Royal Artillery Barracks Dorchester

A barracks was first established here in 1794 when the Dorsetshire Regiment of Volunteer Yeomanry Cavalry, consisting of 6 troops, was formed with the threat of French Invasion. In 1796 they became Dorsetshire Rangers with 10 troops and disbanded in 1802 after the Treaty of Amiens. It was re-established in 1803 as the Dorsetshire Regiment of Voluntary Yeomanry Cavalry, consisting of 7 troops until 1814. In 1830 the regiment was again reformed under the same name, consisting of 5 troops with the 3rd being based in Dorchester. Princess Victoria visited Dorset and the regiment provided a guard of honour for which they were renamed The Princess Victoria's Regiment of Dorset Yeomanry Cavalry and in 1843 became Queen's Own Regiment of Dorset Yeomanry Cavalry. In 1860s it became the Dorset Yeomanry (Queens's Own) with the Headquarters in Dorchester.
After a series of defeats at the outset of the 2nd Boer War, the Imperial Yeomanry was formed with volunteers from standing Yeomanry units forming companies. The first contingent comprised nearly 11,000 men of which the Queen's Own Dorsets provided men for the 26th Company, 7th Regiment. In 1901 they were renamed the Dorsetshire Imperial Yeomanry (Queen's Own) until 1908 they once again became the Dorset Yeomanry (Queen's Own) with 'A' squadron being based in Dorchester, and transferred to the Territorial Force. The Territorial Force was meant for Home Defence but at the outbreak of WW1 it was split into 1st Line (overseas service) and 2nd line (Home service or unwilling to serve overseas.)
the 1/1st Queens's Own Dorset Yeomanry was mobilised in August 1914 and in September joined the 2nd Mounted Division. in 1915 it deployed to Egypt and then to Gallipoli where it fought as dismounted cavalry. Following the withdrawl from Gallipoli the Regiment fought in in the campaign against the Turks in Palestine. The Regiment mounted a charge with drawn swords which cost them half their horses and a third of their officers and troopers. it remained in Palestine for the rest of the War.
After WW1, Army reforms decided that only the 14 most senior Yeomanry units would be retained as cavalry and the others would be repurposed. The Dorsets were ranked 23 out of 55 and so in January 1922 it was transferred to the Royal Artillery and by 1929 was known as the 94th (Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry) Army Field Brigade R.A. with it's HQ at Dorchester.
During WW2 it consisted of batteries , 218 (Bournemouth) and 224 (Dorset) with 8 guns each. A third battery (468) was formed in 1941. The batteries remained in England until June 1944 when it deployed with the 43rd (Wessex) Division to Normandy and fought in Europe until the end of the War.
The regiment returned to the Territorial Army and served through several amalgamations until 1967 when it was disbanded.
The barracks is now home to 'C' Company 6th Battalion, The Rifles, one of three Reserve Battalions formed in 2007.
At the outbreak of WW1 it was initially used to house Germans detained in Britain until the numbers grew too large and a new camp was built.

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Source

• Text: Sharky Ward
• Photos: Anthony (Sharky) Ward