Carlton Barracks is a military installation in

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...

West Yorkshire West Yorkshire is a metropolitan and ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and Humber Region of England. It is an inland and upland county having eastward-draining valleys while taking in the moors of the Pennines. West Yorkshire came into exi ...

, England.

History

The barracks were opened as a base for the 4th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Militia in 1865. In 1887 the barracks were bought, with corps funds, to accommodate the 3rd Battalion the Prince of Wales (West Yorkshire) Regiment (The Rifles). In 1908, the 3rd battalion became the 7th and 8th battalions; these new battalions were also based at Carlton Barracks. At the start of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

so many men reported to Carlton Barracks in response to the call to arms that the

War Office The War Office was a department of the British Government responsible for the administration of the British Army between 1857 and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the new Ministry of Defence (MoD). This article contains text from ...

decided to form two second line battalions (2/7th and 2/8th, the original battalions becoming 1/7th and 1/8th). After the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

the headquarters of 45th (Leeds Rifles) Royal Tank Regiment (TA) was established at the barracks as was the headquarters of 269 Field Regiment Royal Artillery. The former regiment evolved to become the 7th (Leeds Rifles) battalion of the

West Yorkshire Regiment ) , march = ''Ça Ira'' , battles = Namur FontenoyFalkirk Culloden Brandywine , anniversaries = Imphal (22 June) The West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) (14th Foot) was ...

, based at Carlton Barracks, and the latter regiment evolved to become a battery now known as

269 (West Riding) Battery Royal Artillery 269 (West Riding) Battery Royal Artillery is part of 101st (Northumbrian) Regiment Royal Artillery, an artillery regiment of the British Army. History The battery was formed as 269 (West Riding) Observation Post Battery Royal Artillery (Voluntee ...

which is still based at the barracks. Other Army Reserve units based at the barracks now include 49 (West Riding) Signal Squadron and B Squadron 23

Special Air Service The Special Air Service (SAS) is a special forces unit of the British Army. It was founded as a regiment in 1941 by David Stirling and in 1950, it was reconstituted as a corps. The unit specialises in a number of roles including counter-terro ...

(R). The barracks are also the home of the Yorkshire Officer Training Regiment and the local branch of the

Army Cadet Force The Army Cadet Force (ACF), generally shortened to Army Cadets, is a national youth organisation sponsored by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence and the British Army. Along with the Sea Cadet Corps and the Air Training Corps, the ACF mak ...

as well as ,

Royal Naval Reserve The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is one of the two volunteer reserve forces of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. Together with the Royal Marines Reserve, they form the Maritime Reserve. The present RNR was formed by merging the original Ro ...

, which is also home to the Yorkshire Universities Royal Navy Unit, and the Leeds Detachment of the Royal Marines Reserve Merseyside.

References

{{reflist Installations of the British Army Barracks in England Buildings and structures in Leeds