British soldiers this morning left the last British army base in the border region of south Armagh at Bessbrook.
The British army ends its official role of supporting the police in Northern Ireland at the end of July.
Operation Banner has been the longest single campaign in British military history, stretching back more than 35 years.
When it is complete, the number of troops and air force personnel will be reduced to 5,000 compared to over 30,000 at one stage.
At the height of the Troubles, Bessbrook was said to be the busiest heliport in western Europe.
It was used to fly troops and police into areas of south Armagh where it was considered too dangerous to travel by road, because of IRA attacks.
In 1997, a British soldier was murdered at a checkpoint outside the base, the last to be killed by the IRA.
This morning the gates were closed at the former spinning mill, which dominates the 19th century village.
The mill will be handed back to the civil authorities.
