The factory was built in 1958 for Pinehurst Textiles the British Army took it over in early 1971 and the following Brigade Headquarters have served there with their supporting Royal Signals Squadrons known as the "Knicker Factory" to those who served there
09 Feb 71 to 04 Jun 71 – 16 Parachute Brigade HQ & 216 Signal Squadron
04 Jun 71 to 26 Oct 71 – 19 Airportable Brigade HQ & Signal Squadron
25 Oct 71 to 25 Feb 72 – 5 Airportable Brigade HQ & Signal Squadron
25 Feb 72 to Jan 76 – 3 Infantry Brigade HQ & Signal Squadron
04 Jun 71 to 26 Oct 71 – 19 Airportable Brigade HQ & Signal Squadron
25 Oct 71 to 25 Feb 72 – 5 Airportable Brigade HQ & Signal Squadron
25 Feb 72 to Jan 76 – 3 Infantry Brigade HQ & Signal Squadron
then moved to Mahon Road Camp – Portadown
In addition units in the infantry role and bomb disposal teams served at Kitchen Hill until 1980
Elements of 1 Parachute Logistic Regiment RCT – 09 Feb 71 to 04 Jun 71
3 Section 321 EOD Company RAOC – 1971 to 1980
8 Field Squadron 22 Engineer Regiment – Oct 71 to Nov 71
? Company 1 Battalion Staffordshire Regiment – Sep 72 to Jan 73
? Squadron 3 Royal Tank Regiment – Jan 73 to May 73
? Squadron 3 Royal Tank Regiment – Jan 73 to May 73
4 Field Squadron 21 Engineer Regiment – Dec 74 to Apr 75
56 Battery 27 Field Regiment Royal Artillery – Apr 75 to Aug 75
? Battery 26 Field Regiment Royal Artillery – Aug 75 to Dec 75
? Battery 2 Field Regiment Royal Artillery – Mar 77 to Jul 77
21 Battery 27 Field Regiment Royal Artillery – Aug 77 to Nov 77
? Battery 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery – Mar 78 to Jul 78
5 Field Squadron and TAC HQ 3 Armoured Division Engineer Regiment – Jul 78 to Nov 78
F Battery 22 Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery – Nov 78 to Mar 79
7 Field Squadron 1 Armoured Division Engineer Regiment – Mar 79 to Jul 79
52 Battery 45 Field Regiment Royal Artillery – Jul 79 to Nov 79
RHQ + 58 (Eyres) Battery 22 Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery – Nov 79 to Mar 80
64 Amphibious Engineer Squadron 28 Amphibious Engineer Regiment – Mar 80 to Jul 80
I also served here crossing over the Royal Engineers & Royal Artillery period the first half of 1975. These lads were not in the tower block, but in some low buildings to the rear. I was RCT and we had a large range of vehicles from Saracens and Pigs, through to Q cars and soft skinned military. Although we shared the basement of the tower block, our creature comforts were much less and we had a temporary shower and toilet block in the yard outside. The road on the right of your picture was completely closed to the public and taken over as a vehicle parking area. In addition to the units mentioned, there was RCT, Pioneer Corps (who guarded the site), various Intelligence Corps sub units and SF.
ReplyDeleteNov 79 to Mar 80 was RHQ 12 Air Defence Regt RA (CO Lt Col John Crawshaw) and 58 (Eyre’s) AD Bty RA, Bty Comd Maj Keith Bryan.
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