Draft:Oxford University Officer Training Corps

Oxford University Officer Training Corps (OUOTC) is an Officers’ Training Regiment in Oxford, England. The corps is formed of two companies: Sir John More Company for its first-year Officer Cadets, and Alan Brooke Company.

Oxford UOTC claims descent from the bodyguard to Charles I that students of the University of Oxford formed in 1642, during the English Civil War. But the immediate origin of the present body is the 1st Oxfordshire (Oxford University) Rifle Volunteer Corps, formed in 1859 and established (together with many other volunteer corps across the country) in response to the threat of war with France.From 1881, the OURVC served as one of several volunteer battalions of the Oxfordshire Light Infantry and in 1887 it became known as the 1st (Oxford University) Volunteer Battalion or the Oxford University Volunteers (OUV).

In 1908, the Oxford University contingent of the Officers' Training Corps was formally raised in response to the recommendations of the committee formed by Lord Haldane. From 1912 to 1918, the Oxford OTC was commanded by John Stenning, a fellow of Wadham College, Oxford. In September 1914, at the start of the First World War the university processed some 2,000 applications for commissions in the British Army and another 3,000 subsequently passed through its School of Instruction. The OTC was based at Yeomanry House in Manor Road from 1929, but moved to Harcourt House in Marston Road from 1994 and moved again to purpose-built facilities at Falklands House in Oxpens Road in 1998.