The Royal Military College of Science (RMCS) was a British

postgraduate school Postgraduate or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate (bachelor's) degree. The organization and struc ...

research institution A research institute, research centre, research center or research organization, is an establishment founded for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research. Although the term often i ...

and training provider with origins dating back to 1772. It became part of the

Defence Academy of the United Kingdom The Defence Academy of the United Kingdom provides higher education for personnel in the British Armed Forces, Civil Service, other government departments and service personnel from other nations. The Director General of the Defence Academy is ...

in 2009, and ceased to exist as an independent unit in 2015.

History

Predecessors

The college traced its history back to the Military Society of Woolwich, founded by two

artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during si ...

officers in 1772 'for the theoretical, practical and experimental study of gunnery'. The Society did not outlast the

Napoleonic Wars The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fre ...

; but in 1839, inspired by its example, two junior officers (Lt (later Gen Sir) J. H. Lefroy and Lt (later Maj-Gen) F. M. Eardley-Wilmot) proposed the formation of an Institute to train artillery officers along similar lines. This led to the establishment the following year of the Royal Artillery Institution "for the study of science and modern languages". Initially the RA Institution was supported by voluntary donations, but a grant of public money in 1850 put the establishment on a firmer footing and led to the appointment of a Director of Artillery Studies to oversee ongoing training of artillery officers. In 1864, in light of fast-moving advances in technology, an Advanced Class for Artillery Officers was formed within the Institution, again at Lefroy's instigation, to provide a more rigorous, two-year course of study leading to a recognised qualification. A full-time Professor of

Applied Mathematics Applied mathematics is the application of mathematical methods by different fields such as physics, engineering, medicine, biology, finance, business, computer science, and industry. Thus, applied mathematics is a combination of mathemati ...

was now appointed, as well as visiting lecturers in Chemistry, Metallurgy and Physics and Practical Mechanics, while students were also provided with professional instruction within the

Royal Arsenal The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich is an establishment on the south bank of the River Thames in Woolwich in south-east London, England, that was used for the manufacture of armaments and ammunition, proofing, and explosives research for the Britis ...

in the properties of guns, carriages, ammunition and small arms. In 1885 the Department of Artillery Studies moved from the Institution into Red Barracks, Woolwich and was renamed Artillery College. At the same time its courses were made available to all officers of the Army and the Royal Marines, not just those of the Artillery. Artificer training was also offered by the college. In the early 20th century new

chairs A chair is a type of seat, typically designed for one person and consisting of one or more legs, a flat or slightly angled seat and a back-rest. They may be made of wood, metal, or synthetic materials, and may be padded or upholstered in vari ...

were established, alongside that of the Bashforth Professor of Mathematics and Ballistics, with the appointment of Professors of Chemistry (1900), Electricity (1903, later renamed Electrical and Mechanical Engineering) and Physics (1918). In 1889 the College further expanded and a

commandant Commandant ( or ) is a title often given to the officer in charge of a military (or other uniformed service) training establishment or academy. This usage is common in English-speaking nations. In some countries it may be a military or police ran ...

was appointed; in 1899 it was renamed Ordnance College, before reverting to its former name in 1918. Courses were suspended for the duration of the First World War.

Establishment

After World War I, the Artillery College continued to expand and took over the whole of Red Barracks; in 1927 it became the Military College of Science, reflecting its now wider remit. By 1939 there were 22 civilian academic staff and the college was more akin to a university in its operation, albeit with military instructors continuing to provide specialist teaching in the Royal Arsenal alongside the academic subjects which were taught in Red Barracks. At the start of 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 opposi ...

the college left Woolwich, which was vulnerable to

aerial bombing An airstrike, air strike or air raid is an offensive operation carried out by aircraft. Air strikes are delivered from aircraft such as blimps, balloons, fighters, heavy bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters and drones. The offici ...

. It moved initially to the artillery ranges at

Lydd Lydd is a town and electoral ward in Kent, England, lying on Romney Marsh. It is one of the larger settlements on the marsh, and the most southerly town in Kent. Lydd reached the height of its prosperity during the 13th century, when it was a ...

in Kent, then dispersed to three sites: the Artillery Equipment section to

Stoke-on-Trent Stoke-on-Trent (often abbreviated to Stoke) is a city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Staffordshire, England, with an area of . In 2019, the city had an estimated population of 256,375. It is the largest settlement ...

, Fire Control Instruments to Bury, and Mechanical Traction to

Rhyl Rhyl (; cy, Y Rhyl, ) is a seaside town and community in Denbighshire, Wales. The town lies within the historic boundaries of Flintshire, on the north-east coast of Wales at the mouth of the River Clwyd ( Welsh: ''Afon Clwyd''). To the we ...

. A fourth site for Tank Technology was established in 1942 at

Chobham Chobham is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Surrey Heath in Surrey, England. The village has a small high street area, specialising in traditional trades and motor trades. The River Bourne and its northern tributary, the Hale, ...

, Surrey. After the war, the college was reconstituted and reopened at Shrivenham, Berkshire, although the Rhyl section was renamed the Royal Artillery Mechanical Traction School and moved instead to Bordon, Hampshire in 1945.

Shrivenham

The Shrivenham site (then in Berkshire but since 1974 in Oxfordshire) had begun to be used for military training in the late 1930s, after the War Office purchased Beckett Hall, an 1830s country house, together with the surrounding estate. It lies between the villages of Shrivenham and Watchfield in the

Vale of White Horse The Vale of White Horse is a local government district of Oxfordshire in England. It was historically a north-west projection of Berkshire. The area is commonly referred to as the 'Vale of ''the'' White Horse'. It is crossed by the Ridgeway Na ...

district of south-west Oxfordshire, close to the county border with Wiltshire. At Shrivenham the college was organised into four faculties: Mathematics and Physics, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering and Instrument Technology. Military instruction was, for the first time, absorbed into the academic faculties; it was overseen by three Military Directors of Studies (in Weapons, Fighting Vehicles and Fire Direction). The college was granted formal recognition by

London University The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degre ...

, enabling its students to be examined for the award of degrees. The college also provided for postgraduate studies in such specialist areas as Guided Weapons Systems and Nuclear Science and Technology, and was allowed to develop as a centre for research as well as teaching. In 1953, the college was granted its "Royal" title and became the Royal Military College of Science (RMCS). In 1984

Cranfield University , mottoeng = After clouds light , established = 1946 - College of Aeronautics 1969 - Cranfield Institute of Technology (gained university status by royal charter) 1993 - Cranfield University (adopted current name) , type = Public research uni ...

became the main academic provider of the college. A contract entered into in November 2005 extended the Cranfield relationship to 2028. Defence Academy Shrivenham

In 2004 the Royal Military College of Science amalgamated with the Defence Leadership Centre to create the Defence College of Management and Technology (DCMT). Then in 2009, DCMT became part of the

, and was therefore renamed the Defence Academy – College of Management and Technology (DA-CMT). DA-CMT continued to be based at Shrivenham, and there were also training centres around the country. The facilities at Shrivenham were run by Serco Defence, and the departments included: Centre for Defence Acquisition and Technology, Centre for Defence Leadership and Management, Defence Centre for Languages and Culture (formerly The Defence School of Languages), Nuclear Department and the Defence Technical Officer and Engineer Entry Scheme (DTOEES).

Fate

Since 2015 the College has ceased to exist as a distinct unit within the Defence Academy; its work is continued in several of the constituent units of the Academy, including the Technical School, Nuclear Department, Shrivenham Leadership Centre, Business Skills College and DTOEES.

Commandants

Commandants of the RMCS have included: *Major-General John D. Shapland: March 1946 – December 1948 *Major-General W. John Eldridge: December 1948 – August 1951 *Major-General Basil C. Davey: August 1951 – August 1954 *Major-General Edwyn H.W. Cobb: August 1954 – May 1955 *Major-General Charles L. Richardson: May 1955 – February 1958 *Major-General John W. Hackett: February 1958 – February 1961 *Major-General Sir Robert W. Ewbank: February 1961 – April 1964 *Major-General Edward J.H. Bates: April 1964 – May 1967 *Major-General Napier Crookenden: May 1967 – July 1969 *Major-General Frank D. King: July 1969 – October 1971 *Major-General Frank W.J. Cowtan: October 1971 – April 1975 *Major-General Marston E. Tickell: April 1975–1978 *Major-General Thomas L. Morony: September 1978 – July 1980 *Major-General Richard F. Vincent: July 1980 – April 1983 *Major-General John J. Stibbon: April 1983 – September 1985 *Major-General John A.M. Evans: September 1985 – October 1987 *Major-General A.S. Jeremy Blacker: October 1987 – March 1989 *Major-General

Samuel Cowan General Sir Samuel Cowan (born 9 October 1941) is a former Quartermaster-General to the Forces. Career Educated at Lisburn Technology College and the Open University, Cowan was commissioned into the Royal Corps of Signals in 1963. In 1980 he be ...

: March 1989 – September 1991 *Major-General Edmund F.G. Burton: September 1991 – October 1994 *Major-General David J.M. Jenkins: October 1994 – December 1996 *Major-General Alistair S.H. Irwin: December 1996 – March 1999 *Major-General John C.B. Sutherell: March 1999 – April 2002 *Major-General Robert Baxter: April 2002–2005

Notable staff

Notable members of staff of the College included: * The Rev. Francis Bashforth FRS (known as the 'Father of modern gunnery'), Professor of Applied Mathematics 1864–1873 * John Percy FRS, Lecturer in Metallurgy 1864–1889 * Sir

William Davidson Niven Sir William Davidson Niven (24 March 1842 – 29 May 1917) was a Scottish mathematician and electrical engineer. After an early teaching career at Cambridge, Niven was Director of Studies at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, for thirty years. ...

KCB, FRS, Professor of Mathematics c.1873–1874 * Sir George Greenhill FRS, Professor of Mathematics 1876–1906 *

Henry Plummer Henry Plummer (1832–1864) was a prospector, lawman, and outlaw in the American West in the 1850s and 1860s, who was known to have killed several men. He was elected sheriff of Bannack, Montana, in 1863 and served until 1864, during which pe ...

FRS, FRAS, Professor of Mathematics 1921–1940 * Edward Andrade FRS, Professor of Physics 1920–28 * Sir

Graham Sutton Sir Oliver Graham Sutton CBE FRS (4 February 1903 – 26 May 1977) was a Welsh mathematician and meteorologist, notable particularly for theoretical work on atmospheric diffusion, boundary layer turbulence, and for his direction of the UK Met ...

CBE, FRS, Bashforth Professor of Mathematical Physics 1947–1953

References

External links

Defence and Security – Cranfield University

DA-CMT
at Defence Academy of the UK, archived in 2009 * *
Photograph of college buildings c.1965
at Francis Frith {{Coord, 51.6030, N, 1.6404, W, type:edu_region:GB_source:wikidata, display=title Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) Cranfield University Military training establishments of the United Kingdom Higher education colleges in England Serco 1772 establishments in England Educational institutions established in 1772 Educational institutions disestablished in 2015 2015 disestablishments in England