Mitcham Road Barracks is an Army Reserve centre in Croydon, London, with a history dating back to 1794.
| Mitcham Road Barracks | |
|---|---|
| Croydon | |
 Mitcham Road Barracks, Croydon | |
  Mitcham Road Barracks Location within London | |
| Coordinates | 51°22′40″N 0°06′36″W / 51.37781°N 0.11003°W |
| Type | Drill hall |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1794 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1794-Present |
History
editThe barracks were designed as a depot for recruits of the Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream Guards and the Scots Guards regiments and were completed, as part of the British response to the French Revolution, in 1794.[1] The barracks became the headquarters of the 2nd Surrey Rifle Volunteers in 1859.[2] The 2nd Surrey Rifle Volunteers evolved to become the 4th Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) in 1908.[1] The battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to India.[3] After benefitting from a major modernisation of the barracks in the 1930s, the battalion became a searchlight regiment in 1938 and a light anti-aircraft regiment in 1942.[4]
The battalion was reconstituted as 598th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery in 1947 and evolved to become a battery within 565th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery in 1955, while still based at the Mitcham Road Barracks.[4] The unit reverted to its county infantry regiment status title as part of the 3rd Battalion, The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment in 1961.[4] The battalion was reduced to company size as D Company, 6th (Territorial) Battalion, The Queen's Regiment (Queen's Surreys), still based at the Mitcham Road Barracks, in 1967.[5] However the company was disbanded following a reorganisation in 1971.[5]
Meanwhile, C (Kent and County of London) Squadron, the Royal Yeomanry had also been formed at the Mitcham Road Barracks in 1967;[6] it evolved to become C (Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry) Company, the Royal Yeomanry in 1999.[6]
Current use
editThe barracks still remains an active Army Reserve Centre.[7][8] It currently accommodates:[9]
- C Squadron (Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry), The Royal Yeomanry, in Sharpshooter House[10]
- 150 Platoon, 133 Divisional Recovery Company, 103 Force Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- Mortar Platoon of B Company, 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, in Arnhem House[10]
References
edit- ^ a b "Mitcham Road Barracks". The Drill Hall Project. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "The Surrey Rifle Volunteers 1859 - 1908". Queen's Royal Surreys. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ "Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ^ a b c "4th Battalion, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 16 November 2005. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b "The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 22 November 2005. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b "The Royal Yeomanry". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 23 November 2005. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Drill Hall Register" (PDF). Stepping Forward London. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "C Squadron, the Royal Yeomanry". Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "Army Reserve Units | Croydon".
- ^ a b "Local armed forces presence | Croydon Council". www.croydon.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 May 2024.