Clive Barracks

Clive Barracks is a British Army installation at Ternhill, Shropshire, England. It is set to close in 2029.

Clive Barracks
Ternhill
Clive Barracks
Clive Barracks is located in Shropshire
Clive Barracks
Clive Barracks
Location within Shropshire
Coordinates52°52′16″N 02°32′01″W
TypeBarracks
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
Operator British Army
Site history
Built1976
In use1976-Present
Garrison information
Occupants1 Royal Irish Regiment

History

The barracks were established on the site of the former RAF Tern Hill airfield in 1976; they were initially named Borneo Barracks,[1] before being renamed Clive Barracks after Major-General Lord Clive, who had been born in Shropshire.[2] Some of the early units to use the site were the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, who moved there in 1980,[3] and the Royal Welch Fusiliers, who moved there in 1984.[4]

IRA bombing

On 20 February 1989, two IRA bombers activated two bombs within the accommodation barracks at Tern Hill.[5] At that time the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (who had arrived in 1987)[6] and the 1st Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (who had arrived in 1989) were located at the station.[7] A sentry spotted two men behaving suspiciously and raised the alarm, the barracks were evacuated shortly before the bombs exploded therefore preventing certain loss of life. One of the accommodation blocks was destroyed in the blast (which was reported to have been heard 20 mi (32 km) away in Shrewsbury). The bombers escaped by hijacking a car from a house down the road from the barracks.[5]

Current units

Since 2007, the barracks has been home to the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th And The Ulster Defence Regiment), which operates in the light infantry role primarily equipped with the Foxhound armoured vehicle.[8][9] As of 1 November 2018, there were 628 troops assigned to the battalion.[8][10]

Future

In late March 2016, the Ministry of Defence announced that the site to be sold in order to reduce the size of the Defence estate.[11] The airfield will be retained as a Relief Landing Ground (RLG) and practice area for No 1 Flying Training School based out of nearby RAF Shawbury.[12] Later, in November 2016, it was announced that the site would close in 2022.[13] This was later extended to 2025,[14] and once more to 2029.[15]

References
  1. "RAF Ternhill". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  2. "1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment". Ministry of Defence (MoD). Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  3. "Queen's Lancashire Regiment". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  4. "Royal Welch Fusiliers". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  5. "1989: IRA bombs Tern Hill barracks". BBC. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  6. "2nd Bn Parachute Regiment". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  7. "Duke of Wellington's Regiment". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  8. Lancaster, Mark (29 November 2018). "Army:Written question - 194616". UK Parliament. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  9. "The Royal Irish Regiment". British Army. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  10. "Royal Irish Regiment". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  11. "Thousands of new homes to be built as MOD releases more sites". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  12. Pugh, James (14 May 2016). "Base closure will not affect RAF airfield". Shropshire Star. No. 15760. p. 13.
  13. "A Better Defence Estate" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  14. "Is Your Military Base Closing? Read The Full List Of Sites Shutting". Forces News. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  15. "Disposal database: House of Commons report". Retrieved 26 November 2021.
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