[1] The advent of mechanised warfare during World War I left the Army requiring technically-skilled tradesmen in large numbers.
This led to the opening of the Boys' Technical School at Chepstow on 28 February 1924.
In 1937, however, the decision was taken to open three more full-scale Army Technical Schools, each to accommodate a thousand boys.
In the 1960s, Apprentice Tradesmen for the Royal Engineers were trained at Chepstow, those for the Royal Corps of Signals at Harrogate, and those for the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at both Arborfield (which focused on electrician and electronics trades) and Carlisle (which focused on training armourers, gun fitters, instrument technicians and vehicle mechanics).
[3] Following Carlisle's closure three years later, apprenticeship training for REME all took place at Arborfield (which was known as Princess Marina College between 1981 and 1995).