The Camp was established when theWar Office acquired a 19th-century mansion –Tedworth House – and large tracts of land to its north in 1897.[2] HeadquartersSouthern Command was established at Tidworth Camp in 1905.[3]
Lucknow Barracks and Mooltan Barracks were completed in 1905, TidworthMilitary Hospital was finished in 1907. Aliwal Barracks, Assaye Barracks, Bhurtpore Barracks, Candahar Barracks, Delhi Barracks and Jellalabad Barracks were added later,[4] and aRoyal Ordnance depot was established during theFirst World War. The barracks are named for battles in India and Afghanistan:Aliwal,Assaye,Bhurtpore,Candahar,Delhi,Jellalabad,Lucknow andMooltan.[5] (Jellalabad Barracks should not be confused with the formerbarracks of the same name in Taunton, Somerset).[6]
There was also an army hospital during the First World War. A description of it, including actions taken to address a suspected meningitis outbreak, is provided by Arthur Bullock, who spent around a week there in 1918.[7]
Extensive reconstruction at the Camp involving 160 new or refurbished buildings was carried out underProject Allenby Connaught between 2006 and 2014.[4]
Tedworth House had various military uses, including providing accommodation for nurses; from 1977 to 2011 it was the Officers' Mess for the Camp.[13] It is now a recovery centre operated by theHelp for Heroes charity.[14]
Tidworth Military Cemetery, north of the Camp and surrounded by farmland, is under the care of theCommonwealth War Graves Commission. 417 First World War burials from Tidworth, and from Fargo Military Hospital nearLarkhill, include many of Australian or New Zealand servicemen. There are also 106 graves of theSecond World War and 40 of other nationalities.[15]
A branch from theMidland and South Western Junction Railway atLudgershall was built in 1901 and opened to passengers in 1902.[16] Goods tracks known as Tidworth Military Railway continued west from Tidworth station into the military area. The branch returned to military control in 1955 and was closed in 1963.[17][18]
British Army
