South West District (British Army)

South West District

Active| 1967–1995
Country|  United Kingdom
Branch|  British Army
Type| District Command
Garrison/HQ| Bulford Camp

Military unit

South West District was a district command of the British Army between 1967 and 1995.

## History

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Bulford Camp, command headquarters

The district was formed from 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division as part of the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve in 1967.[1] It had its headquarters at Bulford Camp, Wiltshire, and was placed under the command of HQ United Kingdom Land Forces in 1972.[2]

In 1984-85 the district controlled a number of individual units, including 94th Locating Regiment, Royal Artillery at Roberts Barracks, Larkhill; the Support Regiment RA; Headquarters 7 Regiment Army Air Corps; the UK contingent of the ACE Mobile Force; 1st Infantry Brigade at Tidworth; 43 Wessex Brigade in Exeter; and five planned companies of the Home Service Force.[3]

In 1992, Headquarters South West District controlled three of the Army's 20 training areas on Salisbury Plain.[4]

The district was disbanded on the formation of HQ Land Command in 1995.[5]

## Commanders

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General officers commanding included:[6]

* 1967–1970 Major-General Thomas Acton
* 1970–1971 Major-General John Douglas-Withers
* 1972–1974 Major-General Hugh Cunningham
* 1974–1975 Major-General George Cooper
* 1975–1978 Major-General Robert Lyon
* 1978–1981 Major-General Sir John Acland
* 1981–1984 Major-General Michael Gray
* 1984–1987 Major-General Barry Lane
* 1987–1990 Major-General Anthony Jeapes
* 1990–1992 Major-General Anthony Pollard

## See also

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* Headquarters South West (United Kingdom)

## References

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1. ^ Steinberg, S. (1967). The Statesman's Year-Book 1967-68: The Encyclopaedia for the Businessman-of-The-World. Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 106\. ISBN 978-0230270961.
2. ^ Paxton, J. (1972). The Statesman's Year-Book 1972-73: The Encyclopaedia for the Businessman-of-The-World. Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 104\. ISBN 978-0-230-27101-2.
3. ^ Isby and Kamps, Armies of NATO's Central Front, 1985, 254-55.
4. ^ "Ministry of Defence: Management and Control of Army Training Land" (PDF). National Audit Office. 4 February 1992. p. 36. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
5. ^ "Land Command Shapes Up", Jane's Defence Weekly, 15 July 1995.
6. ^ "Army Commands" (PDF). Retrieved 2 July 2016.