Wellington Barracks - 1897

Wellington Barracks - 2009

The Madras Regimental Centre was first raised as 36 Madras Battalion at Tanjore (Now Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu) in 1794. It was thereafter re-designated as 2/13 Madras Native Infantry in 1798, 26 MADRAS Native Infantry in 1824, 86th Carnatic Infantry in 1903 and 10/3rd Madras Regiment in 1922 and subsequently placed under suspended animation. It was later re-raised as the Recruits Training Centre of the 3rd Madras Regiment at Madukarai on 19 July 1942. On official inauguration, colours of old 10/3rd Madras Regiment were presented to the new Regimental Centre on Assaye Day, 23 September 1942 at Madukarai. Associated with the Regimental Centre in Madukarai was the 103 Indian Garrison Training Company which performed the functions of a reinforcement sub-unit for the active Battalions. As a result of the efforts of the Gen Sir Archibald Nye, GCIE, KCB, KBE, MC, the then Governor of Madras and the second Colonel-in-Chief of the Madras Regiment (10 August 1946-31 March 1949), the Training Centre moved to Wellington in the Nilgiris in February 1947 and billeted in its present location, the Wellington Barracks. The Wellington Barracks were constructed way back in 1852-60 and have a chequered history of their own. In 1964, the Barracks were renamed as Shrinagesh Barracks.

Shrinagesh Barracks is one of its kind in India and was designed to quarter 54 Non Commissioned Officers and 820 rank and file. Construction was carried out from 1852 to 1860 under the supervision of Capt Francis and Capt Reilly with the aid of troop-labour. Teak was specially brought from the forests of Wynaad (Now in Kerala) and stone, like other materials, quarried from the near vicinity. The total cost of construction was Rs 25,05,000.00. The first Regiment to occupy the Wellington Barracks was the 74th Highlanders.

Since 1860 right up to 1947, several famous British battalions were housed here. During World War I, other units located in Wellington were the Cadet College (1915 - 1920) and a Prisoner of War Camp for Germans. During World War II, the Hastings Holiday Home was established in hutment accommodation in the present Staff College area (the Canteen) and a Convalescent Depot was located near the Barracks.

Wellington Barracks 1922
Ceremonial Parade

The design was unlike the British, it was more like some show piece of Napoleonic or Prussian architecture. One enters it through a short dark tunnel just like the gladiators entered an amphitheatre, and passing out of its shade, found oneself in a bright and open parade ground, 8000 square metres, dazzling in the sun, surrounded by two-storey buildings with verandahs upstairs and arcades below. On four sides of the square were first-floor entrances, approached by double flights of steps and surmounted by pediments, and the whole structure, capped with elegant white lanterns and flag-poles, gave an agreeable sense of space and freshness. The soldiers, housed upstairs, were given more room and air than ever before, and had their own verandahs on which, properly clothed one assumes, they could enjoy the Nilgiri air in the evenings. Barrack buildings, messes, parade-grounds, hospital, gymnasium, mansions for the officers all over the years were disposed gently around the slopes, with green shrubberies interspersing them everywhere, and the steeple of the garrison church of St George (architect Colonel Morant, Royal Engineers) histrionically above. In the clear moon light, from a distance, it all looked more like a health resort than a military camp. The centre of the station was the Red Roof barrack block, and this was like a Heart of the Cantonment.

The Madras Regimental Centre moved to Wellington in February 1947 and was thus the first Indian Regiment to occupy Wellington Barracks as its home. In the process of indianisation, the Wellington Barracks were subsequently renamed as 'Shrinagesh Barracks' in 1964 in honour of General SM Shrinagesh who was the first Indian Colonel of the Regiment.

A Passing Out Parade of
Young Soldiers of the Regt - 2007