In 1915, during the First World War, the government requisitioned a large area of land at Beachley and constructed National Shipyard No.2.

Instead, in 1924 it was decided to establish a British Army Apprentices School (which in 1966 was renamed as an Army Apprentices College) at Beachley to ensure a core of technical qualified soldiers with technical education combined with military training as potential NCOs and officers mainly for the specialist corps Royal Engineers, REME plant operator mechanics and RAOC.

[2] The 1st Battalion, The Rifles are currently on a two year deployment in Dhekelia.

They will return to Beachley Barracks in 2025, prior to moving to new build facilities at Caerwent Barracks, when the building project is complete, alongside 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards.

[2] In November 2016, the Ministry of Defence announced that the site would close in 2027;[3] this was later extended to 2029.