Walcheren Barracks - Current Use

Current Use

The Barracks today forms the base of the Headquarters and two Companies of 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, the regular recruitment team for the Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, as well as detachments of the Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps. Lowland House, headquarters of The Lowland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association is also located at the site. The facility is the only one in Glasgow and the West of Scotland to be formally designated as a Barracks, although there are several other Territorial Army Centres in the area, including 32 (Scottish) Signal Regiment at Kelvinside, 105 Regiment, Royal Artillery in Partick, the 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment at Finnieston and Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities Officer Training Corps in Hillhead.

The Barracks was named Walcheren Barracks in 1985 by Princess Margaret, on the occasion of the presentation of Colours to the 1st Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers. The designation Walcheren, was in recognition of Operation Infatuate, part of the Battle of the Scheldt in which the Glasgow Highlanders of 52nd (Lowland) Division were involved in the capture of Walcheren Island on November 8, 1944. It could also refer to the infamous 1809 Walcheren Campaign that involved the 71st Regiment of Foot, which later became part of the Highland Light Infantry.