Ubique Barracks, Widnes

Ubique Barracks, Widnes is a military installation of the British Ministry of Defence occupied by the British Army located in Widnes, Cheshire WA8 6TH, England.

Ubique Barracks
Widnes, Cheshire
Ubique Barracks is located in Cheshire
Ubique Barracks
Ubique Barracks
Location within Cheshire
Coordinates53°22′27″N 02°43′25.8″W / 53.37417°N 2.723833°W / 53.37417; -2.723833
TypeBarracks
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
Operator British Army
Site history
In use1985[1]–Present
Garrison information
Garrison4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment

History edit

Following the reorganisation of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve, a Light Air Defence Troop was formed at the (then) Territorial Army Centre, Widnes part of the also newly formed 213 (South Lancashire Artillery) Light Air Defence Battery. In 1986, following the formation of the Home Service Force (a home defence roled infantry force), a new detachment formed at the barracks part of A (Home Service Force) Battery. At this time the centre was expanded to the modern barracks.[2][1][3]

As part of the Options for Change reform announced after the Dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Home Service Force Battery was disbanded, and the LAD troop based in Widnes reduced to the battery LAD, where it remained until 2001.[2][1]

In 2001, an internal reorganisation of 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment Royal Artillery saw the regimental Light Aid Detachment (LAD), Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers disperse and join each battery individually, leaving the barracks vacant.[2][3][1]

In 2007 following the Future Army Structure programme whereas B (Cheshire) Company, 4th Battalion Mercian Regiment was based. This company was later to be disbanded by 2018, but under the Army 2020 Refine programme, the company remained at the location.[4][5]

On 19 April 2018, a 'suspicious package' was notified to the Cheshire Constabulary, but this was later found to just be a false alarm.[6][7]

Ubique Barracks forms part of Cheshire Garrison, a regional garrison overseeing all units based within the county of Cheshire.[8]

Current garrison edit

The current garrison of the barracks includes the following:

British Army

Community Cadet Forces

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Farewell to arms". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "103rd Regiment, RA (V) [UK]". 10 December 2007. Archived from the original on 10 December 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Farewell to arms". Warrington Guardian. 27 March 2003. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Military bases to close in reservist shake up". ITV News. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Summary of Army 2020 Reserve Structure and Basing Changes" (PDF). British Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Brit primary school EVACUATED over bomb alert in police swoop". Brit primary school EVACUATED over bomb alert in police swoop. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  7. ^ Gavin, Harvey (19 April 2018). "Cheshire primary school evacuated after 'suspicious package' prompts bomb scare". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  8. ^ "The official site of the Commanding Officer 75 Engineer Regiment, Commander Cheshire Garrison and Chairman of Royal Engineer Basketball". CO 75 Engr Regt – Twitter. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  9. ^ Live, Cheshire (22 May 2012). "Ellesmere Port TA officer and Great Sutton cadet honoured by Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire". CheshireLive. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  10. ^ FOI(A) Response, Information related to the Army 2020 Refine. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Army Reserve Centre, Peelhouse Lane, Widnes WA8 6TH". Army Careers. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  12. ^ "FOI(A) regarding Army 2020 Refine Army Reserve locations" (PDF). What do they know?. 11 May 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Further supplementary evidence submitted by the Ministry of Defence on the Army 2020 Refine". United Kingdom Parliamentary Publications. 25 December 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Cheshire Army Cadets". Army Cadets UK. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Home - Sea Cadets Widnes". www.sea-cadets.org. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  16. ^ "310 (Widnes) Squadron Air Cadets". 310aircadets.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  17. ^ "310 (Widnes)". RAF Air Cadets. Retrieved 13 April 2021.