HMS Wildfire is a Royal Naval Reserve unit in Northwood, North West London. Training over 100 reservists, HMS Wildfire is located within a purpose built training facility inside the national military tri-service HQ and NATO base.
History[]
Descended from a long a line of HMS Wildfires since the 1760s, the current HMS Wildfire was Commissioned as HMS Northwood in 1957, HMS Northwood was created to support the growing NATO Eastern Atlantic Command at Northwood. It was the first Headquarters Unit in the RNR.
Housed initially within the UK's Defence Headquarters, HMS Warrior, HMS Northwood occupied a series of huts until in 1988 the unit moved to Brackenhill House, an Edwardian mansion situated 250 yards (230 m) from the main gate of Northwood Headquarters/HMS Warrior. WhenPJHQ was established at Northwood HMS Warrior changed to JSU Northwood. 18 months later in May 2000 HMS Northwood decommissioned and was commissioned as HMS Wildfire. The original HMS Wildfire crest was amended to include the NATO crest.
As part of the PFI redeveloping PJHQ / NATO base HMS Wildfire returned to the main base into a modern purpose built facility, considered the best Royal Naval Reserve facility in the country - and with unrivalled access to on-site facilities and national and international military personnel and departments across all three services. Brackenhill House was subsequently sold.
On 11 June 2011, the Ships company formally marched from Brackenhill House to the Northwood base behind the RM Band Portsmouth and was inspected by CinC Fleet Admiral Sir Trevor Soar KCB OBE.
Commanding Officer[]
The current Commanding Officer of HMS Wildfire is Commander Stephanie Shinner.
External links[]
- Unit official website
- Short history of HMS Wildfire one to seven
- Short history of HMS Wildfire eight
The original article can be found at HMS Wildfire (shore establishment 2000) and the edit history here.