Minden Barracks
Encyclopedia
Minden Barracks was a military barracks
located in the south-eastern town of Gelugor
in Penang
, Malaysia approximately 9.7 kilometres (6 mi) away from the city of Georgetown. It was operational from 1939 to 1971 and the site now houses the main campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia
.
and clove
plantation in the area.
The barracks was abandoned with the British withdrawal from Penang on December 17, 1941 during the Battle of Malaya
of the Second World War and was occupied by the Japanese forces during the duration of the war.
until 1948 when the 1st Battalion of the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was housed there during the onset of the Malayan Emergency
. The barracks was renamed Minden Barracks in July 1950 in honor of the Battle of Minden
, a 1759 battle of the Seven Years War that saw the participation of 51st Regiment of Foot (the antecedent regiment of the 'KOYLIs').
In 1951, the barracks became the home of the 1st Battalion of the Manchester Regiment and in 1955 the barracks became the home of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment
until the decommissioning of the barracks in 1971.
In 1957, the barracks was sold to the government of the newly independent Federation of Malaya
for one Malayan Dollar
but continued to house troops of the Overseas Commonwealth Land Forces (Malaya) including the 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) from April 1962 to December 1964 which became the 1st Battalion, Royal Green Jackets
in 1966.
The barracks also housed the British Army Children's School until 1971.
was moved to the site. Today the main campus of the university remains in the same location (since renamed Minden).
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
located in the south-eastern town of Gelugor
Gelugor
Gelugor is a town located at the southern part of Georgetown, a midway town between Georgetown and Sungai Dua...
in Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
, Malaysia approximately 9.7 kilometres (6 mi) away from the city of Georgetown. It was operational from 1939 to 1971 and the site now houses the main campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Universiti Sains Malaysia is a public university with its main campus in Penang, Malaysia. There are three branch campuses: one in mainland Penang , one in Kelantan on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, and a offshore collaboration with a university in India...
.
Early history
The site of the Minden Barracks was formerly occupied by Glugor House, a plantation house of the Browns, a wealthy Scottish family who owned a nutmegNutmeg
The nutmeg tree is any of several species of trees in genus Myristica. The most important commercial species is Myristica fragrans, an evergreen tree indigenous to the Banda Islands in the Moluccas of Indonesia...
and clove
Clove
Cloves are the aromatic dried flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae. Cloves are native to the Maluku islands in Indonesia and used as a spice in cuisines all over the world...
plantation in the area.
World War II
In 1939, Glugor House was converted into a barracks and renamed the Glugor Barracks and originally housed the 8th (Singapore) Heavy Battery of the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery.The barracks was abandoned with the British withdrawal from Penang on December 17, 1941 during the Battle of Malaya
Battle of Malaya
The Malayan Campaign was a campaign fought by Allied and Japanese forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 31 January 1942 during the Second World War. The campaign was dominated by land battles between British Commonwealth army units, and the Imperial Japanese Army...
of the Second World War and was occupied by the Japanese forces during the duration of the war.
Malayan Emergency
It was re-occupied by the West Yorkshire Regiment after the Surrender of JapanSurrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
until 1948 when the 1st Battalion of the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was housed there during the onset of the Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
. The barracks was renamed Minden Barracks in July 1950 in honor of the Battle of Minden
Battle of Minden
The Battle of Minden—or Thonhausen—was fought on 1 August 1759, during the Seven Years' War. An army fielded by the Anglo-German alliance commanded by Field Marshal Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, defeated a French army commanded by Marshal of France Louis, Marquis de Contades...
, a 1759 battle of the Seven Years War that saw the participation of 51st Regiment of Foot (the antecedent regiment of the 'KOYLIs').
In 1951, the barracks became the home of the 1st Battalion of the Manchester Regiment and in 1955 the barracks became the home of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment
Royal Australian Regiment
The Royal Australian Regiment is the parent regiment for regular infantry battalions of the Australian Army and is the senior infantry regiment of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps...
until the decommissioning of the barracks in 1971.
In 1957, the barracks was sold to the government of the newly independent Federation of Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
for one Malayan Dollar
Malayan dollar
The dollar was the currency of the British colonies and protectorates in Malaya and Brunei until 1953. It was introduced in 1939, replacing the Straits dollar at par, with 1 dollar = two shillings four pence sterling .-Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya formed:The Malayan dollar was issued...
but continued to house troops of the Overseas Commonwealth Land Forces (Malaya) including the 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) from April 1962 to December 1964 which became the 1st Battalion, Royal Green Jackets
Royal Green Jackets
The Royal Green Jackets was an infantry regiment of the British Army, one of two "large regiments" within the Light Division .-History:...
in 1966.
The barracks also housed the British Army Children's School until 1971.
Today
The barracks was de-commissioned in 1971 and the campus of Universiti Sains MalaysiaUniversiti Sains Malaysia
Universiti Sains Malaysia is a public university with its main campus in Penang, Malaysia. There are three branch campuses: one in mainland Penang , one in Kelantan on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, and a offshore collaboration with a university in India...
was moved to the site. Today the main campus of the university remains in the same location (since renamed Minden).
Historical units
This is an incomplete list of units stationed in the Minden Barracks from 1939 to 1971.- 8th (Singapore) Heavy Battery, Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery (1939–1941)
- redesignated as the 11th Coastal Battery, HKSRA in March 1941
- 1st Bn, West Yorkshire Regiment (1945–1948)
- 1st Bn, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (1948–1951)
- 1st Bn, Manchester Regiment (1951–1955)
- 1st Bn, Royal Australian Regiment
- 2nd Bn, Royal Australian Regiment
- 3rd Bn, Royal Australian Regiment