CFB London Canadian Forces Base London ( also CFB London ) is a former Canadian Forces Base that was located in London , Ontario , Canada . It was downsized and closed during defence budget cutbacks in the 1990s . Local Primary Reserve units are now supported by Area Support Unit ( ASU ) London which is located in some of the remaining base buildings . As the site of the first purpose - built infantry training school erected by the federal government and an early symbol of the establishment of a permanent military force in Canada , part of the base was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1963 . History . The Wolseley Barracks was established in the 1880s on the outskirts of London when the city traded the John Carling farm property on " Carling Heights " for the downtown Victoria Park , which had been owned and occupied by the military up to that time . Wolseley Barracks became the home of " C " Company of the ( Canadian ) Infantry School Corps with the completion of Wolseley Hall in 1886 . The Infantry School Corps later became The Royal Canadian Regiment . Wolseley Hall was the first structure purposely built by the Canadian Government for a unit of the new Permanent Force . It was the headquarters of Number - 1 District Depot in 1939 when war was declared on Germany . Servicemen with the prefix " A " in front of their Second World War service numbers were processed here . Wolseley Barracks was named for Field Marshal Viscount Wolseley and was used for training regular and reserve units of the Canadian Army since its establishment . Various buildings were constructed on the property although many have since been demolished as the site reverts to civilian use . The two oldest structures on base are Wolseley Hall and the Royal School Building . The newest building on the property where the remaining logistics services of ASU London are consolidated , is the Captain Neil Logistics Facility . Wolseley Barracks was renamed Canadian Forces Base London ( CFB London ) on April 1 , 1966 , in advance of the unification of all military services that would form the Canadian Forces . Originally part of Material Command , CFB London supported the 27 Ordnance Depot and the First Battalion , The Royal Canadian Regiment ( 1RCR ) . On November 1 , 1968 , CFB London transferred to Mobile Command . In 1992 the base was downsized from a Canadian Forces Base to a detachment of CFB Toronto . 1RCR moved later that year to CFB Petawawa . On 1 April 1996 Detachment London closed . Garrison Support Unit London ( GSU London ) was subsequently established at Wolseley Barracks to provide the local Reserve , Cadet and remaining Regular Force units with administrative and logistical support as an element of Land Force Central Area . GSU London was renamed Area Support Unit London in 1998 . In addition to its 4th Battalion at ASU London , The Royal Canadian Regiment continues to maintain the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum at Wolseley Barracks , in the historic Wolseley Hall . The south half of the Wolseley Barracks and associated properties were sold off and redeveloped for housing . The former base gym is now the Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre . Closure of ASU London . In April 2012 , the Department of National Defence announced that ASU London would be closed in the near future and their services transferred to ASU Toronto . Heritage Buildings . CFB London contains a recognized and a classified Federal Heritage building on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings .