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The Colchester Garrison is a British Army base located in Colchester in the county of Essex . The Colchester Garrison has been an important military base since the Roman era. The first permanent military garrison in Colchester was established by the Legio XX Valeria Victrix in AD 43 following the Claudian Invasion of Britain. Colchester was an important barracks during the Napoleonic Wars and throughout the Victorian Era . During the First World War several battalions of Kitchener's Army were trained there. Today, there are considerable plans to build a new and modern barracks out of the town to free up building land in the centre and replace the Victorian Buildings . There are hopes that some of the original architecture will be conserved for heritage. NAPOLEONIC WARS (1792-1815) The Colchester Garrison was an important barracks during the Napoleonic Wars . Originally the troops were Billeted in local inns and houses. After petitiong from the borough council, in 1794 new infantry barracks were built to serve the garrison. By 1800 additional infantry, artillery, and cavalry barracks had been built on the area bounded by Barrack Street to the north, Wimpole Road on the west, and Port Lane in the east. In 1805 the barracks were home to 7000 officers and men. After the Napoleonic Wars the barracks were reduced. The sale of the older barracks and the freehold site on which they stood started in 1817 and was completed in 1840 . The Army retained 14 acres and an infantry barracks for 851 officers and men. Much of old barracks land was developed as the "New Town" area of Colchester during the Victorian era. {Link without Title} CRIMEAN WAR (1854-1856) The Colchester Garrison experienced a rapid expansion during the Crimean War . Betweeen 1855 and 1856 wooden infantry barracks for 5,000 troops were errected on Ordnance Field. In 1857 the government purchased 167-acre Middlewick Farm for use as a training area and rifle range. The Middlewick Ranges are still in use by the present garrison. {Link without Title} British German Legion In . {Link without Title} Garrison Church The present Garrison Church is a former Crimean War era hospital similar to those shipped in prefabricated sections to Florence Nightingale at Scutari and Balaklava . It was built in 1854 and is the oldest surviving garrison building. FIRST WORLD WAR (1914-1918) Territorial Army Essex Regiment The Territorial Army (volunteer reserve) 1/8th Battalion Essex Regiment was based in Colchester at the outbreak of war in August 1914 . Additional "Terrier" battalions were raised from volunteers during the early months of the war. The 2/8th Battalion was formed in September 1914 and 3/8th Battalion was formed in April 1915 . All three Terrier battalions were allocated to home defense and remained in Britain throughout the war. {Link without Title} Essex Yeomany The in 1917 . In addition, 1/1st (Essex Yeomanry) Battery, RHA was mobilised at Colchester in 1914. The battery was a reserve Royal Horse Artillery formation aligned to the Essex Yeomanry. The battery served attached to 8th Cavalry Brigade in France from 1914-1918. {Link without Title} In April 1918, the '''1st Essex Yeomanry''' was broken up as reinforcements for three other cavalry regiments. Lieutenant Colonel Whitmore of the EY was appointed to command the 10th Royal Hussars, the only Territorial officer without previous regular service to command a regular cavalry regiment. Kitchener's Army The 12th (Eastern) Division was organised at Colchester from August 1914 to February 1915. The division was one of the first (1917), and the Battle Of The Hindenburg Line (1918). SECOND WORLD WAR (1939-1945) 4th Infantry Division At the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 Colchester was the home garrison of 4th Infantry Division. Resident units at the outbreak of war on 3rd September 1939 included 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers , 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment , 1st Battalion Oxfordshire And Buckinghamshire Light Infantry , 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards , 17th/21st Lancers , 27th Field Regiment Royal Artillery , 30th Field Regiment Royal Artillery, and 14th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery. The division deployed to France in 1940 as part of the British Expeditionary Force . Home Guard During the war the town was defended by local defense volunteers of 8th Essex Battalion of the Home Guard . At the height of its strength the battalion mustered over 2000 volunteers. The battalion possessed no fewer than 22 different types of weapon, including Vickers machineguns, flame throwers, and 2 pounder anti tank guns. Additional support throughout the area was provided by 13th Essex Battalion, comprising of volunteers from the GPO who were charged with the protection of critical telecommunications infrastructure. The order to "stand down" the Home Guard came on 1 November , 1944 . The Essex Home Guard took its final salute on 19 November before the Lord Lieutenant of the county, Colonel Sir Francis Whitmore . Whitmore said, "You have, by your sense of duty, your loyalty and patriotism, contributed pages of tradition to the historical records of our nation... you took part a prominent part in the defense of our country at the most critical period of the war... In the name of the County of Essex, I thank you." {Link without Title} Operational units of the Auxiliary Units served in the Colchester area during the war, although their existence and activities remained little-known to the public until the 1990s . Colchester Stop Line During the war the town was ringed by over 120 railway station {Link without Title} . Colchester Blitz Air raid sirens sounded over 1000 times in Colchester during the course of the war. Colchester was "blitzed" by the Luftwaffe on several occasions {Link without Title} that included:
Home Guard antiaircraft batteries were established on Abbey Field and engaged enemy aircraft 14 times during a 21 month period. Americans in Colchester In January 1942 the first American military personnel arrived in Britain. A significant American presence was established in the Colchester area, with many air bases of US Eighth Air Force located in the district - at Earls Colne , Langham , Wormingford , Messing , and Dedham . In accordance with racial segregation of the American military during World War Two, the American Red Cross established separate social clubs for black GIs at St Botolph's parish hall and for white GIs in St Nicholas Street. COLCHESTER GARRISON TODAY 16 Air Assault Brigade The Colchester Garrison is currently home to the British Army's elite 16 Air Assault Brigade . The brigade has 3 air assault infantry battalions, 3 air assault aviation battalions, 1 artillery regiment, and supporting units (engineer, signals, logistics, medical). The brigade has deployed in support of Operation Bessemer ( Macedonia ), Operation Fingal ( Afghanistan ), and Operation Telic ( Iraq ). Barracks
Territorial Army Colchester has a proud tradition its citizen volunteers serving in the Territorial Army . During the Second World War Colchester's "Terriers" included 2nd/5th Battalion Essex Regiment, and 104th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (Essex Yeomanry). The Territorial Army is currently represented in Colchester by 45 Squadron, 36 (Eastern) Signal Regiment (Volunteers) {Link without Title} and Troop, 202 Squadron, 158 (Royal Anglian) Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps (Volunteers). MCTC Berechurch Hall Camp is the home of the Army's Military Corrective Training Centre which incorporates the Naval Detention Quarters and is the last remaining military prison in the United Kingdom. {Link without Title} Garrison Radio Garrison Radio broadcasts locally on 1350 AM. HERITAGE There are several surviving Victorian era barracks no longer in use by the Army. It is hoped that some of the buildings may be preserved (possibly converted to museum use) to preserve their architectural heritage. Many older buildings have already been demolished. Former barracks (not in use)
Former barracks (demolished)
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