Aldershot Garrison

Aldershot Garrison
Maj Gen Rupert Jones awarding operational medals at New Normandy Barracks, Aldershot Garrison
Aldershot Garrison Location within Hampshire
Population	10,500
District	Rushmoor
Shire county	Hampshire
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ALDERSHOT
Postcode district	GU11 and GU12
Dialling code	01252
Police	Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Fire	Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Aldershot
List of places UK England Hampshire 51°15′36″N 0°45′35″W / 51.2599°N 0.7598°W / 51.2599; -0.7598

Aldershot Garrison, also known as Aldershot Military Town, is a major garrison in South East England, between Aldershot and Farnborough in Hampshire. The garrison was established when the War Department bought a large area of land near the village of Aldershot, with the objective of establishing a permanent training camp for the Army. Over time, this camp grew into a military town and continues to be used by the Army to the present day. It is home to the headquarters of the Army's Regional Command and Home Command, and it is also the headquarters for the Army Special Operations Brigade. The garrison plays host to around 70 military units and organisations.

In 1972, the garrison was the site of one of the worst UK mainland IRA attacks of the time when a car bomb was detonated outside the headquarters mess of 16 Parachute Brigade, killing seven and injuring nineteen. The Official IRA claimed responsibility, stating that the attack was in revenge for the shootings in Derry that came to be known as Bloody Sunday. Following the attack the Army took steps to secure the garrison by erecting security fences around most of the barracks and lines, as well as introducing armed security patrols.

The garrison area covers approximately 200 hectares (490 acres) and its population is about 10,500. Adjacent to the military town is some 2,700 hectares (6,700 acres) of open military training area.