Queens Royal Irish Hussars, Wolfenbüttel 1964-68

My father was a sergeant and was PRI (President of the Regimental Institute) with the QRIH at Northampton Barracks, Wolfenbüttel, from late 1964 (after the regiment had returned from two years in Ipoh, Malaysia) until, I think, early 1966 when he returned to the UK to be stationed at the Equipment Trials Wing at Bovington Camp. Searching on Google Earth I have found the barracks and have deduced that we lived at the eastern end of Am Blauen Stein, just to the west of the barracks. I was at school at the BFES school which I think was at the corner of Elbinger Strasse and Grüssauer Strasse, about a half kilometre directly south of the barracks. I have recollections of two Christmases spent in Wolfenbüttel, tobogganing in the streets around the military housing estate, exploring the mysterious woods immediately behind the estate (in which, I recall, one of the officers' wives became lost and there was a big search for her), attending the camp cinema which was in the main building of the barracks, just down the hall from my father's office. I recall one soldier who was an expert with pigs, and the regiment bought a small herd which he then bred into a much larger herd, the meat being sold by the PRI to local businesses to raise funds for amenities for the troops. These are all rather hazy childhood memories but I would be interested to see others, whether soldiers or their families, share memories of the QRIH in Wolfenbüttel.

There are interesting pages about Northampton Barracks right here and here

I lived there as a kid in 1969-71 and we lived on the OR's patch in Am Atzummer Busch (red) and the Orficers lived on Harsenwinkel (green).



I also spent a lot of time in those woods, you could walk for miles (or so it seemed) without coming across any civilisation!

I lived in the house which is at the most top right corner of your red outline... that was a row of about three or four homes and we lived in the one nearest the woods. My particular memories of those homes is the huge cellars underneath, and the coal deliveries which were through a grating directly in front of the front doors, down into the cellar. I remember one boy of about 7 who fell down the grating which had been left open, and was quite badly hurt.

I'd forgotten that the officers lived in that separate area, but now you mention it I do recall that one of the officers who lived there very sadly shot himself (would have been around 1965) after he had allegedly been dipping his fingers into some funds. At the time I knew that something bad had happened down there, but only found out what it was quite a few years later. But yes, those homes were nicer than the ones where you and I lived, which were further up the hill - we used to toboggan down the road towards the officers' area in winter.

Was the camp cinema still going when you were there? And did you go to the same school I mentioned?

ishel99 wrote:

I lived in the house which is at the most top right corner of your red outline... that was a row of about three or four homes and we lived in the one nearest the woods. My particular memories of those homes is the huge cellars underneath, and the coal deliveries which were through a grating directly in front of the front doors, down into the cellar. I remember one boy of about 7 who fell down the grating which had been left open, and was quite badly hurt.

I'd forgotten that the officers lived in that separate area, but now you mention it I do recall that one of the officers who lived there very sadly shot himself (would have been around 1965) after he had allegedly been dipping his fingers into some funds. At the time I knew that something bad had happened down there, but only found out what it was quite a few years later. But yes, those homes were nicer than the ones where you and I lived, which were further up the hill - we used to toboggan down the road towards the officers' area in winter.

Was the camp cinema still going when you were there? And did you go to the same school I mentioned?

I vagually remember the cinema, as for the school no, as I was a bit older than you when I was there and had to go to boarding school at Windsor Boys in Hamm.

QRIH must have taken over from us. 1st Queens Dragoon Guards left Wolfenbuttel in '64.

I lived in Am Atzummer Busch from 1964 to 1966/7 after we were posted to Wolfenbuttel from Malaya.. I remember Wolfenbuttel well.. Had some great times there as a kid... Remember my mother sending me me with a shopping list to the Naafi on my bike.. I remember sledging down the hill and playing in the woods, I loved the woods, good old days... We were then posted to Bovington in 66 or 67 and in 1969 we were posted to Paderborn when my father retired from the army in 1976

esams wrote:

I lived in Am Atzummer Busch from 1964 to 1966/7 after we were posted to Wolfenbuttel from Malaya.. I remember Wolfenbuttel well.. Had some great times there as a kid... Remember my mother sending me me with a shopping list to the Naafi on my bike.. I remember sledging down the hill and playing in the woods, I loved the woods, good old days... We were then posted to Bovington in 66 or 67 and in 1969 we were posted to Paderborn when my father retired from the army in 1976

It was around '76/'77 when the QRIH Battlegroup went to BATUS.

We were asked to supply men to go with them.

I can't remember any names but I remember that, like the Royal irish Rangers, they were a good mob to be around.

You must be around the same age as my eldest son. He, too, had the time of his life in BAOR !

I was attached to QRIH, C&S Sqn LAD, in Paderborn 1970. Helped to keep GW and Recce troop on the move.

I was there around the same time with 24. Msl Regt

Shelldrake wrote:

I was there around the same time with 24. Msl Regt

I was with 24Msl Regt Wksp, HQ Bty Fitter Sect I looked after the Saracens and X survey troop, from 1967 until my move to QRIH in Barker Bks.

I joined 24 in Mar 71 and managed to escape in Sep 76.

BigJock wrote:

Shelldrake wrote:

I was there around the same time with 24. Msl Regt

I was with 24Msl Regt Wksp, HQ Bty Fitter Sect I looked after the Saracens and X survey troop, from 1967 until my move to QRIH in Barker Bks.

Just think Jock, you may have encountered the Saracen command post that I drove, in 76 Bty.

02 DA 29, (who says my memory's knackered !)

(pardon ?)

Or my MK, 12 FK 26?

here is one from 51Kabul Bty I got my teeth into.

brum wrote:

BigJock wrote:

Shelldrake wrote:

I was there around the same time with 24. Msl Regt

I was with 24Msl Regt Wksp, HQ Bty Fitter Sect I looked after the Saracens and X survey troop, from 1967 until my move to QRIH in Barker Bks.

Just think Jock, you may have encountered the Saracen command post that I drove, in 76 Bty.

02 DA 29, (who says my memory's knackered !)

(pardon ?)

If it was with 24Msl Regt then my toolbox would have been in it at some point lol.

BigJock wrote:

here is one from 51Kabul Bty I got my teeth into.

I was the MT Sgt of 51 for a few years but, that was before my time. It that a Flasche of Paderborner on the Toolbox?

Shelldrake wrote:

BigJock wrote:

here is one from 51Kabul Bty I got my teeth into.

I was the MT Sgt of 51 for a few years but, that was before my time. It that a Flasche of Paderborner on the Toolbox?

No I think it would have been local brew, Müsterlager pils maybe, I'm what they call a 'silver surfer' now, a lot of water gone down "Vater Rhein" since that picture was taken.

[quote="BigJock"]here is one from 51Kabul Bty I got my teeth into.

[


Blimey !

Not only am I amazed that you were able to pull that photo out of your album Jock but I
can't believe that 24 were still using Saracen so late in the game !

I was with 2 Fd in Muenster and we got Abbott/430 series in '66/67.

[quote="brum"]

BigJock wrote:

here is one from 51Kabul Bty I got my teeth into.

[


Blimey !

Not only am I amazed that you were able to pull that photo out of your album Jock but I
can't believe that 24 were still using Saracen so late in the game !

I was with 2 Fd in Muenster and we got Abbott/430 series in '66/67.

As you can see from the image brum the wksp had their FV434 so the Saracens were on there way out, not sure how long after this pic the regt were issued with shiny new FV432 command posts, it's been a long time, know what I mean?

Hello all,

What a great site, I am so happy that I found it !
Great to hear from your private memories, when the british army left Wolfenbüttel, 20 years ago.
I am living in Wolfenbüttel, since 1989, so I only recogniced the last years of the British Army in station.
For two years now I am living in a home in the "Hasenwinkel", the officers section, as I learned. Until now I met a few eye whitness which remember the period not as the worst for Wolfenbüttel
Especially the annual street celebrity, which had some special rules were still in their mind. I would like to have contact to some people who lived here or can give some more information about these days to me. If possible, names of the officers who had lived here in the "Hasenwinkel". (I don't know if this is allowed?)
One older lady told me, my house was the "Doctors house", but i am uncertain, if the houses were dedicated like this.

Best Regards
Marco

Marco
Herzlich wilkommen

The last British Regiment to occupy Nothampton Barracks Wolfenbuttel was the 13/18th Hussars who left in 1993 to amalgamate with the 15/19th Hussars to form the Light Dragoons

I think the house you live in could have been their Regimental Medical Officer's quarter.

If you go to the front page of this site, click on Locations, then click on Wulfenbuttel you will find a selection of stories and photographs covering both the pre war Nazi era and the British presence.

Hello JPW,

thank you for your answer. Have you lived in the Hasenwinkel ?
I had already a quick look at your site and seems a good starting point for me.
By the way to explain my nick name, I am the leader of the pipe band "The 38th district pipes and drums".
Our drum major is a scotsman, from the royal signals and married a german girl during station ;-).

Will stay in contact.
Marco

Was delighted to see the aerial photo earlier in this thread. I lived on the Officers patch in Im Hasenwinkel when I was posted to Wolfenbuttel between 1974-76 as Station Medical Officer. During my time there the major units were the 17th/21st Lancers followed by the 16th/5th Lancers.

Brian

BigJock wrote:

brum wrote:

BigJock wrote:

Shelldrake wrote:

I was there around the same time with 24. Msl Regt

I was with 24Msl Regt Wksp, HQ Bty Fitter Sect I looked after the Saracens and X survey troop, from 1967 until my move to QRIH in Barker Bks.

Just think Jock, you may have encountered the Saracen command post that I drove, in 76 Bty.

02 DA 29, (who says my memory's knackered !)

(pardon ?)

If it was with 24Msl Regt then my toolbox would have been in it at some point lol.

Talk about thread drift!

Hello Brian,

I am so happy, that you reply to my posting !
As far as I heard, my home were the accomadtion of the medical officer, may be I found one ;-).
Do you remember the house number where you life in Hasenwinkel?
As I understood, you stay stationed, while the unit changed, is this common for Medical officers ?
Even if both were amalgmated in 1993 when the cold war ends.
If you like, to contact me via pm, it's perfect for me.


A little bit exited
Marco