UK's Biggest Army Base Is Under Attack, But Not From Another Country

Last Updated:June 27, 2025, 13:38 IST

Catterick Garrison, home to 13,000 troops, is overrun by rats, rubbish, and foul odours—pushing some British soldiers to the brink of quitting over squalid living conditions

Photographs from the garrison show bins spilling over, littered lawns, and burnt-out vehicles abandoned across the site. (News18)

Across the world, armed forces are entrusted with safeguarding both their nation and its citizens. In return, it is the moral and civic duty of any government to provide them with suitable living and working conditions. However, in the United Kingdom, troubling conditions at the British Army’s largest garrison are pushing some soldiers to consider leaving the service. The threat they face is not from enemy combatants, but from rats, filth, and unbearable stench.

Horrible Living Conditions At Catterick Garrison

Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, the British Army’s largest base and primary infantry training centre, is reportedly in a state of severe disrepair. Over 13,000 soldiers and their families live here, along with personnel from the Intelligence Corps, Royal Lancers, Royal Yorkshire Regiment, and Royal Military Police.

The camp is said to be overrun with overflowing bins, uncollected rubbish, broken-down vehicles, and foul odours. Some servicemen have gone so far as to compare conditions to those of a slum, expressing frustration at the lack of basic cleanliness and hygiene.

Photographs from the garrison show bins spilling over, littered lawns, and burnt-out vehicles abandoned across the site. The scenes have sparked criticism about declining standards of discipline and care within military premises.

A report by the Daily Mail quoted one officer anonymously, stating: “There are rats in every corner. Dustbins are overflowing, filth is everywhere. This is supposed to be our home, but waking up each day surrounded by stink and insects is unbearable." He added that morale is plummeting: “Army life is tough enough without having to live in these conditions. People are genuinely considering leaving. No one wants to stay here."

Breakdown In Responsibility

The British Army has reportedly blamed the issue on North Yorkshire Council, while the council claims soldiers are not disposing of waste correctly, making an effective clean-up impossible. Colonel Philip Ingram, former commanding officer of the Intelligence Corps at Catterick, described the situation as a joint failure of military and local leadership. “Both the garrison command and local authority have let soldiers down. This shows the Ministry of Defence is failing in its duty of care."

In response, the Ministry of Defence stated: “We are working closely with North Yorkshire Council to ensure timely rubbish collection and maintain a clean environment for personnel. Additionally, active steps are being taken to control the rat population on site."

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