HQ Northern Ireland

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HQ Northern Ireland was the command formation responsible for the administration of all British Armed Forces stationed in and around Northern Ireland. It was established in 1922 and disbanded, replaced by a brigade-level Territorial Army formation, 38 Brigade, in 2009.

Organisation

HQ Northern Ireland was established following the partition of Ireland in 1922 and was originally based at Newtownards.^[1]

On 30 January 2006 the Secretary of State for Defence announced to the House that 19 Light Brigade, then stationed at Catterick, would be re-roling to a light brigade and relocating to Scotland and Northern Ireland.^[2]

On 10 May 2006 it was further announced that "in addition to the HQ and other units of 19 Light Brigade that we expect to relocate to Northern Ireland in 2007 and 2008, a new and non-deployable regional brigade headquarters will form at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn. The current 107 (Ulster) Brigade, based at Ballymena, will merge on 15 December this year into HQ 39 Infantry Brigade, which will itself be replaced by the new regional brigade headquarters, 38th (Irish) Brigade under the command of the 2nd Division, on 1 August 2007".^[2]

On 6 August 2007 Headquarters Northern Ireland and 38 (Irish) Brigade combined to create a single transitional headquarters with a two star General Officer Commanding. HQ 38 (Irish) Brigade is now the main headquarters, residual regional functions having been migrated to HQ 2 Division in Edinburgh.^[3]

The RAF's presence in Northern Ireland was based at RAF Aldergrove.

The Royal Navy no longer maintain a regular presence in Northern Ireland waters with the disbandment of the Northern Ireland Squadron. The Royal Navy's main presence is HMS Caroline, which serves as the HQ of the Royal Naval Reserve's Ulster Division.^[4]

Formation

• Permanent Units
  • HQ Northern Ireland
  • 15 Signal Regiment
  • 38 Infantry Brigade
    • HQNI Support Battalion
    • 2nd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)
    • 591 (Independent) Field Squadron, Royal Engineers
    • 152 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
    • 253 Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps
    • Queen's University Officer Training Corps
  • B (North Irish Horse) Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry
  • 40 (Ulster) Signal Regiment
  • 206 (Ulster) Battery, 105th Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)
  • 204 Field Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps
  • No. 230 Squadron, RAF (Former)
  • No. 3 Squadron, RAF Regiment
  • 5 Regiment, Army Air Corps
  • 25 Engineer Regiment
  • 8 Detachment, Lisburn, Northern Ireland - 243 Provost Company (Volunteers)

British Army portal

General Officers Commanding Northern Ireland

General Officers Commanding have included:^[5][6][7]
Northern Ireland District

• General Sir Archibald Cameron 1922-1925
• General Sir Felix Ready 1926-1929
• General Sir Arthur Wauchope 1929-1931
• Major-General Sir Eric Girdwood 1931-1935
• Major-General James Cooke-Collis 1935-1938
• Major-General Robert Pollock 1938-1940
• Major-General Hubert Huddleston 1940
• Major-General Ridley Pakenham-Walsh 1940-1941
• Major-General Vivian Majendie 1941-1943
• Major-General Alan Cunningham 1943-1944
• Major-General Gerard Bucknall 1944-1948
• Major-General Ouvry Roberts 1948-1949
• Lieutenant General Sir Reginald Denning 1949-1952
• Lieutenant General Sir John Woodall 1952-1955
• Lieutenant General Sir Brian Kimmins 1955-1958
• Lieutenant General Sir Douglas Packard 1959-1961

Northern Ireland Command

• Lieutenant General Sir John Hackett 1961-1963
• Lieutenant General Sir Richard Anderson 1963-1965
• Lieutenant General Sir Desmond Fitzpatrick 1965-1966
• Lieutenant General Sir Ian Harris 1966-1969
• Lieutenant General Sir Ian Freeland 1969-1971
• Lieutenant General Vernon Erskine-Crum 1971
• General Sir Harry Tuzo 1971-1973
• General Sir Frank King 1973-1975
• Lieutenant General Sir David House 1975-1977
• General Sir Timothy Creasey 1977-1979
• General Sir Richard Lawson 1979-1982
• Lieutenant General Sir Robert Richardson 1982-1985
• General Sir Robert Pascoe 1985-1988
• General Sir John Waters 1988-1990
• General Sir John Wilsey 1990-1993
• General Sir Roger Wheeler 1993-1996
• General Sir Rupert Smith 1996-1998
• Lieutenant General Sir Hew Pike 1998-2000
• General Sir Alistair Irwin 2000-2003
• Lieutenant General Sir Philip Trousdell 2003-2005
• General Sir Redmond Watt 2005-2006
• Lieutenant General Nick Parker 2006-2007
• Major General Chris Brown 2008-2009

References

1. ^ Whitaker's Almanack 1925 pg 242
2. ^ ^{a b} Written Ministerial Statements for 10 May 2006
3. ^ 38 Bde/HQ NI website accessed January 2008
4. ^ Battle of Jutland veteran HMS Caroline to stay in Belfast Belfast Telegraph, 1 December 2009
5. ^ Whitaker's Almanacks 1922 - 2010
6. ^ Northern Ireland Command at Regiments.org
7. ^ Army Commands