Memories of Trenchard Barracks, Celle

Hello all,

I've recently been asked to create a commemorative booklet marking the end of the British Armys' presence in Celle, and as such was keen to source several recollections from various armed forces members that have served in Celle from 1945 onwards. If you have, or know anyone who has been based in Trenchard Barracks, I would be much obliged if you could post a brief note on your time there and what unit you were based with, brownie points for any photos included!

Many thanks,

Matt

Hi Matt
Have updated the Celle Various page for the early days of BAOR

http://baor-locations.co.uk/Cellevarious.aspx

Hoping to get more unit detail for this period please pass on whatever you find on your mission

Best of luck
Steve

Hi Matt,

I was at Trenchard Celle from 94-96. Best days i had in the army(although we deployed from celle to Bosnia). When do you want stories/tales?

Matt, where else have you advertised? Facebook our battalion 2 Royal Anglian on there

I was never stationed in Celle, but I do remember in the early 60,s the watchman at the NAAFI being found murdered, it was over Christmas one year, I believe they eventually charged 3 soldiers with the crime, one was a wo2 if my memory is correct, anybody know any more? Ian.

I was stationed at Trenchard Barracks in the early 60s attached to 1st bn royal Irish Fusiliers then the 1st Battalion the Royal Anglian Regt till we was withdrawn to Catterick as part of the cut backs
My unit was 510 Signal Troop attached to both of the above regiments

Hello all, I'm new here, my dad was in 94 regiment we were in Celle for 8 or 9 years, we left in 84 coming over to Scotland... As a kid I loved it , as an adult I have many , many fond memories, . Maryann

Jock Redman..... Lol imagine forgetting to put that in their?!?

Maryann

Welcome, look forward to your future postings about your memories of life in Celle

Think you may have the wrong barracks, 94 were longstanding occupants of Taunton not Trenchard Barracks.

If you have not already found it, go to the Master Home Page on this site, then click on Locations, then Celle and you should then have a choice of the individual Barracks in Celle, some with photos

Through research from original documentation by JPW and myself can confirm the following post 8 May 45

23 May 45 – HQ 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division command 30th Corps moved into Trenchard Barracks and disbanded by 31 July 46 replaced by 5th Infantry Division in Braunschweig

21 May 45 - HQ 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division moved into Silk Factory Offices Lüneburger Heerstrasse Celle until disbandment

The RAF moved in and was handed back to the Army mid Jan 48

15 Feb 48 – HQ Hannover District formed from 7th Armoured Division on 14 Jan 48 and moved from Bad Rothenfelde north-west of Bielefeld to Trenchard Barracks

early Mar 49 7th Armoured Division reforms at Trenchard Barracks moving to Verden-Aller late 50

Unable to update the Celle page at this time as http://baor-locations.org is under a major refit thanks to Mike Royal Signals

maryann, drop me a message, like to contact your dad,

Mr Father, David (Dai) Alan Rees did his National Service in the R.E.M.E., attached to the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade (the Desert Rats) and was stationed in Celle in 1951.

This is one of a number of photos I have of him, in the Rees Scott Archive, Dai is on the left and Jock Williams on the right.



Barry Rees

Barry

Welcome

Am intrigued by the sign OC LAD REME on the photo

Think this was before the introduction of Armoured Personnel Carriers into the British Army and whilst 1RB maintained the Green Jacket tradition of providing the Lorried Infantry capability to Armoured Divisions not sure whether that would have warranted an Officer OC LAD. Have you anything more detail?

Hi JPW

Not a lot more detail I'm afraid. I have a couple more photos that show the type of vehicles that he dealt with, and I remember him enthusing about the Scammell recovery truck he often used when out on manoeuvres.

The first photo shows Dai Rees, Dennis 'the Menace', and Jock Williams, (photo is annotated 'working hard?'), in one of their vehicles. The second is a row of half-tracks.

Thank you very much, the shot of the half tracks will bring back very happy memories for the veteran members of this site (me included)

Yes indeed, the ultimate REME mobile home, also useful, occasionally for lifting and replacing Cent major assemblies.

He is not joking!!

I was posted to Trenchard brk in 1977 whilst serving with 1 PWO.
I remember going in to the cellar under the med center / HQ building, which was the signals store, consisted of White tiles in cells with concrete beds still in place, at the end of the corridor was a small room which had a small hatch / tunnel (3' x 3') with train lines, on the wall was a board which showed a time table to Belsen, near the entrance to the cellar, on the right was a lift shaft that had been sealed with a concrete block to prevent going down.
SS simbles were still evident throughout the camp, including in the cast steel fence round the camp and the swastika and eagle in the bannister of the landing in HQ building.
We used to find WW2 weapons, ammunition and other items in the drains in the garages and others round the camp.
In the loft of HQ old furniture was found with the swastika burnt into it.
Fitted furniture in many of the buildings, including officers mess, Sgts mess and the cellars under the accommodation blocks.