GOSLAR BARRACKS

We have discussed the origins of the British names for the various Barracks in the town elsewhere on this site (we fairly quickly established the naming/location of Manchester Barracks)

Hardrations has kindly offered to use his local contacts to try and find out more but there have been two unexpected developments in recent days.

Firstly Hastings Barracks. I unexpectedly have had sight of a different translation of the history of the Norwegian Brigade in BAOR . We knew already that part of the Brigade was briefly based in Goslar in 1947/8. This new source makes it clear that the Brigade HQ and some support units were in Hastings Barracks (former Dom Kaserne where Rommel was based in the mid 30s). No clues to the origins of the actual name though (Steve and I have yet to identify a Battalion of the Royal Sussex stationed in the town)

Secondly Seaforth Barracks. I had assumed that would have been named by the Seaforth Highlanders but an entirely new option has emerged.

5th Battalion The King's Liverpool Regiment were part of T Force, a clandestine counter intelligence organisation operating in Germany at the end of the War and briefly after the German surrender. They were subsequently demobilised but continue to operate under Control Commission Germany not Army command.

From Summer 45 onwards there was a large team based in Goslar under the command of a former King's officer. Here the speculation starts. Seaforth Barracks Liverpool was the pre war Depot of the Kings, could it be that it was the T Force team that named the Goslar Barracks (exact site as yet unknown)?

Unfortunately the Kings Regiment Museum in Liverpool appears to be closed pending reopening at a new location. We do however have a number of Merseyside contributors, any thoughts on who I might contact to confirm my theory?

JPW, at one time, prior to WW1, there was a Regiment known as the Liverpool Scottish, perhaps there is an association with the Seaforth Highlanders somewhere along the line?

JPW,
I briefly spoke with my mate who works at the Preston Museum.

The Kings Regiment was Liverpool Scottish??? They amalgamated with The Queens Own Cameron Highlanders. This being TA... It is possible, due to the government removing funding for museums, that it may end up in Scotland?


Alan

Alan, Shelldrake

Many thanks for your helpful suggestions

In fact to my surprise the King's Liverpool and Liverpool Scottish were two entirely separate Regiments. The former was a Regular unit with TA affiliated Battalions including 5 KINGS and the 8th Battalion, known as the Liverpool Irish. The Liverpool Scottish were an entirely volunteer TA Regiment who surprisingly did not deploy as entity in WW2, but instead provided drafts to the Cameron Highlanders, there affiliated Regular Regiment and in later years the Army Commandos and Parachute Regiment

Have found a King's Old Comrades site with a possible link to the T Force days. Watch this space!!i