Colchester's support for Army written into history
Colchester's long history of supporting the soldiers that live and work within the town and their families has been confirmed in writing.
Colchester Borough Council, Colchester Garrison and Colchester Royal British Legion signed an Armed Forces Community Covenant, a statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces.
To symbolise Colchester's long military history, a Roman legionary and a modern day soldier joined Mayor of Colchester Cllr Helen Chuah, Garrison Commander Colonel Tom Fleetwood and Colchester RBL President Terry Sutton for the Town Hall ceremony.
The covenant formalises Colchester's support for soldiers based in the town and gives access to a £30m funding pot created by the Ministry of Defence to support projects to strengthen the bonds between the military and the public.
Mayor of Colchester Cllr Helen Chuah said: "Colchester is extremely proud of its military heritage and long standing links with the Garrison. Colchester Borough Council has forged a strong bond with the Army that it will continue to strengthen. We are delighted to be signing the declaration as confirmation of this significant relationship."
Colchester Garrison Commander Colonel Tom Fleetwood said: "The British Army has a long and proud history in Colchester and the town has always been a stalwart supporter of soldiers and their families.
"That support manifests itself all the way from strong partnership working with institutions such as Colchester Council, the NHS and the University of Essex to local businesses offering military discounts and individuals raising money for military charities or turning out when troops march through the town.
"The signing of this covenant will only serve to strengthen the existing relationship between Colchester and its soldiers, which is already the envy of garrison towns across the country."
Colchester RBL President Terry Sutton said: "Now in its 90th year, The Royal British Legion is not just for veterans but is the biggest charity that supports our serving soldiers and their families. By signing this covenant today I am happy to confirm our commitment to stand 'Shoulder to shoulder with all who serve'."
The Community Covenant initiative is one of the key measures in the Armed Forces Covenant published in May 2011, which outlines the moral obligation between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces, and aims to improve support to the Armed Forces Community (which includes serving personnel, their families and veterans).
The aims of the Community Covenant include:
- to encourage local communities to support the Armed Forces Community in their areas, and vice versa;
- to promote understanding and awareness amongst the public of issues affecting the Armed Forces Community;
- to recognise and remember the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces Community; and
- to encourage activities which help to integrate the Armed Forces Community into local life.
Community Covenants have already been established in Oxfordshire, the Vale of Glamorgan, Hampshire, North Yorkshire and Doncaster.
A brief history of the military in Colchester
Roman soldiers were based in Colchester, then called Camulodunum, soon after the invasion of 43AD.
Colchester Castle was built by William the Conqueror shortly after the Norman invasion of 1066 to provide a military base to assert his authority over the Essex area.
In its modern form, Colchester Garrison can trace its roots to the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th Century, with barracks built in what is now New Town to house 7,000 soldiers. The Army has been a permanent presence in Colchester since 1856 when the 11th Regiment of Foot was stationed in the town during the Crimean War.
Since 1999, Colchester Garrison has been the home of 16 Air Assault Brigade, the British Army's rapid response formation and combines the speed and agility of airborne and air assault forces with the potency of the Apache attack helicopter.
