Forces Thorney Island Community Information Portal

Thorney Island Baker Barracks

Thorney Island is a Peninsula in Chichester Harbour, West Sussex. As well as having a large area of easily accessible sandy beach; the Island also has various sites of Special Scientific Interest. The harbour is a bird sanctuary. The population of the Island is made up entirely of military personnel and their families. Around 250 families are quartered on the Island, with further quarters in Emsworth, Gosport and Chichester.

Originally an RAF airfield, opened in 1938, Thorney Island was handed to the Royal Artillery in 1984 and Baker Barracks has been home to 47 Regt RA ever since. 47 Regt comprises of 4 Batteries, 31HQ, 10, 21 and 25/170, a REME Workshops and 63 Sigs Sqn (V) TA.

12 Regiment RA moved to Thorney Island from Germany in 2008 and provides close air defence protection for 1 (UK) Armoured Division.


There is a SPAR shop on the Island, with a link cash machine, and hot snacks. For requirements further a field, the nearest village is Emsworth (1 mile), and Havant (3 miles), the nearest Cities are Chichester and Portsmouth (both 9 miles in opposite directions).

The amenities on Thorney Island include a Community Centre which is home to the HIVE and T.J's Diner (serving hot drinks and snacks daily). It also has a Crèche, Kindergarten, Primary School, Stables and Saddle Club, St Nicholas Church, JNCO Bar, Beauty Salon, Youth Cadets, RA Yacht Club and water sports centre, Army Learning Centre, and a Gymnasium with various facilities.

The nearest Doctors Surgery is in Emsworth; the local Health Visitor visits the Community Centre on the 2nd Wednesday of the month to hold a baby clinic, and has a one hour 'drop in clinic' during term time Thursday Mornings 8.30am in the primary school for school age children. The local midwife visits the Medical centre to run an antenatal clinic each Thursday. There are various dental practices in and around Emsworth, and for serving personnel there are medical and dental facilities on the Island.





The information on this site has been compiled from various sources accessible on the internet:  acknowledgements are due to The British Army Website, the HIVE website, and Wikipedia. 
The site is intended to be an impartial and useful source of information about the Forces Base and surrounding area for members of HM Armed Forces, their families and civilians working on the Base. There should be nothing of a sensitive nature as everything here is readily available on the internet.  If you spot anything that is out of date or just plain wrong, please contact us