Brigadier Residences

Reading through the topics of the last couple of days re kit (staff cars for Brigadier's), etc., reminded me of something I have mentioned in passing here and there on the site but never really followed up on.

When my family and I lived in Iserlohn on Am Tyrol circa 1971-72, up the hill a bit further was the now-abandoned mansion once housing the Brigadier-General. I believe the Canadian one, but 30 years on I'm not as sure about that. I have no knowledge of why this mansion was allowed to fall into disrepair, especially given its providence (Princess Margaret stayed there in her capacity as Commander in Chief of one of the Canadian outfits, and various other heads of state and political leaders. I believe Queen Elizabeth also stayed there...).

It had spectacular gardens at one time, with a massive lion-headed (?) fountain down below the foundations of the mansion itself.

I never managed to get into the place, although a couple of the local British squaddies did and took a look around inside. There was another mansion not too far from the Brigadier's mansion, no where near the same scale of course and not at all related to the Brigadier's abode. I got into that one several times and felt so bad that what had clearly been a beautiful home with expensive and "nice" fittings had been allowed to stand empty and just rot.

Does anyone have any info on the old Brigadier's Residence, pictures, stories, etc.

I understand the site has long since been demolished and is now got condos on it.

The Residence was not that far from the Garten Strasse swimbad.

You're probably referring to HILLTOP HOUSE which was situated in the Mohnesee area not far from Korbeke. It was the residence of the Brigade Commander who also bore the somewhat ponderous title of Senior Canadian Army Officer in Europe.

I once heard an amusing story from an officer I was riding with back in the 60s. The story goes that a young replacement subaltern arrived in Germany and, upon seeing the direction signs on the road, asked another officer what Hilltop House was.

Sensing a chance for an initiation stunt, the victim's brother officer replied that it was an officer's club and that he should waste no time in aquainting himself with the delicious tea and sandwiches served there in the afternoon. And so he did at first opportunity.

According to the story teller, the Brigadier's wife was at home when he made his uninvited entrance into the hall. Gracious lady that she apparently was, she invited him in, sat him down and made him tea and a sandwich. The young and very green officer didn't learn that he had been set up until much later.

Can't prove it's truthfulness one way or the other, but it makes a good yarn anyway. Let's just say that if it didn't really happen, it should have.

Went to a couple of cocktail parties in Cambrai House in Munster.

More later

Thats what make senoir officers ladies so great,no matter what comes their way they will cope.I remember,when I was a young Sgt and full of the joys of spring,marching a Squad of rookies down the road,in my less than musical voice telling 'em they were marching like a lot of old women,when round the corner came Mrs CO and 2i/c.Quick thinking,Eyes right,best salute of the year from me,Mrs CO,good morning Sgt Remfrey,please do carry on.Much snickering from the ranks,and debate as to where I'd be tomorrow.But true soldiers wife that she was,did not even mention it to her husband,as I found out when I spoke to him many years later when he was a General!
-------
Don

PS - but I did sweat for a few days!

recce83 wrote:

You're probably referring to HILLTOP HOUSE which was situated in the Mohnesee area not far from Korbeke. It was the residence of the Brigade Commander who also bore the somewhat ponderous title of Senior Canadian Army Officer in Europe.

Nope, not HillTop House...that I was aware of, although had forgotten about (thanks for the reminder!). You're right, that was in Korbecke or near by. Hmmmm...wonder if it is still standing and if so, what it is now? the one I am thinking of was absolutely in Iserlohn, not up by Soest. Now, it may NOT have been the Brigadier's residence, as I come to think of it, although I am somewhat certain...now I'm second guessing myself....

You're quite right, Hill Top was the residence of Brigade Commander, the head honcho for Canadian troops in the (old) Brigade Area of Hemer/Deilinghofen, Werl, Unna, and Soest and areas.

I know it was occupied by the BAOR equivalent in 1972 as I knew his batman fairly well...nice fellow, whose name I have now forgot. Seamus, Sean, Padriq, something like that...very Irish Celtic.

Have been mulling this over, trying to sort out dormant memories of 30 years ago...

The residence I am thinking of, which I may have mistakenly referred to as a "brigadier's residence", was definitely located in Iserlohn, up on Am Tyrol, not far from Garten strasse and the MQs over on Holbein strasse etc. There was also a large indoor swimming pool a block or two from it (which I understand is now gone, replaced by high-end condominiums).

Am Tyrol was one of the northern hills above Iserlohn proper and the residence I am thinking of, that did have a connection to at least the Canadian Brigade Area but also BAOR I think, was perched on what I am now thinking was the actual crest of that particular hill, with a view out over the valley in which Iserlohn is primarily built.

If memory serves (always a dangerous proposition LOL), the house dates from early 1900s or maybe even late 1800s. Built from local grey stone (granite? Limestone?)...there were quarries out towards Letmathe and many of the more prestigious buildings in Iserlohn, and some of the more important homes, were constructed with the stone from there. Am Tyrol was a high-end neighbourhood...lots of industrialists etc.

The Goethe Institute was also on Am Tyrol, but quite a ways down the slope, I'd say maybe halfway up and again, just off Garten Strasse.

I lived in a house on Am Tyrol itself (the name of the street) that was between the Goethe Institute and this mansion I am trying to recall (the institute was one block over on the south; the mansion was two or three blocks up from us on the north).

Apparently, the house directly across the street from us, whose grounds I could clearly see from my 3rd floor bedroom window, was at one time the residence of a high-ranking SS officer, some mucky-muck in charge of the region or some such, whose daughter still lived there circa 1970s. I therefore suspect, although certainly cannot say for sure, that the house I am trying to recall likewise had a connection to the former regime, given it's prominence but of this I have absolutely no actual knowledge.

Not sure what else I can tell y'all to assist others in going "Ahhh...I know which house you mean!". Lots of grounds to it, a large curved stone fountain set into the area below a deck/promenade facing south, the house itself as I recall was 3-stories, at least on one side. I never checked out the north side, which would have been the entrance...not sure why. Wish now I had explored the place....

Stephen,

Is it possible that the house was in the vicinity of where the "new" autobahn now runs?

I seem to remember that just before I left Deilinghofen, and sometime around a stay in BMH Iserlohn, they had started to put piles into the Seiler See ready for the autobahn.

On Google Earth, if you look in the region of Am Tyrol, Iserlohn (and as you probably remember) there are a number of "Strasse" called after artisits. Holbein Strasse seems to be to the North, running very close to the autobahn.

Paul.

Quite possible, Paul....the various 'strasse' named after artists (Holbein, Rembrandt, etc) were the strasse within the British Married Quarter area and, as mentioned, the mansion I am thinking of was close to the MQs, as were we.

Now, I am somewhat familiar with the unfinished stretch of autobahn across the Seilersee near the former BMH Iserlohn through various other sites dealing with the Iserlohn area and that particular stretch, from what I understand, was started in 1977 or so and never, or at least not until very recently, completed.

I am not sure where the other section of the autobahn might be in relation to the old British MQs and the Am Tyrol neighbourhood.

Am Tyrol and the British MQ area were quite a ways from BMH which was closer to Hemer, albeit over north a bit off the main drag going into Hemer from Iserlohn, in behind what became Winklemann Kaserne (formerly Fort Beausejour under us and Corruna Bks (?) under you fellows).

Anyway, if a part of this new autobahn does in fact swing through that neck of the woods (i.e. the former MQs and across the top of Am Tyrol), then it would seem the site of which I am thinking was demolished to make room for it.

In my mind's eye, however, I cannot imagine an autobahn going through here. The site of the mansion was on the cusp of the hill, in a well-populated and rather 'posh' neighbourhood. Pushing an autobahn through here would be met with heavy opposition and be very destructive to the area itself.

Of course, from what I can surmise from on-line discussions with Iserlohners still in the area, this uncompleted monstrosity across the Seiler was met with considerable opposition....

Umm! They destroyed the 'YMCA Windmill' to make way for an Autobahn!!

Okay, just took a look at Google Earth....of course, zero in too close and it gets all blurry, but I think I was able to pinpoint where I believe this house was....

We lived at 7 Am Tyrol. Running behind us and down the slope a bit would have been Schuettestrasse, which I recall. Lower down the slope is what is now labeled L680, some sort of main artery that wasn't called that in the 70's as far as I recall.

Swinging up along Am Tyrol, one comes to a "V" shaped piece of property, right below Schwalbenstrasse. This looks like the property upon which the house sat as I seem to recall this odd "V" shaped property, point down pointing down the slope of the hill towards downtown Iserlohn, as Google Earth seems to show.

The autobahn (A46) is quite a bit over and beyond this site...you're right Paul, it swings across the top of Holbein etc, the old MQ area, which is still visible on GE.

If my judgment of distances is correct here, the autobahn extension is several blocks away from the site of the old mansion.

alan8376 wrote:

Umm! They destroyed the 'YMCA Windmill' to make way for an Autobahn!!

What??? Blasphemy!! That's the YMCA Windmill that was already located out along the autobahn, right?

Odd piece of architecture but what a shame they demolished it...

No disrespect to the Windmill, but it isn't quite the same as the residential area in around the Am Tyrol/Gartenstrasse neighbourhood.

However, having now viewed Google Earth, it does seem the route of A46 is through a section that wasn't that heavily populated to begin with, really. Wooded preserve, perhaps...slightly north of what was known as The Little Forest. It really is difficult to tell using GE as the resolution isn't very good.

ah well...perhaps I'll just file this question re the old mansion under "to be resolved later...."