LFAA TC Aldershot

Canada / Nova Scotia / Kentville /
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Cadet training camp

During the 1890's and the lead up to the Boer War in South Africa, the British Army, which was responsible for Canada's defence until 1906, established a training area for Canadian Militia units in the western part of Kings County between the communities of Aylesford and Kingston. In 1904 the facility was moved to its present site on 1136 hectares (2810 acres) northwest of Kentville with its southern boundary along the Cornwallis River. The eastern boundary of the camp abutted the Cornwallis Valley Railway which operated north from Kentville to Kingsport. The Canadian Department of Militia and Defence took over administration of the facility from the British Army in 1906. Used almost exclusively as a militia facility from its inception, various units of cavalry, infantry and artillery from across Nova Scotia received training here. Few permanent structures were established in the early years, with the troops being required to erect canvas tents during training and to stable horses in the open. Camp Aldershot saw extensive use during the First World War with in excess of 7000 soldiers being trained for the infantry at any particular time. Temporary buildings were constructed to house messes and cookhouses, as well as a camp hospital, however most soldiers training at Camp Aldershot during this time period were housed in canvas tents. Temporary structures were removed following the armistice in 1918 and the camp reverted to its previous use as a militia training facility, seeing very light use throughout the inter-war period when Canada's military underwent extensive downsizing.

The camp underwent significant expansion during the Second World War with numerous new buildings constructed between 1939 and 1943. Only a single building from the First World War was retained, while water and sewer systems were installed in the camp's headquarters area, firing ranges and parade squares established and various support buildings and barracks. Despite the construction of barracks, the huge influx of soldiers required the use of tents for housing along with temporary cookhouses. Following the war, Camp Aldershot went into decline, however its well-constructed Second World War-era facilities were maintained given the tensions of the Cold War. In 1953 the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada returned from service in the Korean War and the First and Second Battalions were stationed at Camp Aldershot. From 1953 to 1959, Camp Aldershot saw significant use while housing this regular force unit. The Black Watch rotated to West Germany in 1959 and was stationed at the newly constructed Camp Gagetown in New Brunswick upon its return, delivering a significant blow to Camp Aldershot, which had no regular force units returning to fill the void. Camp Aldershot was left with the Canadian Army's reserve militia units from Nova Scotia as its primary users, primarily the West Nova Scotia Regiment, however the Royal Canadian Army Cadets also used the camp as a Cadet Summer Training Centre (CSTC) from the late 1940's to the late 1960's.

The late 1960's saw numerous changes to Canada's military during the turmoil surrounding the unification of the Canadian Forces. Camp Aldershot underwent more decline as facility rationalization throughout the military took place and the army cadets established ACSTC Argonaut at CFB Gagetown. Rumours of the camp being declared surplus began during the early 1970's when military activity was at an all-time low, thus the new Atlantic Militia Area of Force Mobile Command began to increase training of reservists at the newly designated Militia Training Centre on the site in 1973. The use of the term "Camp Aldershot" was officially discontinued in lieu of Aldershot Range and Training Area. Training continued at ARTA through the 1970's and 1980's until the mid-1990's when the camp was designated to become host to the newly-formed Land Force Atlantic Area Training Centre, officially termed LFAA TC Aldershot. Since then the majority of the Second World War-era buildings have been replaced by new construction, although the single First World War-era structure that was maintained has been incorporated as the new Officers' Mess. Currently LFAA TC Aldershot provides the majority of training for LFAA reserve units during the summer months, as well as a training area for Nova Scotia reserve units through the remainder of the year.
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Coordinates:   45°5'45"N   64°32'17"W

Comments

  • As well as military training.
  • Redrew the polygon based on Google Maps "Street View". Probably not accurate - I was basing it on how much of the fence I could trace. If someone knows different, feel free to redraw the polygon. :)
  • Boundary redrawn based on map sent to me by someone at CFB Gagetown, of which LFAATC Aldershot is a detachment. North boundary approximate, other boundaries also approximate, but less so. Never realised how big this place is.
This article was last modified 15 years ago