Cameron Barracks

Cameron Barracks is a British Army installation that stands on Knockentinnel Hill on the eastern outskirts of Inverness in Scotland.

Cameron Barracks
Inverness
Northern Constabulary Pipe Band at Cameron Barracks
Cameron Barracks is located in Inverness area
Cameron Barracks
Cameron Barracks
Location within Invernesshire
Coordinates57°28′54″N 4°12′9″W
TypeBarracks
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
Operator British Army
Site history
Built1876–1884
Built forWar Office
In use1884–present

History

The barracks were built by the Royal Engineers' Office between 1880 and 1886.[1] In 1873 a system of recruiting areas based on counties had been instituted under the Cardwell Reforms and the barracks were intended to become the depot for the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot and the 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot.[2] Following the Childers Reforms, the barracks became depot of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders in 1881.[2]

During the First World War, the barracks was used to process many thousands of volunteer recruits. Returning wounded and demobilising soldiers also passed through the barracks towards the end of the war and on its conclusion. Conscientious objectors were, for a time, held here, as was the crew of a captured German submarine.[3]

The barracks remained in use as the base of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders until September 1960, when the regiment moved to Fort George, shortly before the amalgamation of Seaforths and Camerons.[1]

Architecture

Built in the Baronial style, it consists of 4 two-storey blocks enclosing 3 sides of the parade ground. The north-west and west blocks each have, at their centre, twin conical-roofed drum towers linked by a balcony above the round-arched entrance. The north-east block is surmounted by an asymmetrical clock-tower. There is, at the north-east corner, a square-plan entrance tower forming the main gateway. The barracks was listed as Category B listed building on 21 May 1971.[4]

Music

Cameron Barracks has a very long affiliation with both Army Piping and Cadet Force Piping. The first Army Class of Instruction was held at Cameron Barracks in 1910 under the expert tutelage of Pipe Major John MacDonald and supervisory direction of the Piobaireachd Society. The Army Cadet Force has endeavoured to keep this affiliation alive and each year an eight-day course of instruction is held at Cameron Barracks during the Easter school holidays.[5]

Current units

The barracks are mostly used for exercising troops,[6] however a number of small permanent occupants are present:

References
  1. "Cameron Barracks". Am Baile. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. "Training Depots". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 10 February 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. "Inverness Training Area". Secret Scotland. 10 April 2008. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  4. Good Stuff IT Services. "Perth Road, Cameron Barracks - Inverness - Highland - Scotland". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  5. "Piping and drumming | Army Cadet Force". Armycadets.com. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  6. "New kitchen and dining facility at Cameron Barracks enhances training experience for armed forces". Defence Infrastructure Organisation. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  7. "Contacts for Queen's Own Highlanders". Retrieved 24 February 2021.
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