Larkhill Garrison

Larkhill Garrison
Name	Larkhill Garrison
Location	Larkhill, Wiltshire, England
Coordinates	51.164°N 1.754°W
Type	Garrison
Controlled by	British Army
Built	1914
Used	1914–present
Occupants	Royal Artillery, Royal School of Artillery

Larkhill Garrison is a British Army installation on the Salisbury Plain near Durrington and Amesbury in Wiltshire. Established during the First World War as an artillery range and training centre, it developed into a principal home of the Royal Artillery and the Royal School of Artillery. The garrison lies adjacent to long-established training areas used by formations involved in historic campaigns such as the Gallipoli Campaign and the Battle of the Somme, and it remains integral to UK and allied readiness programmes involving units from NATO, the United States Army, and other partners.

History

Larkhill originated in 1914 when the War Office requisitioned parts of Salisbury Plain to create firing ranges for the Royal Field Artillery, expanding after the Battle of Arras and the Battle of the Somme. Interwar developments saw links with the Territorial Army and influence from figures like Douglas Haig and doctrines emerging after the First World War. During the Second World War the site supported training for formations destined for the Western Front (1944–1945), the North African Campaign, and the Italian Campaign, hosting units rotated from the British Expeditionary Force and schools associated with the Ministry of Defence. Postwar reorganisations tied Larkhill to the Cold War posture of the British Army of the Rhine, integration with NATO artillery exercises such as Exercise Lionheart, and modernisation efforts following the Options for Change reforms and the Army 2020 programme.

Geography and Layout

Situated on the Salisbury Plain, the garrison occupies terrain near Durrington Down, the River Avon (Bristol) headwaters, and the prehistoric landscape centred on Stonehenge. Road links connect to the A303 and the M3 motorway, with rail access via Salisbury railway station. The installation comprises barracks, gun parks, ranges, and technical workshops laid out around central facilities including the Royal School of Artillery headquarters, parade grounds, and accommodation named after figures such as Wellington and Churchill-era commanders. Perimeter areas abut conservation zones administered alongside agencies like English Heritage and local authorities including Wiltshire Council.

Units and Operations

Primary units have included regiments of the Royal Artillery, batteries from the Royal Horse Artillery, and training detachments from the Army Air Corps and Royal Engineers when joint live-fire or counterbattery exercises demanded integrated support. Operational responsibilities have supported deployments to conflicts including the Falklands War, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), with personnel contributing to multinational commands such as ISAF and Operation Telic. The garrison hosts staff from the Defence Equipment and Support organisation and liaison officers from partner militaries including elements of the United States Army Europe and allied contingents involved in Combined Joint Expeditionary Force readiness.

Training and Facilities

Training at the garrison centres on gunnery, targeting, and fire-control taught by the Royal School of Artillery and visiting instructors from institutions such as the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and overseas academies like the United States Military Academy. Facilities encompass computer-assisted training suites, simulated fire-control systems comparable to those used in NATO exercises, live-fire ranges that accommodate artillery calibres used since the QF 18-pounder through modern systems like the AS-90 and the M777 howitzer, and drone and counter-unmanned aerial systems ranges reflecting lessons from the Gulf War (1990–1991) and War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). Engineering support is provided by workshops aligned with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and logistics by units tied to the Royal Logistic Corps.

Community and Economy

The garrison contributes significantly to the local economy of Amesbury and surrounding parishes through employment, housing, and contracts with firms such as aerospace and defence contractors engaged by the Ministry of Defence and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. Social infrastructure includes a military community centre, medical facilities connected with the National Health Service (England), schools attended by service families, and heritage collaborations with organisations like English Heritage because of proximity to Stonehenge. Civil–military relations have involved parish councils, Wiltshire Police, and regional MPs representing constituencies such as Salisbury (UK Parliament constituency).

Notable Events and Incidents

Notable events around the garrison include major artillery trials and demonstrations attended by defence ministers during defence reviews such as Defence Review (2010), multinational exercises hosting partners from NATO and the United States Marine Corps, and commemorations linked to Armistice Day and the centenary of First World War battles. Incidents have included range safety investigations akin to those following live-fire accidents in other UK training areas and community disputes over noise and environmental impact handled through bodies such as the Planning Inspectorate and Environment Agency (England). The site has also been a focal point for visits by members of the Royal Family and international defence delegations during capability demonstrations.

Category:Military installations of the United Kingdom Category:Wiltshire