Swinton Barracks

{{short description|Military installation at Tidworth in Wiltshire, England}} {{EngvarB|date=April 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox military structure | name = Swinton Barracks | partof = Tidworth, Netheravon and Bulford Garrison | image = Swinton Barracks Perham Down MOD 45151538.jpg | caption = Swinton Barracks | type = Army barracks | site_area = {{convert|130|ha|acres}}<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-estates-development-plan-dedp-2009|title=Defence Estates Development Plan 2009 – Annex A|date=3 July 2009|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Ministry of Defence|page=A41|access-date=22 November 2024}}</ref> | map_type = Wiltshire | pushpin_map_caption = Location within Wiltshire | location = Perham Down, Wiltshire | country = England | coordinates = {{Coord|51.239|N|1.632|W|region:GB-WIL_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | ownership = Ministry of Defence | operator = {{army|United Kingdom}} | built = 1915 | used = 1915 – present | architect = | built_for = War Office | garrison = | occupants = 1 Signal Regiment<br>15 Signal Regiment<br>22 Engineer Regiment<br>26 Engineer Regiment }} '''Swinton Barracks''' is a military installation accommodating two engineer regiments and two signals regiments at Perham Down in Wiltshire, England. The site is on the east edge of Salisbury Plain, about {{Convert|1+1/2|mi|km|abbr=}} east of the garrison at Tidworth. The camp forms part of the Tidworth, Netheravon and Bulford (TidNBul) Garrison.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aspiredefence.co.uk/garrison-commander-assists-with-construction-of-new-officers-mess/|title=Garrison Commander assists with construction of new Officers' Mess|date=20 December 2017|website=Aspire Defence Limited|access-date=26 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="Hartle">{{Cite web|last=Hartle |first=Lisa |date=7 December 2020|title=Royal Signals Celebrates Centenary By Planting 100 Trees|url=https://www.forces.net/news/royal-signals-celebrates-centenary-planting-100-trees|access-date=31 August 2021|website=Forces Network|language=en}}</ref>

==History== After 2nd London Division held their annual camp at Perham Down in 1914,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D21-AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT504|title=British Battalions in France and Belgium, 1914|first= Ray|last= Westlake|publisher=Pen and Sword|year=1997|isbn=978-0850525779}}</ref> a hutted army camp was built in the village to provide proper accommodation for the training of large military units.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tidworth|url=https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/Community/Index/223|website=Wiltshire Community History|publisher=Wiltshire Council|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref>

During the Second World War the barracks were used as a training camp by the 99th Infantry Battalion of the United States Army.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mnmilitarymuseum.org/files/5613/2261/5287/99th_Infantry_Battalion_Sep.pdf|title=Norwegian-Americans and the 99th Infantry Battalion|page=2|publisher=Military Historical Society of Minnesota|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref>

The barracks were rebuilt between 1972 and 1974 and renamed Swinton Barracks at that time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barracks|url=https://tidworthtowncouncil.gov.uk/about-tidworth/barracks/|website=Tidworth Town Council|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Victoria County History: Wiltshire: Vol 15 pp153-163 – Parishes: North Tidworth|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol15/pp153-163|author-last1=Baggs|author-first1=A.P.|year=1995|editor-last=Crowley|editor-first=D.A.|website=British History Online|publisher=University of London|access-date=22 May 2020|author-first2=Jane|author-last2=Freeman|author-first3=Janet H|author-last3=Stevenson}}</ref> 22 Engineer Regiment arrived at the barracks in January 1975<ref>{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/royal-engineers/regiments---major-units/22-regiment.html|title=22 Engineer Regiment|publisher=British Army Units 1945 On|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=22 Engineer Regiment|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/corps-of-royal-engineers/22-engineer-regiment/|website=British Army|language=en-GB|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref> and were later joined by 26 Engineer Regiment.<ref>{{Cite web|title=26 Engineer Regiment|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/corps-of-royal-engineers/26-engineer-regiment/|website=British Army|language=en-GB|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref> The barracks became a specialist centre for armoured engineering, and its name was chosen to commemorate Major-General Sir Ernest Swinton, who was an early advocate of armoured vehicles and responsible for the recruitment and training of the Tank Detachment in 1916, and, later, Colonel Commandant of the Tank Corps.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/swinton.htm|title=Who's Who – Sir Ernest Swinton|publisher=First World War|access-date=4 October 2020}}</ref>

Extensive reconstruction at the barracks involving new or refurbished buildings was carried out under Project Allenby Connaught between 2006 and 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/documents/s156489/Army%20Rebasing%20update.pdf|title=Army Basing Programme Update|publisher=Wiltshire Council|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref>

==Units== The units currently based at the barracks are:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2018-11-22/194616|title=Order of Battle, Manpower, and Basing Locations|access-date=20 November 2020}}</ref> *1st Signal Regiment *15th Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals<ref name="Hartle" /> *22 Engineer Regiment *26 Engineer Regiment

== See also ==

* List of British Army installations

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Installations of the British Army Category:Barracks in England Category:Military history of Wiltshire Category:Tidworth Category:Military installations established in 1915