Soldiers of Shoebury

From Shoeburyness to everywhere

As an important military base from 1849 to the present day, Shoebury has hosted a wide array of troops who have served not just locally but also in conflicts that have ranged across the globe. The Shoebury garrison, ranges and gunnery schools were integral parts of the Royal Artillery whose scroll features the word “Ubique” – meaning everywhere, reflecting the fact that gunners from the Royal Artillery support the British Army whereever it operates.

Uniforms on display

British Falklands War-era uniform and kit
Uniform of Soviet artillery colonel

A collection of mannequins at the Cart and Wagon Shed displays the uniforms of some of the diverse forces that have been deployed at and from Shoebury (plus that of one of their foes) during the mid- and late twentieth century:

  • National Service. From 1945 to 1960, young men in the United Kingdom were generally conscripted for at least 18 months, many being based at Shoeburyness. National Servicemen saw action in Korea, Cyprus, Malaya, Borneo, Kenya, Aden and Suez.
  • Women soldiers at Shoeburyness. Technical specialists from the Women’s Royal Army Corps played vital roles in the proofing and testing of weapons on the Shoebury Ranges.
  • The Cold War. From the end of World War II until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States and its allies, including the United Kingdom, faced off against the Soviet Union and its allies. Thunderbird missiles of the Royal Artilley Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment at Shoebury helped deter Soviet incursions into British airspace.
  • Northern Ireland Troubles. Conflict with and between republican and loyalist paramilitaries erupted in 1969 and these troubles lasted until the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. Numerous troops based at Shoeburyness served operational tours in Northern Ireland during this period.
  • The Falklands War. After Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands (a British territory in the South Atlantic) in 1982, the United Kingdom sent a task force to recapture the islands. Gunners from the Royal Artillery, including from Shoeburyness, were amongst the British troops that successfully achieved this objective, fighting fierce battles at Goose Green and Wireless Ridge.
Women's Royal Army Corps member
Thunderbird missile launcher
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