254 Medical Regiment - History

History

The regiment was formed in 1983 and was named 254 Field Ambulance. It was first based at the Territorial Army Centre in Coldhams Lane, Cambridge.

The regiment was later moved to a new site, formally a transport company depot, on Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge, where a new TA Centre was built to accommodate them.

In the early 1990s detachments were opened in Thetford and Letchworth. The detachment in Thetford was disbanded a short while later, while the detachment at Letchworth remained until 1998. In 1995, following the amalgamation of 257 General Hospital into 256 Field Hospital, 257's Norwich detachment was transferred to 254. Soon after this the regiment was adopted by Cambridge, and became 254 (City of Cambridge) Field Ambulance.

In 1999 a new detachment was opened in Hitchin, Hertfordshire to recruit from the North Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire areas.

In 2007 the regiment was reorganised into 254 (City of Cambridge) General Support Medical Regiment. As part of the reorganisation the detachments at Cambridge, Hitchin and Norwich were increased to Squadrons, with HQ Squadron at Cambridge, A Squadron at Norwich and Evacuation Squadron at Hitchin.

In 2008, B Squadron was formed in Colchester recruiting from the surrounding areas.

In 2009 the regiment was again reorganised in line with current defence requirements and became 254 Medical Regiment. During this reorganisation the regiment became a ‘hybrid’ unit (a part-regular, part-TA unit) with a squadron formally of 5 Medical Regiment transferred under its control to become C Squadron. Additionally, the Evacuation Squadron based at Hitchin was renamed as D Squadron.

In 2011 C Squadron was re-subordinated back into the Regular Army leaving 254 Medical Regiment as a complete TA (Volunteer) Regiment with Squadrons at Cambridge, Norwich, Colchester and Hitchin.