{{Short description|Barracks in Whittington, Staffordshire, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox military installation |name=DMS Whittington |image=Army Museum - geograph.org.uk - 7951.jpg |caption = Entrance to the Staffordshire Regiment Museum |type = Barracks |map_type = Staffordshire |pushpin_map_caption = Location within Staffordshire |location =Whittington, Staffordshire |coordinates = {{Coord|52|39|32|N|01|46|23|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} |ownership = Ministry of Defence |operator = {{army|United Kingdom}} |built = 1881 |used=1881-Present |architect = |built_for = War Office |garrison = |occupants = Defence Medical Services }} '''DMS Whittington''', otherwise known as '''Defence Medical Services Whittington''' (formerly '''Whittington Barracks'''), is a military base in Whittington, Staffordshire, near Lichfield in England. It is home to the Staffordshire Regiment Museum, the Headquarters of the Surgeon General and subordinate medical headquarters, and the location of the Defence Medical Academy.
==Early history== left|thumb|Whittington Heath Golf Club (formerly a grandstand for the racecourse) The barracks were constructed on Whittington Heath. The heath had been the site of the Lichfield races which had moved from Fradley in 1702. During the 18th century they were one of the largest and well attended race meetings in the Midlands and in 1773 a grandstand was erected near the Lichfield-Tamworth Road. However, during the 19th century the popularity of the races dwindled, and military use of the heath grew. The War Office approached the Marquess of Anglesey in 1875 to buy the heath for the building of a barracks. Construction started in 1877 and the formal handing over of the newly built barracks to the military was recorded in 1881.<ref>{{PastScape|mnumber=1516329|mname=Quartermaster's Stores|accessdate=30 March 2014}}</ref> Their creation took place as part of the Cardwell Reforms which encouraged the localisation of British military forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9383385/Echoes-of-the-past-in-these-Army-cuts.html|title=Echoes of the past in these Army cuts|date=8 July 2012| accessdate= 13 November 2014}}</ref>
The barracks were intended to be the depot of the 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot and 80th Regiment of Foot (Staffordshire Volunteers).<ref name=training>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/depot/1873.htm |title=Training Depots |publisher=Regiments.org |accessdate=16 October 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210172841/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/depot/1873.htm |archive-date=10 February 2006 }}</ref> Under the Childers Reforms these regiments amalgamated to form the South Staffordshire Regiment with its depot at the barracks in 1881.<ref name=training/> They were also intended to be the depot of the 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot and the 98th (Prince of Wales's) Regiment of Foot which under the same reforms amalgamated to form the North Staffordshire Regiment also in 1881.<ref name=training/>
In 1895 the last race meeting was held after the War Office declared it was "undesirable to hold a race meeting at the gate of the barracks." The Lichfield races are remembered in the names of pubs in Freeford called the Horse & Jockey and in Lichfield, The Scales which was where jockeys were "weighed in". The old grandstand became a soldiers home before it was purchased in 1957 by Whittington Heath Golf Course as its clubhouse.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whittingtonheathgc.co.uk/Content.aspx?Menuid=1|title=Whittington Heath Golf Club; Golf Club History|accessdate=23 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903193135/http://www.whittingtonheathgc.co.uk/Content.aspx?Menuid=1|archive-date=3 September 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
==Second World War: 10th Replacement Depot== During the Second World War the barracks was occupied by the United States Army and in August 1942 was designated as the 10th US Army Replacement Depot.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lichfield's Tribute To U.S. Troops|work=The Times|location=London|date=18 December 1944|page=2|issue=50019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=National Affairs: The Colonel & the Private|date=9 September 1946|work=Time|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,855387,00.html#ixzz2PgQweoNV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219170751/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,855387,00.html#ixzz2PgQweoNV|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 19, 2011|accessdate=6 April 2013}}</ref> Replacement depots, known by troops as "repple depples", temporarily housed reserves or replacements for front-line formations, including soldiers who had been discharged from medical care for return to active service.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Repple depple|encyclopedia=Oxford English Dictionary|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2002}}</ref> The depot was also used as a military prison.<ref>{{cite news|title=Colonel Excused at Brutality Trial|work=The Binghamton Press|page=10|date=4 June 1946|url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper4/Binghamton%20NY%20Press%20Grayscale/Binghamton%20NY%20Press%20Grayscale%201946.pdf/Binghamton%20NY%20Press%20Grayscale%201946%20-%203724.pdf|accessdate=6 April 2013}}</ref> Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James A. Kilian, a native of Highland Park, Illinois, and Major Richard E. Lobuono, the Provost Marshal, the depot became "infamous" for its regime of brutality and the "cruel and unusual punishments of American soldiers imprisoned there."<ref>{{cite news|title=Kilian Scored In Testimony Of Two Aides|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=12 July 1946|page=5|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19460712&id=ZsMwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ymkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4119,5217849|accessdate=6 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Convict Major Of Cruelties|work=New York Post|date=27 August 1946|page=16|url=http://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%2011/New%20York%20Evening%20Post/New%20York%20NY%20Evening%20Post%201946%20Grayscale/New%20York%20NY%20Evening%20Post%201946%20%20a%20Grayscale%20-%200230.pdf}}</ref> Prisoners were beaten with clubs, forced to carry out vigorous physical exercise for seven hours daily, and given only five minutes to eat meals. When notice was received of official inspections by visiting officers, prisoners thought likely to make complaints or with visible injuries were temporarily removed from the camp.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Wounded Vet 'Treated Like Dog' at Lichfield|work=Emporia Gazette|date=26 June 1946|page=3|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/emporia-gazette/1946-06-26/page-3|accessdate=6 April 2013}}</ref>
In 1946 a court martial was convened at Grosvenor Square, London, to inquire into allegations that nine guards and two officers had ill-treated prisoners at Whittington.<ref>{{Cite news|title=U.S. Court-Martial And A Colonel|work=The Times|location=London|date=16 January 1946|page=2|issue=50351}}</ref> The court martial took ten months to reach its conclusion and grew to include Kilian and Lobuono. Sergeant Judson Smith was sentenced to three years hard labour and a dishonorable discharge and other enlisted men received prison sentences of lesser length. Lieutenant Granville Cubage, accused of ordering the punishments, pleaded that he was following orders from superior officers; he was fined $250 and reprimanded.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,852827,00.html#ixzz2PgyvLDtY|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219200204/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,852827,00.html#ixzz2PgyvLDtY|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 19, 2011|work=Time|date=24 June 1946|title=ARMY & NAVY: Going Higher|accessdate=6 April 2013}}</ref> In September 1946, at a court martial convened at Bad Nauheim, Germany, Lobuono was officially reprimanded and fined $250 (approximately one month's pay), and Kilian was reprimanded and fined $500.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Cabbages and Kings|first=Irvin M.|last=Herowitz|work=The Harvard Crimson|date=21 June 1946|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1946/6/21/cabbages-and-kings-peto-veterans-who/|accessdate=6 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|work=The Cornell Daily Sun|volume=64|issue=124|date=7 May 1947|first=Paul M.|last=Grimes|title=Shades of Lichfield|url=https://cdsun.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/cornell?a=d&d=CDS19470507.2.21.4&srpos=&dliv=none&e=--------20--1-----all---|accessdate=6 April 2013}}</ref>
==Post war== <!-- Deleted image removed: thumb|left|150px|The Mercian Regiment --> [[File:The Staffordshire Regiment Museum - Exterior.jpg|thumb|The Staffordshire Regiment Museum]] The barracks, which went on to become the regional centre for infantry training as the Mercian Brigade Depot in 1960,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1958/mar/07/infantry-brigade-depots-location|title=Infantry Brigade Depots (Location)|work=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|date=7 March 1958|access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref> also became home to the Staffordshire Regiment Museum in 1963<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staffordshireregimentmuseum.com/museum.html|title=The Staffordshire Regiment Museum|accessdate=30 March 2014}}</ref> and the depot of the Prince of Wales' Division in 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eardley-bryan.com/cheshire-6.htm|title=The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment|accessdate=5 May 2014|archive-date=5 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505145500/http://eardley-bryan.com/cheshire-6.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The barracks remained the home of the Army Training Regiment, Lichfield, which trained new recruits on their Phase 1 Common Military Training (i.e. becoming soldiers) from the Royal Signals and Royal Engineers, from 2002 until 2008 when Major General Andrew Farquhar CBE, General Officer Commanding the Army's 5th Infantry Division, inspected the recruits and took the salute before the Army Training Regiment's flag was lowered for the last time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iclichfield.icnetwork.co.uk/news/localnews/2008/04/24/end-of-an-era-for-barracks-108911-20813983/|title=End of an era for Barracks|date=24 April 2008|accessdate=30 March 2014|archive-date=31 March 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140331212839/http://iclichfield.icnetwork.co.uk/news/localnews/2008/04/24/end-of-an-era-for-barracks-108911-20813983/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2007 Whittington Barracks became the Regimental Headquarters of the newly formed Mercian Regiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/local/stoke/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9401000/9401769.stm|title=Mercian Regiment (Staffords) prepares for Afghanistan|publisher=BBC|date=18 February 2011|access-date=30 March 2014}}</ref>
In July 2008 the Labour Government set in motion the centralisation of all planning and training of the Defence Medical Services at Whittington Barracks. The relocation of the Headquarters of the Surgeon-General and major components of the Joint Medical Command (JMC) was completed. A new HQ, named Coltman House, has been built and is fully occupied. Alongside the Headquarters of the Surgeon-General, the elements of the JMC now at Whittington comprise the defence medical group and the JMC HQ previously at Fort Blockhouse, Gosport, Hampshire, the Director of Healthcare previously based in Whitehall, the Defence Dental Service previously located at RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire, and the Defence Postgraduate Medical Dean, previously located in Birmingham at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Selly Oak Hospital. The single service medical heads, the Army Medical Services, Royal Navy Medical Branch and Royal Air Force Medical Branch. A second phase at the barracks – now renamed Defence Medical Services Whittington – include new training facilities, a new learning centre, a new lecture theatre, new messes for officers, warrant officers and NCOs – and a new junior ranks dining and leisure facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/defence-medical-services|title=Defence Medical Services|accessdate=30 March 2014}}</ref>
In 2014 the Duchess of Cornwall visited the site to commemorate the relocation of the Defence Medical Services Training Group from Keogh Barracks, Mytchett, Surrey, to Whittington Barracks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/gallery/duchess-cornwall-visits-whittington-barracks-7097256|title=The Duchess of Cornwall visits Whittington Barracks|date=9 May 2014|publisher=Birmingham Mail|accessdate=7 December 2019}}</ref>
Grade II listed buildings at the barracks are: the keep,<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Keep at Whittington Barracks|num=1393381|accessdate=26 June 2020}}</ref> the garrison church<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Garrison Church of St George, Whittington Barracks|num=1393382|accessdate=26 June 2020}}</ref> and the separate World War I war memorials to the North<ref>{{NHLE|desc=North Staffordshire Regimental War Memorial|num=1393100|accessdate=26 June 2020}}</ref> and South Staffordshire Regiments.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=South Staffordshire Regimental War Memorial|num=1393101|accessdate=26 June 2020}}</ref>
==Based units== The current units stationed at DMS Whittington include:
=== Strategic Command === '''Defence Medical Services''' *Defence Medical Academy *Defence Dental Service *Headquarters, Surgeon-General
=== British Army === '''Infantry'''
* Queens Division **Mercian Regiment ***Regimental Headquarters<ref>{{cite web |title=Regimental Headquarters |url=https://mercianregiment.co.uk/regimental-headquarters |accessdate=24 February 2021}}</ref>
=== Ministry of Defence === *Headquarters, Defence Infrastructure Organisation<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/work-begins-107m-hq-defence-18329477|title=Work begins on £10.7m HQ at Defence Medical Services Whittington|publisher=BirminghamLive|date=29 May 2020|accessdate=24 February 2021}}</ref>
==See also== *Listed buildings in Whittington, Staffordshire
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/mercian.aspx The Mercian Regiment] *[http://www.staffordshireregimentmuseum.com/ Staffordshire Regiment Museum] *[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/microsite/dms Defence Medical Services] *[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/MicroSite/DMS/OurTeams/JointMedicalCommandjmc.htm Joint Medical Command] *[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/MicroSite/DMS/OurTeams/DefenceDentalServicesdds.htm Defence Dental Service] *[http://www.mmc.nhs.uk/colleges__deaneries/deaneries/dpmd.aspx Defence Postgraduate Medical Dean] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712211941/http://www.mmc.nhs.uk/colleges__deaneries/deaneries/dpmd.aspx |date=12 July 2012 }} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130209180128/http://www.army.mod.uk/army-medical-services/5318.aspx Army Medical Services] *[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/training-and-people/rn-life/medical-branch/ Royal Navy Medical Branch]
Category:Barracks in England Category:Installations of the British Army Category:Buildings and structures in Staffordshire Category:Lichfield District Category:Military history of Staffordshire Category:Military installations established in 1881