Kimberley Barracks
Kimberley Barracks is a military installation on Deepdale Road in Preston in Lancashire, England PR1 6PR.
Naming
The name of the barracks is based on the battle honour won by the Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) when it was besieged by Boer forces during the Siege of Kimberley. The regiment was able to hold the town for four months and one day until the siege was lifted. The regiment was posthumously awarded the battle honour 'Defence of Kimberley'. From December 1925 the regiment maintained a formal alliance with the Kimberley Regiment, which has continued into the Duke of [Lancaster's Regiment].History
The barracks were established during the Second World War and were initially used to accommodate the 5th County of Lancaster Battalion, Home Guard.After the reformation of the Territorial Army in 1947, the role of Kimberley Barracks expanded. Three Royal Artillery units were based here, including:
- Headquarters, 93rd (Anti-Aircraft) Army Group, [Royal Artillery]
- * 597th (Loyals) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
Following the formation of the 4th Battalion, Queen's [Lancashire Regiment] on 1 April 1975, Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company were based at the barracks. After the battalion's disbandment and subsequent absorption into the Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers in 1999, the new regiment established its Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Company at the location.
In 2004 the British Army launched an investigation over the release of a photo showing an 'Iraqi prisoner' being urinated on by Queen's Lancashire Regiment soldiers, apparently done on the premises. By 2007, D Company, Lancashire and Cumbrian Volunteers had its company headquarters and 2 Rifle Platoons at the barracks. In 2007, the Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers became 4th Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. The Battalion HQs and HQ Company continue to be the only units based at the location to this day.
Current units
Today only a small garrison of troops are located at the barracks, consisting of the following.British Army
- Battalion Headquarters, 4th Battalion, [Duke of Lancaster's Regiment]
- Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
- 5 Platoon, B Company, 4th Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
- Preston Detachment, Lancashire Army Cadet Force
- 341 Squadron, Cumbria and Lancashire Wing, Air Training Corps