Type Barracks In use 1938-Present Owner Ministry of Defence | Operator British Army Year built 1938 Built for War Office | |
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Occupants 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment | ||
Battlesbury Barracks is a military installation in Warminster, Wiltshire. It is the permanent base of The 1st Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, serving as armoured infantry. The battalion is currently commanded by Lieutenant Colonel A S Garner MBE.
History
The barracks is located on Woodcock Road, adjacent to the ancient Battlesbury Camp hill fort, and was first occupied by the Welch Regiment in 1965.
On 9 December 2005 the Barracks was taken over by the Duke of Wellington's Regiment on their return to the UK from Belfast Barracks in Osnabruck, Germany, as their permanent UK base.
In December 2004, as part of the re-organisation of the infantry, it was announced that the Duke of Wellington's Regiment would be amalgamated with the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire and the Green Howards, all Yorkshire-based regiments in the King's Division, to form the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalion of the new Yorkshire Regiment. The re-badging parade took place on 6 June 2006 and the 'Dukes' formally became the 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's).
In 2013, under the Army 2020 changes the Green Howards Battalion (2nd) in Cyprus was to be disbanded. The soldiers were merged into the 1st (PWO), Battalion in Germany and the 3rd (DWR) Battalion. On July 25, 2013. The 3rd Battalion was then renumbered as the new 1st Battalion (1 Yorks), whilst the PWO Battalion took over the Colours of the 2nd Battalion (Green Howards) and renumbered as the new 2nd Battalion (2 Yorks).