Vauxhall Barracks is a British Army installation in

Didcot Didcot ( ) is a railway town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in South Oxfordshire, England, located south of Oxford, east of Wantage and north west of Reading, Berkshire, Reading. Historically part of Berkshire, the town is noted ...

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire ( ; abbreviated ''Oxon'') is a ceremonial county in South East England. The county is bordered by Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, and Wiltshire and Glouceste ...

. It is set to close in 2034.

History

The barracks were established during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

alongside a depot for storing explosives from Woolwich Arsenal. By the end of the War 1,900 troops were based there. Then during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

elements of the

Royal Berkshire Regiment The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1959. The regiment was created in 1881, as the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment), by ...

were based at the barracks. The ordnance depot closed in 1964 when operations were moved to

Bicester Bicester ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Cherwell district of Oxfordshire, England, north-west of Oxford. The town is a notable tourist attraction due to the Bicester Village shopping centre. The historical town centre � ...

;

Didcot power station Didcot power station (Didcot B Power Station) is an active natural gas power plant that supplies the National Grid (UK), National Grid. A combined coal and oil power plant, Didcot A, was the first station on the site, which opened in 1970 and w ...

was built on the site. The barracks, though, were retained; since 1982 they have has been the home of

11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment RLC 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment RLC is a specialist regiment of the British Army's Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) responsible for counter terrorist Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), the safe recovery or disposal of conventional mu ...

. They are now known as Vauxhall Barracks.

Based units

The following notable units are based at Vauxhall Barracks.

Royal Logistic Corps The Royal Logistic Corps provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army. History The Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) was formed on 5 April 1993, by the union of five British Army corps: * Royal Engine ...

* 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment ** Headquarters 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Search Regiment ** 421 Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Search Squadron

Future

In November 2016, the

Ministry of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

announced that the site would close in 2028. This was later extended to 2034.

References

{{reflist Installations of the British Army Barracks in England Didcot