Have just come back from a business trip to Osnabruck yesterday where I stayed at the lovely little hotel “The Valhalla” which is in the old town of Osnabruck. As I was stationed there in the mid 70s and lived there up until 1998 thought it would be a good idea to brush up some old memories, my god what a shock..!

I drove round all the old camps which are now looked up, but look as if the boys have just jumped out for a beer nice and clean. As I was standing outside Quebec Bks an old German man came over to me and asked if I was looking for the British army, and went on to tell me that they all pulled out just before Xmas 2008.

He told me the brits were badly missed and asked if I knew anyone who was stationed there? I just grinned (a little sadly) and said no, I had just stopped by chance.
Is there anyone out there who was stationed at Osnabruck around the mid 70s? I was with the A&SH mill band and was stationed there from 1975 – 1978 went back to the UK when the regiment was stationed back to Cattrick, and returned as a civilian in 1979. If there is anyone out there would love to here from them

A sad day for Osnabruck and the British Army, final handover parade at Imphal Barracks.

http://www.neue-oz.de/


Scroll down to the bottom for photos.

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Turn the lights out when you leave.

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Great photos! many thanks. Will try and see if I can get them printed and put on the wall of fame.

Cmac

For all those who lived in Dodeshiede or worked at Mercer/Imphal Barracks.


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Quite a lengthy write up on TV over here.There is no doubt the people of Osnabruck were very fond of their "Tommies"and were sad to see them go!
Its the same here in Detmold,often I hear - "remember when the British were here",there are still MQs occupied by families in Detmold,the ones I speak to will be sad to leave.
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Don

Hi all,

The people of Osnabruck have very ancient ties with England.
I went there in 1951 and we never felt any agression from the German people [the war had only been over less than 6 years]; I spend Christmas 1951 with a family.

Lower Saxony of which Osnabruck is; was part of the area from which the Saxons came from and invaded England 1500 years ago, and settled in Essex [East Saxons], Middlesex, Sussex and Wessex.

A few years ago I got my DNA tested and confirmed me as of Saxon origin [ my ancestor was an invader] of which about 6% of people in those counties in England have Saxon blood.

The Saxons [with other German tribes] defeated the Romans in 9 AD at the Teutonburg Wald, Kalkriese near Bramsche, and killed 10,000 Romans [a very big defeat for them] This battle site was previously believed to be near Detmold.

So I can now look back, and be amazed how lucky I was to be posted to Osnabruck; returning after 1500 years!!!

I would like to get back there, but now living in Australia; but I dont think it would be the same as I remember.
The smell of cigars and two stroke smoke is what I remember.

Happy days,
Regards
Tony

So sad to see the Traz closing down. I spent 3 years there ( 83/86) with 23 Engineers firstly in Roberts barracks then moving to Quebec .We lived in Schlesicher (?) Strasse.
We went back in 2007 , the wife wouldn't let me take any pictures.She wanted to remember it the way it was . Most of the quarters were empty and the place looked grotty and run down.
Happy to say though that Jim Blakes schnelly is still there and the burgers are still as good as they were all those years ago.

[quote="Big_Mike"]What a sad event, after all these years. I spent from about May 1962 to I think Sept 1966 with 1Bn Royal Fusiliers in Belfast Bks, Sedan Str. I got married and lived in a MQ at Gerhart-Hauptmann-Hof. I bought my first car, a Renault R8 Major from the garage on the corner of Sedan Str and Natruper Str. I think back to those days with fond memory's.

HI MIKE,
IF YOU WAS WITH 1RF IN BELFAST BARRACKS UNTIL 1966 WE MUST HAVE MET AS I JOINED THE REGIMENT IN 1965 AND WAS THERE UNTIL 67

FUSILIER

i was in 12 mech bde sig sqn from 1973 to 1976 and miss it!!!

nights out in town in the saskatch! diesel taxi's home.....ah those were the days...and sadly missed

I madley miss osnabruck, I went back a while ago and got loads of photos. Of Roberts and Dodeshide. The stadt are going to use Roberts with the police . The rail head has been sold of to the stone company next door. There on about knocking down Qubec and building houses. the uni are having Woolich bks and the klinkium are having belfast bks. Not sure about Imphal. the hand over of Roberts had to be delayed for 3 months till march 31st as when they were handing the place over the found in the cellar the main computer sever link for Afghan/Iraq for northen Germany. No one knew about. so they had to build another one sharpish.

I will try and get in contact with phil graham so i can smash these photos up on the site.