| Unit Name: | Western Command |
| Type: | Command |
| Branch: | British Army |
| Dates: | 1905–1972 |
| Garrison: | Chester |
Western Command was a command of the British Army.
Western Command was established in 1905 and was originally called the Welsh & Midland Command before changing its name in 1906.[1] In 1907 Western Command relocated to Watergate House in Chester. In 1938, after a brief stay in temporary accommodation at Boughton, it moved to a new purpose-built neo-Georgian property known as Churchill House at Queen's Park in Chester.[2]
Army Order No 324, issued on 21 August 1914, authorised the formation of a 'New Army' of six Divisions, manned by volunteers who had responded to Earl Kitchener's appeal (hence the First New Army was known as 'K1'). Each division was to be under the administration of one of the Home Commands, and Western Command formed what became the 13th (Western) Division.[3] It was followed by 19th (Western) Division of K2 in September 1914.[4]
Increasing concern during the 1930s about the threat of air attack led to large numbers of units of the part-time Territorial Army (TA) being converted to anti-aircraft (AA) gun and searchlight roles in the Royal Artillery (RA) and Royal Engineers (RE), and higher formations became necessary to control them. One such formation was the 4th Anti-Aircraft Division, raised on 1 September 1938 within the Western Command area, with its headquarters at Chester.[5] [6] The first General Officer Commanding (GOC) was Maj-Gen Hugh Martin.[7] [8] [9] The division came under the control of Anti-Aircraft Command, however.[10]
In 1939, under Lieutenant General Robert Haining, Western Command consisted of Welsh, West Lancashire, and East Lancashire Areas, each commanding two divisions plus other troops.[11] It covered Wales and the Counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, Lancashire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Cheshire, and Beachley, Gloucestershire as well as the Isle of Man and the coast defence garrisons of Berehaven, Queenstown and (for the purpose of technical training only) Lough Swilly.[12]
Regular Troops reporting to the Command included:[12]
During 1943–44, the 80th Infantry (Reserve) Division was assigned to the Command as its training formation. On 1 September 1944, the division was replaced by the 38th Infantry (Reserve) Division, which took over the training role.
The Command was merged into HQ UK Land Forces (HQ UKLF) in 1972[13] and the property handed over to the Royal Army Pay Corps.[2]
GOCs and GOCinCs have included:[14] [15] [16]
General Officer Commanding North Western District
General Officer Commanding in Chief Western Command