. [2]

In 1957, the barracks and gunnery school were closed due to the local port divisions being replaced; however in 1959 the barracks re-opened as the Royal Naval Supply School, who trained staff in supply and secretarial work. When the Commander-in-Chief, The Nore, the regional operational commander appointment, was discontinued in March 1961, the barracks were being used as an accommodation centre for the re-fitting crews of the dockyard. The Drill Shed and Canteen were being used by the Dockyard. In 1970, all Naval establishments in Chatham were to be combined and known as HM Navy Base, under one officer 'Flag Officer, Medway and Port Admiral'. With the closure of the Dockyard and Naval Base in 1984, HMS Pembroke was also decommissioned; the barracks gates were finally closed on 31 March 1984. [2]

List of Commodores-in-Command

Post holders included: [5] [ self-published source ]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Coad 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Drill Hall: History of Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham". Issuu . University of Medway. 2018. p. 2. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  3. "The Historic Dockyard, Chatham Conservation Management Plan: 4th Edition". Medway Council. 2016. p. 20. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  4. "The Chatham Division – Two World Wars". The Historic Dockyard, Chatham. The Historic Dockyard. 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  5. Mackie, Gordon (2022). "Royal Navy Senior Appointments, 1865-" (PDF). Gordon Mackie. p. 121. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  6. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36912. London. 30 October 1902. p. 10.
  7. "Private Papers of Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Thistleton-Smith KBE CB GM". Imperial War Museums. Imperial War Museum UK. Retrieved 1 July 2018.

Sources