Ritchie Camp
| Ritchie Camp | |
|---|---|
| Kirknewton, West Lothian | |
 Ritchie Camp
Location within West Lothian
|
|
| Coordinates | 55°52′17″N 3°25′00″W / 55.87139°N 3.41667°WCoordinates: 55°52′17″N 3°25′00″W / 55.87139°N 3.41667°W |
| Type | Barracks |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator |
 British Army
|
| Site history | |
| Built | 1940s |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1940s-1999 |
Ritchie Camp was a military base located near Kirknewton, West Lothian in Scotland.
Ritchie Camp was initially established during World War II to provide accommodation for units based at RAF Kirknewton. After the War it provided accommodation for United States Air Force units based there.
As part of the drawdown of British Forces from West Germany, the 1st Battalion The Black Watch returned from Minden in March 1968 and were stationed at Ritchie Camp before moving in January 1972 to Hong Kong.
In 1971, it was announced that the 1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were to be reformed. At that time, Balaklava Company,The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were based in Gibraltar. They returned home, via Barnard Castle, County Durham and became the nucleus of the new battalion which assembled in Ritchie Camp. From here they undertook 3 tours of duty in Northern Ireland. Amongst visitors to the regiment were HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH Princess Anne.
When the battalion moved to Osnabrück in November 1974, the 1st Battalion The Royal Scots took up residence, arriving from Cyprus, til June 1976 when they moved to Munster. They were replaced by the 1st Battalion The Queen's Own Highlanders from Osnabrück in June 1976, leaving in March 1980 for Hong Kong.
The 1st Battalion The Gordon Highlanders, transferring from Chester in March 1980, were resident in Ritchie Camp until February 1983, when they moved on to Hemer. In 1981, they were participants in the wedding of The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.
In February 1983, they moved to Hemer, when the 1st Battalion The Royal Scots moved in from Ballykinler. They moved in March 1985 to Werl, handing over the camp to The 1st Battalion The Black Watch who had been in Werl. After a short stay, they moved a few miles to Redford Barracks, Edinburgh in April 1986.
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