Ritchie Camp
Encyclopedia
Ritchie Camp served RAF Kirknewton
, a Royal Air Force station at Whitemoss, a mile south east of Kirknewton, West Lothian
, Scotland
during World War II. Primarily an RAF radar base, RAF Kirknewton was home to a variety of units during the war
RAF Kirknewton was used as a temporary POW Camp for German officers during WWII, while they were awaiting transfer to the USA, and it is likely that the camp may have housed these prisoners, together with their guards.
Some time after the war, Kirknewton airfield and Ritchie Camp were made available to several small United States Air Force units tasked with providing mobile radio facilities in Britain, including 6952nd Security Group, formerly the 6952nd Radio Squadron Mobile, formerly the 37th Radio Squadron Mobile, United States Air Force Security Service (USAFSS). Around 500 American service personnel were tasked with the interception of voice and Morse signals, including military and commercial naval traffic, with priority being given to signals involving Soviet radar and air operations. At one point, they serviced the Hot Line between Washington
and Moscow
.
The base finally closed in August 1966.
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 Osnbruck 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 Osnabruck 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 til 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.
Scottish regiments based in Ritchie Camp were required to provide the Royal Guard at Balmoral
. One of their duties was to run film shows for the Royal Family. Projectionists received their training in the camp cinema, a relic of the American occupants. The building used as an officers' mess was designed on the American officers' club style. One of the hangers on the airfield housed to Motor Transport (MT) vehicles. The airfield itself was used for driver training, low level military training and recreation. There were insufficient houses for soldiers' families locally; additional housing (married quarters) was provided in Lanark and Edinburgh.
Responding to a Commons Written Question on 26 February 1987, the Secretary of State for Defence stated that 'We have recently agreed in principle to make these sites (Winston camp
, Lanark, and Ritchie camp, Kirknewton) available to the United States forces for use as peacetime medical storage facilities and as hospitals which would be activated in the event of war.' The Americans handed the site back to the MoD in 1991, when it was described as a Contingency Hospital.
A Tree Preservation Order was placed on Ritchie Camp in December 1987.
The Princess Royal, Patron, Crucial Crew Project, attended a Crucial Crew event hosted by the Lothian and Borders Police
'F' Division at Ritchie Camp on 13th June 1993.
In 1999, the camp was demolished and replaced with up-market housing, and the area re-named 'Newlands'.
RAF Kirknewton
RAF Kirknewton is a Royal Air Force station at Whitemoss, a mile south east of Kirknewton, West Lothian, Scotland.Primarily an RAF radar base, RAF Kirknewton was home to a variety of units during the war. No...
, a Royal Air Force station at Whitemoss, a mile south east of Kirknewton, West Lothian
Kirknewton, West Lothian
Kirknewton is a village in West Lothian, Scotland. Its population is about 2200 . It lies south of the A71 from Edinburgh to Livingston, and north of the A70, the high-level road that runs along the north side of the Pentland Hills from Edinburgh to Carnwath and Lanark...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
during World War II. Primarily an RAF radar base, RAF Kirknewton was home to a variety of units during the war
RAF Kirknewton was used as a temporary POW Camp for German officers during WWII, while they were awaiting transfer to the USA, and it is likely that the camp may have housed these prisoners, together with their guards.
Some time after the war, Kirknewton airfield and Ritchie Camp were made available to several small United States Air Force units tasked with providing mobile radio facilities in Britain, including 6952nd Security Group, formerly the 6952nd Radio Squadron Mobile, formerly the 37th Radio Squadron Mobile, United States Air Force Security Service (USAFSS). Around 500 American service personnel were tasked with the interception of voice and Morse signals, including military and commercial naval traffic, with priority being given to signals involving Soviet radar and air operations. At one point, they serviced the Hot Line between Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
The base finally closed in August 1966.
As part of the drawdown of British Forces from West Germany, the 1st Battalion The Black Watch
Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
It all began in 1725 when General Wade, as leader of the King's Army in Scotland, and involved in his great project of building the military roads there, set up six companies of the Highland "Watch". These were formed to stop fighting among the clans; controlling the roads was an important part of...
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
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
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 Osnbruck 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 Osnabruck 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 til February 1983, when they moved on to Hemer. In 1981, they were participants in the wedding
Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer
The wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Frances Spencer took place on Wednesday, 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral, London, United Kingdom. Their marriage was widely billed as a "fairytale wedding" and the "wedding of the century". It was watched by an estimated global TV...
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.
Scottish regiments based in Ritchie Camp were required to provide the Royal Guard at Balmoral
Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle is a large estate house in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is located near the village of Crathie, west of Ballater and east of Braemar. Balmoral has been one of the residences of the British Royal Family since 1852, when it was purchased by Queen Victoria and her...
. One of their duties was to run film shows for the Royal Family. Projectionists received their training in the camp cinema, a relic of the American occupants. The building used as an officers' mess was designed on the American officers' club style. One of the hangers on the airfield housed to Motor Transport (MT) vehicles. The airfield itself was used for driver training, low level military training and recreation. There were insufficient houses for soldiers' families locally; additional housing (married quarters) was provided in Lanark and Edinburgh.
Responding to a Commons Written Question on 26 February 1987, the Secretary of State for Defence stated that 'We have recently agreed in principle to make these sites (Winston camp
Winston Barracks
Winston Barracks was a British Army base, located east of Lanark, Scotland. It was situated in the fork of the A73 and A70 trunk roads, close to Lanark Racecourse. The site occupied a total of and incorporated barrack blocks, officers' quarters, non-commissioned officers' quarters, stores, boiler...
, Lanark, and Ritchie camp, Kirknewton) available to the United States forces for use as peacetime medical storage facilities and as hospitals which would be activated in the event of war.' The Americans handed the site back to the MoD in 1991, when it was described as a Contingency Hospital.
A Tree Preservation Order was placed on Ritchie Camp in December 1987.
The Princess Royal, Patron, Crucial Crew Project, attended a Crucial Crew event hosted by the Lothian and Borders Police
Lothian and Borders Police
Lothian and Borders Police is the territorial police force for the Scottish council areas of the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian...
'F' Division at Ritchie Camp on 13th June 1993.
In 1999, the camp was demolished and replaced with up-market housing, and the area re-named 'Newlands'.