Info re barrack name in osnabruck.

I'm trying to find out the name of the barracks that I was stationed at in Osnabruck, back in '57 (now 72, and memory not what it was.)
I was REME Att to 66 Coy RASC.
I recall that there was a Gastatte called "Mickies bar", the place was also a Ten pin Bowling Alley (Keiglerheim) just down the road, on the left.
Also, if there is anyone out there who served with me during that time I would dearly like to make contact.
My name is Brian Rowe.

There were a number of Barracks in the Osnabruck area.

Have you looked at the BAOR-Locations page yet?

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

Take a look at Belfast Barracks first.

Many thanks, but still not sure, as 66 coy mentioned in two of the barracks. I sereved 56-59, commencing in Hamm, then Munster, Osnabruck and finally Herford.
I may be wrong about Gastatte, could have been "Cafe Shmidt" in osnabruck, and "Mickies" in Herford.
My army No was 23482969 Cfn Rowe.

Did none of the descriptions or pictures ring a bell?

My Father was in Quebec Bks around that Time Brian, he was Lancashire Fusiliers. I believe it ws there that they had the amalgamation Parade.

Yes, I'm almost certain that it was Belfast Barracks, and I'm certain, now, that cafe Shmidt was just down the road (left, out of the camp.)
I am seeking similar info re my barracks in Herford. The accomodation was single storey buildings, (white painted) opposite was 17/21st Lancers, where I often had to go for MT spares that we had run out of.
I remember on one occasion waching a centurian tank reducing two lines of wooden lockers to matchwood, on the parade square (probably been replaced by metal ones) whilst waiting for some spares to be located.
Just down the road was a Zeppelin Turm, where we sometimes went for a drink (it had been converted into a cafe.)
Surrounding our camp was pine forest, (best of my postings.)
I am trying to locate photos that I took whilst there and will submit them as and when.

brrowe wrote:

Yes, I'm almost certain that it was Belfast Barracks, and I'm certain, now, that cafe Shmidt was just down the road (left, out of the camp.)
I am seeking similar info re my barracks in Herford. The accomodation was single storey buildings, (white painted) opposite was 17/21st Lancers, where I often had to go for MT spares that we had run out of.
I remember on one occasion waching a centurian tank reducing two lines of wooden lockers to matchwood, on the parade square (probably been replaced by metal ones) whilst waiting for some spares to be located.
Just down the road was a Zeppelin Turm, where we sometimes went for a drink (it had been converted into a cafe.)
Surrounding our camp was pine forest, (best of my postings.)
I am trying to locate photos that I took whilst there and will submit them as and when.

Sounds very much like Maresfield Bks. Both the North Camp and the Main Camp had the buildings you describe and it was in a woods. It was also near the Stadt Zoo, if that rings any bells.

Mike

mjm34 wrote:

Sounds very much like Maresfield Bks. Both the North Camp and the Main Camp had the buildings you describe and it was in a woods.

Mike

Look at

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

My old regt was stationed in Maresfield Camp, Uckfield for a while. The Intelligence Corps were there before them.
Would it have been the "I" Corps that named the barracks in BAOR ?

brum

Quote :

s very much like Maresfield Bks.

Yes you`re right mike.It was the only camp in the Herford area with that type of building..

Maresfield Camp, Uckfield was a WW2 vintage camp and at one time the Int Corps Depot before their move to Templar Barracks, Ashford. There's a Fire Brigade training centre on the site now.

There was another Maresfield Camp about a mile NE that was built during WW1 and dismantled in 1923. It's now a rather posh residential estate.

The bleeps amongst us may be interested to know that it was at this camp that the Royal Corps of Signals was formed up in 1920. As 7 Sigs were based at Maresfield Barracks, Herford, I'd say that that was the link.

Claymore wrote:

Maresfield Camp, Uckfield was a WW2 vintage camp and at one time the Int Corps Depot before their move to Templar Barracks, Ashford. There's a Fire Brigade training centre on the site now.

There was another Maresfield Camp about a mile NE that was built during WW1 and dismantled in 1923. It's now a rather posh residential estate.

The bleeps amongst us may be interested to know that it was at this camp that the Royal Corps of Signals was formed up in 1920. As 7 Sigs were based at Maresfield Barracks, Herford, I'd say that that was the link.

Absolutely correct Claymore. Maresfield Bks in (or near) Herford was named after Maresfield, Sussex where the R Signals were formed.

Because of this I wasn't too sure if it was actually Maresfield Bks that brrowe was referring to. The name suggests that the Bks was always R Signals but he said that the Bks he was in had a bks opposite which housed the 17/21L. However, as Gordon points out, it was the only Bks in the Herford area that had the buildings brrowe describes.

Mike

7 Sigs moved from Harwood to the newly built Maresfield Barracks
in 1952 and remained there untill closure sometime in the 90s.

Whether they occupied the whole camp at that time i don`t know.It is possible another unit could have used the North camp where the ammo dump was.

I am now an officer..Looks like all my old COs were talking crap

Thanks for the info Claymore, that explains the name then.
Just to tidy things up, Maresfield Camp was the one actually in Maresfield, as you say, about a mile from Uckfield. There was a camp there circa WW1, it was rebuilt for WW2.
My Regt left in '70, en route for Hohne (BAOR link!). Ugandan Asians occupied the place for a while after that.
As you say, it's now a housing estate.

Cheers
brum

Two different sites, mate. Both camps were in Maresfield (nr Uckfield). The WW1 camp (R Sigs birthplace) was where the Maresfield Park Estate is (51° 0'3.53"N, 0° 4'59.44"E). It was demolished in 1923.

The one your regiment left would have been the WW2 camp (and former Int Corps depot) in between the A272 and the A22. Now the East Sussex Fire Brigade training centre. (50°59'34.21"N, 0° 4'38.10"E)

jim wrote:

My Father was in Quebec Bks around that Time Brian, he was Lancashire Fusiliers. I believe it ws there that they had the amalgamation Parade.

Jim, The LFs were in Quebec Bks when I arrived in Osnabruck [Scarboro' Bks] in late 1962. They left c1963/4.

Was it as late as that Paddy? ah well, I was only young.

Hi mjm34,
Hope the link below will work.
Just signed up to Photo bucket and not sure how to post images to BFG/BAOR Forum.
Here goes;
It certanly looks like the 5th photo on your link though, taken in 1958, September.

The photo is fine, did you serve with the LF's then brrowe? attached I mean, My das was (I think) Orderly room SGT or CPL then, his name was Bill Frodsham

Hi Jim,
I was REME att to 66 Coy RASC.
It's rather sad to see the photos of what remains of my various stations, but inevitable. I suppose.
I would have liked to return, to see them, but such is life (other seemingly more imprtant things intrude.)
Since joining BFG/BAOR LOCATIONS Forum, I've become rather nostalgic and blown the dust off my old photo album and wallowed in memories.
I've found thet my local "Bargain Booze" outlet stocks Dortmunder Bier, so can really enter into the spirit of it (sad, ain't it?)
Looking for a source of Herforder Bier now!
Brian (brrowe)

"I've become rather nostalgic " not just you I assure you, I feel I can "smell" the old Germany when I log on here.

Very true, the pity is that with advancing age, one forgets names.
I have quite a few photo's, but can't put names to many of the blokes I served with.
The problem is, I didn't think to get addresses before I was demobbed.
Also after 50 or so years, some will no longer be around.
brrowe.

I agree, I look at old photos of people I knew well and their names are gone, especially those posed group pictures. Funny thing though, I can allways recall their voices.

brum

Maresfield Bks BAOR was on the Bad Salzuflen road out of Herford. First point of interest after leaving Herford was Cafe Schmidt on the right (stand with your back to the wall). About a mile further on was the Royal Signals on the right and just past there on the left was 66 Coy RASC. I know that was Maresfield Bks - didn't realise The Signals camp had the same name. Just past both camps on the right was the TierPark. A small zoo and great night out. Once heard a local shout Heil Hitler and saw him disappear thru the plate glass window - was then out of bounds to junior ranks. After the TierPark it was under the autobahn bridge and onto Bad Salzuflen
Seems like yesterday (instead of 1958)
Cash