Aldershot Command


Aldershot Command was a Home Command of the British Army.

History

After the success of the Chobham Manoeuvres of 1853, reformers of the British Army decided to create a permanent training camp at Aldershot. To begin the preliminary work a small party of NCOs and men of the Royal Engineers arrived in November 1853 on the site of the present Princes Gardens in the town making them the first soldiers to arrive in Aldershot. These engineers were responsible for surveying and making the preliminary arrangements for The Camp at Aldershot. The Camp was established at Aldershot in 1854 on the recommendation of the Commander-in-Chief, Viscount Hardinge. During the Crimean War, regiments of Militia embodied for home defence were housed at the camp, and the Brigade of Guards used it for summer training, and were reviewed by Queen Victoria.
After the Crimean War, a division of Regular troops was permanently based at Aldershot, and ‘the Division at Aldershot’, became one of the most important home commands of the British Army.
In January 1876 a ‘Mobilization Scheme for the forces in Great Britain and Ireland’ was published, with the ‘Active Army’ divided into eight army corps based on the major Commands and Districts. 2nd Corps was to be formed within Aldershot Command, based at Aldershot. This scheme disappeared in 1881, when the districts were retitled ‘District Commands’. In 1898 Aldershot Command was ranked I on the list. A purpose-built command headquarters was completed in 1895.
The 1901 Army Estimates introduced by St John Brodrick allowed for six army corps based on six regional commands. As outlined in a paper published in 1903, I Corps was to be formed in a reconstituted Aldershot Command, with HQ at Aldershot. General Sir Redvers Buller was appointed acting General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of I Corps in April 1903.
Under Army Order No 28 of 1907 the Home Commands were reorganised to provide a basis for the British Expeditionary Force.

Composition of Aldershot Command 1907

The composition was as follows:
1st Cavalry Brigade
1st Division
2nd Division
Army Troops
When the BEF was sent to France on the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, Aldershot Command provided the basis for I Corps under Lieutenant-General Sir Douglas Haig. The Territorial Force and Special Reserve then took over home defence, with the assembly of Central Force beginning on 18 August 1914. First Army of Central Force was headquartered at Aldershot, with the Highland Division and Highland Mounted Brigade of the TF under command. For the first two years of the war, command at Aldershot was divided between the Major-General, Administration and the commander of Aldershot Training Centre. Aldershot Command was reinstated in 1916 under Hunter.

Second World War

In 1939 Regular Troops reporting to Aldershot Command included 1st Infantry Division and 2nd Infantry Division. On the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, a similar process to August 1914 was repeated when the GOCinC Aldershot Command became GOC I Corps in the new BEF despatched to France. Unlike the other Home Commands, Aldershot had no Coast Divisions or other defence forces under its command, and was solely responsible for providing drafts and reserve formations. In 1941 the Command was downgraded to ‘Aldershot Area’ within a new South-Eastern Command. South Eastern Command ceased to exist at the end of 1944, and Aldershot was transferred to Southern Command, without its own GOC.

Post-War

GOCs were appointed to Aldershot District from 1944 to 1967, when it disappeared in the reorganisation that led to Southern Command being redesignated GHQ UK Land Forces. From 1968, the HQ of South East District was at Aldershot; it was renamed Southern District in 1992, and HQ 4th Division in 1995.

General Officers Commanding-in-Chief

Appointments as General Officers Commanding and General Officers Commanding-in-Chief have included:
The Division at Aldershot
Aldershot District Command
Lieutenant-General Commanding Troops at Aldershot, and 1st Army Corps
In 1905 title changed to GOC-in-C.
In 1907 title changed to Aldershot Corps.
In 1908 became Aldershot Command again.
Aldershot Command
GOC and Major General Administration, Aldershot Command
GOC Aldershot Training Centre
Aldershot Command
South Eastern Command
Commanders included:
Aldershot District