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 responsible for counter terrorist Explosive Ordnance Disposal, the safe recovery or disposal of conventional munitions. The regiment also has an ammunition inspectorate role supporting the Inspector Explosives. With headquarters in Didcot, the regiment has sub units geographically based throughout the UK to provide a nationwide high readiness response capability in support of the police.
History
The regiment's history commences in the period immediately after World War II. At the time, the regional Commands HQs across the UK established Ammunition Inspectorates to oversee the drawdown of the vast stockpiles of ammunition in numerous sub depots across the country, much of it was still stocked alongside many of the roads in the countryside. These Command Ammunition Inspectorates, Northern Command, Southern Command etc. were eventually grouped into one unit, 1 Ammunition Inspection and Disposal Unit RAOC, which formed on 15 March 1972 at Salisbury.In April 1982, 1 Ammo IDU became 11 Ordnance Battalion and was relocated to Didcot. On 5 April 1993, the battalion was retitled to 11 EOD Regiment RLC, following the formation of the RLC. In June 2018 the Regiment was renamed to 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment RLC, in recognition of the importance of Search within the Explosive Ordnance Disposal community.
Role
The unit is responsible for providing EOD, Conventional Munitions Disposal, Biological and Chemical Munitions Disposal and Ammunition Technical support to Defence and Other Government Departments, in order to support Land Forces Command Capability on UK mainland and overseas.Structure
The structure is as follows:- Headquarters, 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment RLC, at Vauxhall Barracks, Didcot
- Headquarters, 321 EOD & Search Squadron RLC, at Alexander Barracks, Aldergrove
- Headquarters, 421 EOD & Search Squadron RLC, at Vauxhall Barracks, Didcot
- Headquarters, 521 EOD Squadron RLC, at Piave Lines, Catterick Garrison
- *Catterick Troop, at Catterick Garrison
- *Chester Troop, at Dale Barracks, Chester
- *Edinburgh Troop, at Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh
- Headquarters, 621 EOD Squadron RLC, at RAF Northolt
- *Aldershot Troop, at Aldershot Garrison
- *Colchester Troop, at Colchester Garrison
- *Northolt Troop, at RAF Northolt
- *Shorncliffe Troop, at Risborough Barracks, Shorncliffe
- Headquarters, 721 EOD Squadron RLC, at St Barbara's Barracks, MOD Ashchurch
- *Ashchurch Troop, at St Barbara's Barracks, MOD Ashchurch
- *Nottingham Troop, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell
- *Tidworth Troop, at Tidworth Camp
Notable personnel
- Gary O'Donnell
- Olaf Schmid
- Karl Ley
- Lisa Head
- Kim Hughes
Honours
On 19 November 2010, in a ceremony at Didcot Parkway railway station, a High Speed Train locomotive, no. 43087 operated by Great [Western Railway |Great Western Railway], was named 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment Royal Logistic Corps. The ceremony was attended by Lt Col Gareth Bex ; soldiers of the Regiment; Mark Hopwood, of FGW; Keith Mitchell, leader of the county council; and the MP for Wantage, Ed Vaizey.
On 15 March 2018 the regiment was awarded the Firmin Sword of Peace, one of the highest accolades that can be bestowed upon a military unit. The award reflected in particular the regiment's specialist search operations during the Didcot Power Station tragedy and the safe disposal of the hazardous chemical 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine from school laboratories nationwide, which posed an explosive threat to UK school children.