In chapter 4 that covered my time in transition out of the UK to Hong Kong through the Depot at Woolwich, I described the dual nature of the place as being home to ceremonial troops and a permanent staff whose job it was to dispatch troops all over the world. A big part of that ceremony was the Royal Artillery Band Woolwich. After 250 years, the band is moving to a new home.
This article from the Royal Borough of Greenwich states:
The Royal Artillery Band are leaving Woolwich after 250 years of links with the borough.
The Royal Artillery Band will be marching out of their barracks in Woolwich for the last time on Sunday 9 February, ending an association with the town of more than 250 years.
As part of the Ministry of Defence restructuring, the band is moving to Tidworth in Wiltshire in April.
I must admit, it makes me wonder about how ceremony at the Woolwich depot will go now.
I am given to understand that the Kings troop RHA have now moved into the Woolwich barracks,so leaving some reminder of the Royal Artillery,
Sadly the fire power museum will move to Larkhill this year 2015,
Brian,
Thank you for that. When with 192 at Lark Hill I can recall all the spit and polish of the King’s Troop. They always seemed out of place there and Woolwich will be a fitting base for them.
To my regret I never got to Firepower, I’m not sure it was open when I lived in the UK, and the School of Artillery at Lark Hill is a good home for it. Being there it may attract more visitors. I hope so. The RTR museum at Bovington not too far away is well visited, or was, when I took my (then young) sons to see it.
Enough visitors go to Stonehenge just down the road and which, I think, could be seen from 192’s huts.
Please keep me posted on the move.
Kind regards,
John.