GOSLAR 1945 - 1950

Hi everyone.  I think this query has been posted before but several years ago.  On behalf of a friend I am trying to identify any members of the band in this photo, and particularly the man at the microphone.  I have a couple of photos of him that I will try to link to this message.   It has been suggested his name was Sid Smith and he was a Sergeant Major but it would be wonderful to get a positive name and rank.   He was at Goslar, Manchester Barracks, in the late 1940's.

From JPW and my research the first regiment in Manchester Barracks
Jun 46 – 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment
RHQ – Goslar – to Manchester Barracks (Airfield) Goslar Apr 47
A Company – Braunlager – to Manchester Barracks Jun 47
B Company – Bad Sachsa – to Manchester Barracks Jun 47
C Company – UK – to Golsar Feb 47 – to Manchester Barracks Jun 47
Apr 46 – HQ Company – Goslar – to Manchester Barracks Apr 47
late Dec 47 – to UK

If he was in this regiment perhaps this link will help http://themanchesters.org/indexold.html

Thank you so much, I really do appreciate your help. Hopefully this new info will lead me to the elusive Sid Smith!

Terry

Welcome, members of this site enjoy the challenge of providing a possible answer to this type of question.

If I could add a little to my good friend Historic Steve's earlier comment.

I believe it is possible to date the photograph. If you look carefully at the three banner flags hanging on the wall, the one on the left is clearly the Union Jack, I believe the one on the right is the Norwegian, (the centre banner might be a representation of the BAOR shield)

This suggests that the photo was taken in December 1947 and might be a social event to welcome representatives of the incoming Norwegian Infantry Battalion to Manchester Barracks. There was a major reshuffle of the initial deployment of the Norwegian Brigade in early 1948 when both Brigade Headquarters and an Infantry Battalion moved to Goslar in part replacing the departing Manchester Regiment.

JPW, wow, dating the photo has always been a problem, this is great info. Thank you so much. We'd been leaning towards Sid being a member of the Sherwood Foresters because of the name of the band (possibly named after the battle of Badajoz?), but not sure now if that would fit. It would seem more likely to be the Manchester Regiment from the info Steve has kindly provided. I feel like we are getting somewhere at last!

Terry

This is the first time the Sherwood Foresters has been mentioned

If your information is correct then the window of opportunity for the photograph shifts slightly.

Using my working notes the photo could have been taken between March 1948 (the arrival of the Sherwood Foresters in Goslar) and October 1948 (the departure of the Norwegian Battalion for Schleswig Holstein.

Sorry JPW, ... the Sherwood Foresters was suggested only because of the name of the band that was playing. We don't know if Sid Smith had anything to do with the band or if he was just introducing them on the microphone. We don't know what regiment he was in. Your information is wonderful, because I will concentrate on the Manchester Regiment and/or the Foresters. I am picking up this search on behalf of a friend, she has been searching for years but her English is not good and I think there is a bit of mis-information floating about. The photos are the only solid thing we have to go on, that and the fact that he was definitely in Goslar in the mid to late 1940's. I do appreciate your help.