11th Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment
The 11th (Craigavon) Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment was formed from companies of the 2nd Battalion Ulster Defence Regiment (2 UDR) and the 3rd Battalion Ulster Defence Regiment in 1972. In 1991 under the reductions planned in Options for Change by the British Army, it again amalgamated with 2 UDR to form the 2nd/11th Battalion Ulster Defence Regiment.
The battalion was formed in 1972 after an announcement by Major General Robert Ford, Commander Land Forces in Northern Ireland (CLFNI).[1] The raising of the new and final battalion of the UDR brought operational strength up to 9,000 men, making the regiment not only the youngest but largest infantry battalion in the British Army.[1]
The new battalion was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Robin Chappell, who had previously been commander of the neighbouring 2 UDR. He was the first regular officer to command the 2nd battalion, and the only regular officer ever to command two separate UDR battalions.[2]
In 1990 11 UDR was reported as having 772 members who patrolled an area of 1,500 square kilometres (580 sq mi).[3]
From formation battalion HQ was based at Mahon Road Barracks, known by the troops as "Fort Mahon", a new purpose-built UDR base on the Mahon Road, Portadown beside the historic Mahon House.[4] Assuming command and expanding platoons and companies once part of the Armagh based 2 UDR in Lurgan, Portadown and Tandragee and also the Banbridge Company of 3 UDR.
Mahon Barracks, Portadown. – a mixture of regular army and permanent cadre/part-time administration staff, instructors, watchkeepers, mechanics, and a guard force of Conrate soldiers. The commander was the battalion commander who was a regular lieutenant colonel. Other regular soldiers on attachment included the adjutant (a major), a training major, and permanent staff instructors. The Quartermaster's stores were also part of this company as were the core services of the battalion which, although modified slightly on expansion, generally consisted of operational organisation, vehicles, radio services, catering and pay.
