The MSO unit in Bielefeld was based in Harrogate barracks opposite Mossbank barracks which was home to 1 Corps Troops Workshop, 20 Electronic Workshops REMEM and at one time 25 Transport & Movement Regiment RCT.

Like most MSO units 623 was mainly made up of displaced eastern european citizens who could not, for whatever reason, return to there homeland due to soviet occupation. Some simply did not want to return.

A few people I knew there were Latvian or Lithuanian who had been in the German forces fighting Soviet Russia during world war 2. Others had been Free Polish forces who had served as part of the allied free forces in Britain, Italy, Africe etc and did not want to return either.

Later, as many became too old or retired, locally employed civilians, Germans and ex pat British citizens (as well as Turks, Greeks etc) joined various MSOs and MCTGs.

Bielefeld had a small nucleus of ex RCT and RAOC guys who opted for local discharge (Girls/Wifes or Beer and nightlife) choosing to sign up as drivers or watchmen.

623 was equipped with 4 tonne Bedfords and 10 tonne Foden units and the ten tonnys often had longer hauls with overnight stays at external units, a good extra income for the driver.

The security used to be provided by the drivers themself who wore navy blue battledress, 37 pattern webbing, navy berets with an RCT capbadge however, the centre was not the 'EIIR' cypher but a disc which read 'MSO'. They were armed with L1A1 Slrs. The unit had its own Officers and NCOs with a unique rank system of small silver bars for NCOs and larger bars for their officers. Their last OC was Karlos Buss of LAtvian or Lithuanian descent and a nice all rounder.

Their affiliation was to the transport and movement regiment with the CO/RSM being in overall command of the unit. They did have, however, a lot of autonimy but greatly respected their British counterparts.

During the mid eighties the guards were supplied by 1 corps tps wksp and later on the MSO watchmen could opt to become ACWs - Armed Civilian Watchment, armed with 9mm Browning pistols - part of the German Guard Service equal to the Northern Irish Guard Service (NIGS) and MoD Guard Service.

Harrogate Barracks sported playing fields, a small workshop and accomodation for single men who required it in form of the usual blocks. they had asmall social club and a cookhouse which did a better breakfast then many a regular unit!

Harrogate Barracks was, like Richmond and Ripon barracks, handed back to the German authorities and is now a housing estate.

Martin, in my day in there was an MSO Block in Ripon Bks itself, we had a lot of Mojo's in the early '70's

We had MSOs doing guard duty in some of our barracks back in the 50s and 60s. A lot of them looked like first day recruits fresh out of the QM, but there was one in particular who was the exception. His blue BD looked like it had been tailored and the creases were sharp. His webbing was perfectly blancoed and his boots were spit shone to a degree that would have satisfied the most picky RSM.

Officers always got an enthusiastic big five when driving through and they were all extremely diligent. Guess they were happy to be where they were and not from whence they came. I think they served us well.

The senior MSO guy in Ripon had been a Colonel in the Czech Army I was told. He was smart as a carrot.

I remember that there was a small 'cleaning' patrol in Ripon, 2 Germans, 2 old poles who used to do 'broom drill' and say kurva and borsche moi a lot whilst standing to attention a lot....

They lived on the top floor of the block nearest the guardroom, where the hairdresser was.

The "MOJOs" that got my admiration were the Tank Transporter boys, grinding along in those Thoneycroft Antars. Brews and meals set up at pre - arranged laybys, adhering rigidly to their timetables. Yes, they'd been doing the job for decades but even so, they were a joy to behold !

One of those 'Mighty Antars' is a gate guard - silent sentry at the main entrance of 8 Regt RLC, Catterick Bks Bielefeld.

How big is the Army presence in Bielefeld now Martin?

When we overnighted at Reinsehlen on the way to and from Soltau we used to see what I assume were MSO dog handlers patrolling the perimeter (they weren't in uniform). I don't know which looked tougher and more dangerous, the dogs or the handlers.

And speaking of the tank transport companies, when did they phase out the Diamond 'T' tractors and replace them with Antars? Also I seem to recall they used Scammels as well. Is that right?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thornycroft_Antar

http://www.the-antar.co.uk/page2.htm

Ah thanks for that link soprano.

Yeah, Bielefeld is a small garrison now. One Regiment and, well, the remnants of an LAD and army legal aid/prosecution agency.

On a very dark note.

The SPD, Germanys LAbour, wanted British troops out (as well as American etc) asap. The local elected party in Bielefeld was also SPD and also wished for the prescence to diminish - many locals worked for or sustained their livelihood from the then BFG presence.

Many stated that if the Brits left they would suffer [financial] hardship. All of this was ignored by the council/government.

When troops did leave and massed in Gutersloh, the Bielefeld economy crashed and unemployment rocketed, something my Brther mentioned has not yet recovered...

That's sad Martin. dis you ever hear about the Bielefeld doesn't exist conspiracy theory?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bielefeld_Conspiracy