Mossbank Barracks (now Rochdale)

Does anybody know the role of Mossbank Barracks (now Rochdale) during WW2 or which regiment was based there? Also, does anybody know of the early British units stationed there?

I don't know the answer to any of your questions, but I think that I have seen the picture you have down as 'Unknown 9' as being Bielefeld.

If that is the case it can only be of soldiers marching into Rochdale (Mossbank) Bks by the second gate, the one behind the guardroom.

I know that Bielefeld fell in Mar/Apr 1945 to the Americans and was handed over to British control in 1946. I've also heard that it was a prison and it took the name Mossbank from another prison situated within the UK. I'm also to agree that it had been extensively used by the Reme. 2 CS (newly formed theatre troops) have just squeezed in with 3 Civ Wksp.
A friend of mine also stated that the barracks was used for electronic warfare during the war. What is interesting is that he mentioned that it was inwards pointing - internal security. The emblem can be seen above the door on this website.
There is a belting picture of the camp if you follow this link;-

http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/viewtopic/t=24904/highlight=bielefeld.html

There are also polenty of pictures of the barracks on this site (although you will need to look closely as they are not labled up);-

http://www.dasheer.org.uk/original_photos.htm

"The Military Corrective Centre, BAOR (another term for military prison) was established shortly after 1945 in Langermark Kaserne on the Oldentruper Strasse in Bielefeld.
The barracks was renamed Mossbank after Mossbank Prison in Scotland, where one of the wings had been used as a military prison between 1939-45. The name was not intended, in any way, to reflect an especially good Scottish membership! Business thrived until 1959 when the "baddies" were moved elsewhere.
Among the units to occupy this red brick barracks was a small oranisation called HQ Movement Control RE, Bielefeld. The function of this unit were subsequently taken over by 25 Tpt & Mov Regt RCT which formed in Mossbank Barracks in 1965.
In 1983 25 Tpt & Mov Regt RCT moved out of Mossbank Barracks in order to make room for HQ REME 1 (BR) Corps, which moved from Minden to share the barracks with 1 Corps Tps Wksp REME, thus turning Mossbank into an entirely REME domain.
The old Courts Martial Centre also moved to Block 2, Catterick Barracks, Bielefeld."

Some of the guests of the Military Corrective Centre, Bielefeld, were Johnny Briggs, who played Mike Baldwin in Coronation Street and Leslie Grantham, aka Dirty Den Watts of Eastenders.

The following two links might confirm whether Mossbank was used as a prison or not;

(COPY AND PASTE THE FULL LINK AS CLICKING ON IT WILL NOT LINK YOU TO THE PICS!)

Block 3

www.redcap70.net/1Corps(1).html/slides/MCE%20Bielefeld%201953%201.html

The gym with block 3 to the right

www.redcap70.net/1Corps(1).html/slides/MCE%20Bielefeld%201953.html

I lived around the corner from Mossbank around 58- 60 and can confirm that it was an MCTC. My Dad also told me about a time he had to deliver a prisoner there.

Concerning the photo of Rochdale under construction, the uniform of the man on the right is that of a Belgian Captain from the Allied Demilitarisation Commission. This was instituted by the Völkerbund to control all German military activities. It existed until 1937. I guess this was an inspection to see what the Germans were building in Bielefeld.

Concerning the photo of Rochdale under construction, the uniform of the man on the right is that of a Belgian Captain from the Allied Demilitarisation Commission. This was instituted by the Völkerbund to control all German military activities. It existed until 1937. I guess this was an inspection to see what the Germans were building in Bielefeld.

I recall being told it was a prison, but in my day (74-77) it was a Transport Regiment, probably 25 as mentioned above.

I was at Mossbank, 25 Regt from 71 to 73, and played football with the Field Ambulance unit also based there. In the mid 80's met an ex SNCO from Coldstream guards who had been stationed there after the war and said he was guarding all sorts of prisoners "ours and there's", also said it was a grim place back then, not sure if they carried out corporal punishment there, he passed away a few years ago.

dagian wrote:

Served in Mossbank Barracks 81-83. Was the home of 1(BR)Corps Troops Workshops REME. The top 2 floors of the building on the left as you pass through the gate were used as the Sergeants Mess.

By the time I got there in 1990, to take up post in 1 (BR) Corps Tps Wksp as the worst CQMS in NATO, 20 Electronic Wksp REME had moved from Minden into a new purpose built electronic repair facility built behind the gymnasium.

The old cell blocks had been 'Op Humaned' into self contained flats. I can't remember how many personnel were allocated to the flats, but they were a vast improvement on the previous accommodation.

Bedou

Welcome, with your arrival we can now form a completely self contained,self administering REME subunit from the talents and experience available from the BLUEBELL contributors to this site. Knew Mossbank Barracks quite well in the early 70's when I was based in HQ 1 (BR) Corps.

I was stationed at Mossbank Barracks in Bielefeld in the latter half of 1978 and the first half of 1979.  

Due to medical problems that my wife had at the time, I had reluctantly decided to leave the services but had to register to leave as I was in a restricted trade.  I left a fantastic posting earlier than expected as I was promoted to Acting Sergeant Clerk and my current post was established for a Corporal.  Additionally, my new unit had asked for me to come early as they had no administrative support.  So I left Wilton to take on the administrative responsibility for the rear party of 1 (BR) Corps Troops Workshop REME who were located in Mossbank.

It was my final posting before leaving the Army and without doubt it was my worst one.  My married quarters were some 15k's from the barracks and were heaving with cockroaches which covered every room in the flat.  The BIA gave me cans of spray in boxes to keep them down.  My admin officer was an SSC Captain who was still operating under Kings Rules and Regulations and failed miserably to enter the 20th century.  I knew from day one we wouldn't gel and after he told me bluntly that he was adamant that I wouldn't get substantive rank, I knew I had made the right decision to leave the Army.  A short time later my discharge papers came and I went back to Arborfield for discharge.  I remember the Sergeants' Mess well as it was while I was with my wife on New Years' night that she went into labour and I had to take her to hospital.  After she went back to the UK I lived in the Mess and I took on the bar for the last three weeks of my stay.  For me, the barracks was depressing and uninviting.  The rear party guys were great as were the others when they came back from Ireland - but that Admin Officer - he was a real piece of work who I wouldn't have wished on my worst enemy.  What a culmination to just over 14 years of military service.  However, in the main, those 14 years were phenomenal and I look back at them with much pride.  Be The Best that you can - I know I tried to be!

Bonjour - voici:

http://www.baor-locations.org/mossbankbks.aspx.html

and

The camp is scheduled to be handed back Jan 2020.

It now stands pretty much empty ready for the handover.

I posted a picture that I took 10/12/19 here : https://bfg-locations.editboard.com/t2444-rochdale-bks-was-mossbank-bks-bielefeld#37483

Crockroy
Thanks for the update