B.A.O.R. 4 Essen

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From: David Consterdine

Message:
Dear BAOR/BFG
I am currently researching my wife's family tree and have just received a copy of her fathers marriage certificate from June 1955. The certificate shows Norman Henry Reeves (Age21) Rank = B.A.O.R. 4 Army, Residence = B.A.O.R. 4 Essen.

I was just wondering what the '4' after BAOR stands for and weather I could find out something about his regiment and where he was based in Germany?

Many Thanks
Mr David Consterdine.

David

A quick response to your query

BAOR 4 was part of the military post code system introduced in Autumn 1947 to simplify the handling of both official and private mail to and from the British Forces based in Germany and the UK (and internally within BAOR). A small detachment of the Royal Engineers (Postal and Couriers) was based in each of the major Garrisons or RAF Bases in Germany to run a postal sorting office. These served a number of out stations, either smaller garrisons or individual units.

Mail was collected /delivered daily from these subordinate units. After sorting, in the 1940s/50s the majority was then despatched in bulk to the UK via the BAOR Troop Trains which provided a daily connection to the overnight Military Troopships based on the Hook of Holland and Parkeston Quay route. Only urgent official priority mail went by air

The system was the forerunner of the current UK civilian post codes. Numbers ran from BAOR 1- HQ BAOR Bad Oeynhausen to BAOR 39 Bielefeld though there were amendments and additions. From the mid 1950s there was a phased changeover to the current worldwide BFPO system

Essen was subordinate to the main BAOR 4 post office in Dusseldorf (other satellite garrisons/stations included Duisburg, Mulheim as well as Essen and for a time Hilden though in later years this was allocated its own post code in view of the volume of mail created by a Divisional Headquarters)

According to earlier researches there were two Regiments based in Essen in the mid 50s 15 Field Regiment RA and a major Signal Regiment with the responsibilty for providing communications for HQ BAOR in the field

Mike for David
2 Line of Communication Signal Regiment reformed Adams Barracks Hamburg 1951 moved to Dusseldorf Aug 52 renamed HQ Northern Army Group Signal Regiment 1952 moved to Meeanee Barracks Essen Apr 52
renamed 18 Army Group Signal Regiment 1953
renamed 10 Signal Regiment (Army Group) 1 Sep 59
moved to Bradbury Barracks Krefeld Army Group dropped Oct 60 placed in suspended animation Apr 62
Cheers
Steve
former BAOR 24

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