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HMS Wildfire (Northwood)
Organisation / Units & Squadrons

HMS Wildfire (Northwood)

HMS Wildfire is the Royal Naval Reserve unit associated with Northwood.

Role

 

Led by Lieutenant Commander Ian Dorward, HMS Wildfire is set within the UK‘s operational Defence Headquarters at Northwood.

With no salt water within a 50-mile radius, this may seem an unlikely setting for an outpost of the Royal Naval Reserve, however, Reservists from Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire have been flying the White Ensign at Northwood for nearly 65 years.

Unit history

1957

NATO Eastern Atlantic Command

The RNR has had a presence at Northwood since May 1957 when it was established to support the growing NATO Eastern Atlantic Command.
1959

The First Headquarters Unit

Commissioned in 1959 as HMS Northwood, this unit was the first Headquarters Unit in the RNR.
1988

Brackenhill House

In 1988, the unit moved from its old Nissen huts at Northwood Headquarters to Brackenhill House, an Edwardian mansion outside the main gate.
2000

Renamed

In 2000, it was renamed HMS Wildfire.
2011

Welcome home

In May 2011, as part of the redevelopment of the Northwood site, HMS Wildfire moved back into a refurbished building within the HQ. On 11 June 2011, the unit formally paraded from Brackenhill House to PJHQ.
2011

Welcome home

In May 2011, as part of the redevelopment of the Northwood site, HMS Wildfire moved back into a refurbished building within the HQ. On 11 June 2011, the unit formally paraded from Brackenhill House to PJHQ.
2018

Worshipful Company of Firefighters

HMS Wildfire became affiliated with the Worshipful Company of Firefighters.
2020

First Maritime Reservist of the year

Leading Seaman Ryan Scott is named the first Maritime Reservist of the Year following successful mobilisations with Gibraltar Squadron and HMS Tyne. What a way to celebrate 20 years since the unit’s commissioning as HMS Wildfire!

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