Royal School of Artillery

The Royal School of Artillery, formerly the School of Instruction for Royal Horse and Field Artillery (Larkhill), is the principal training establishment for artillery warfare in the British Army. Established in 1915, it is located at Larkhill, on the south edge of Salisbury Plain in the United Kingdom. The School is the primary training facility for Royal Artillery recruits, and is also home to the Gunnery Training Team.

History

The Royal School of Artillery was originally established in 1915 as the "School of Instruction for Royal Horse and Field Artillery (Larkhill)",^[1] on land previously used for tented accommodation at Larkhill.^[2] The 1,200-bed Fargo hospital, which was built to the West of the School, also opened around that time to tend for wounded soldiers returning from the First World War (it closed after the War and is now the main ammunition compound for the School).^[1]

During World War II, the School was a hive of activity providing a significant proportion of the training for over one million gunners.^[3]

Although the Royal Artillery Mess dates back to 1941,^[4] much of the camp was rebuilt in the 1960s.^[2] The School was redesignated the "Royal School of Artillery" in 1970.^[2]

Operations

The School provides Phase 2 training for recruits to the Royal Artillery: this training includes gunnery, air defence, surveillance and signals. Trained officers and gunners are then posted to units worldwide, but return to the School for frequent refresher courses.^[5] The School is also the home of the Gunnery Training Team, which provides a training consultancy service to the Royal Artillery and the wider Army.

References

Sources

• James, N D G, 1983, Gunners at Larkhill – a history of the Royal School of Artillery, Griesham Books, Salisbury, ISBN 0-946095-08-6

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal School of Artillery, Larkhill.

• Royal School of Artillery Official site.