Barrack Room Damages

When I was a young Gunner we had a BQMS who was a bit of a scally (surprise, surprise), his favourite trick would be to sign you out a piece of equipment then send one of his Storemen out to steal it back if you left it unattended!!

Shelldrake wrote:

When I was a young Gunner we had a BQMS who was a bit of a scally (surprise, surprise), his favourite trick would be to sign you out a piece of equipment then send one of his Storemen out to steal it back if you left it unattended!!

We had a "Q" who pulled the same trick The MT sergeant was at it too.

Must've been SOP throughout 24 mate !

(By the way, did my PM reach you ?)

Brum, just answered your PM, thanks. They were a bunch of robbing barstewards.

During my dad's long career in the Canadian Army, we lived in Married Quarters only 3 times (1st time = 1959 in Gagetown. we lived in #1 I recall. I also recall, since the married quarters were all brand new and no landscaping had been done yet, apparently running in to tell "Mummy" there was some "funny stuff" all over the yard...it was grass growing up through the mud!! This was also the era a new colour hit the fashion-conscious...an odd shade of brown known as Oromocto Beige (Oromocto being the civilian town closest to Gagetown base/MQs...the New Brunswick earth turned a peculiar shade of pale "clay" brown when rained upon or wet).) 2nd time was at 10-A Kanadischer Weg in Soest and 3rd time was in a small post-war "storey and a half" in Lincoln Park here in Calgary....

I do recall March Outs in each of those places (#1, I would have been 5 going on 6. #2 I was 17 and #3 I was away from home and 23 or something...).

I also know following the March Out from the Soest Married Quarters we "inherited" several items, as did many of the other Canadian families as this was the era of The Great Close-Out and everyone rotating back to Canada or being transferred to Lahr and the transfer of holdings to the BAOR.

Mom kept the dish set.....white china with navy blue and gold bands around the edges. Quite attractive in a way (I never really thought so....liked them well enough as it reminded me of Soest, but other than that....nah....). A solid wood, oak maybe, side table. A foot stool with the forest green insert pad.

Other families managed to get wardrobes and chest of drawers and, as I recall, even a dining room table and chairs, back to Canada. How that came about I have no idea!!!

Big pockets mate....

Anyone remember the camp at Kunsebeck which was wrecked as the camp was vacated.???
We all got in line and pay was deducted from us before we left to our various new postings.
3 armd wksps REME.

Welcome

I am one of a small group of amateur military history enthusiasts based on this site who are researching and recording the early days of BAOR

I was therefore intrigued by your reference to 3 Armoured Workshop REME

The history of the now Fallingbostel based 7 Armoured Workshop is somewhat complicated.

One thread indicates the then 22 Armoured Brigade Workshop (part of 7 Armoured Division) moved to the Itzehoe area in late May 1945 before moving to Kunsebek in late Spring 1946 (the independent 7 Armoured Brigade was still in Italy at the time)

A few questions to add to my working notes
1 My sources indicate that the Kunsebek site was an old tractor factory, was the case in your time? If so where did you live? Elsewhere in Bielefeld?
3. When did you leave Kunsebek?
4. Was 3 Armoured Workshop the name of the Kunsebek Workshop in your time?
5.Where were you posted to when the Kunsebek Workshop closed?

Your answers might prove the time when 4 Armoured Workshop moved from the Hannover area to Detmold.

I arrived at Kunsebeck in 1955. 3 armd wksps REME. It was a munitions factory during the war.
Beilefeld got severely bombed, but Kunsebeck suffered very little damage. Slave labour was
used recruiting women from Ukraine. A camp, outside the camp, was built for their accomodation. I saw the circular washing facilities whilst I was there. Steel doors etc, The camp became a camp for displaced persons, after the war. and it was still in use whilst I served out my time at 3armd. On the 27th May 1957, 3 armd wksps was closed and all personnel were posted to various places. I personally went to Rotenberg. On the evening of the 27th after an official last supper, so to speak, by the whole camp, officers and all, some of the boys decided to do some damage. Windows were smashed furniture was damaged doors pulled of hinges and a total disgusting mess occurred. The following morning we were all lined up and a certain amount of money was deducted from everyones pay. We all went on our merry way, with the ringleaders and the culprits charged and received appropriate sentences. Some at the military corrective establishment in Beilefeld. I have tried to find out details of what happened after that, but when I get to 3armd wksps Kunsebeck, the answer is, NO DETAILS AVAILABLE. I would really like to know what happened to the old camp.

Thank you very much for this interesting reply. I will have to amend my notes accordingly

My father was OC the A Vehicle Repair Shop at Rotenburg in the period 1952-55. Bob G, another contributor to this site, was also stationed there but just after your time and just before the Workshop closed. Incidentally do you remember whether the Barracks (former Luftwaffe Airfield) was given a name? Neither my brothers or I can remember such a painted sign by the Guard Room at the main entrance to the Camp.

JPW, I was only at Rotenberg for just over a month, then I was sent to Minden for my demob.
I would be very interested to hear any info you get re:- what happened to 3 armd wksps. Thanks and regards ..........

nails

Have had a very interesting pm from Bob G (I will contact you privately with details)

So far as this site is concerned whilst 3 Armoured Workshop may have completely closed it would appear that another REME 2nd Line Workshop was to remain a little longer in Kunsebek before moving into Bielefeld proper. Perhaps that is why such a hard line was taken with the departing members of 3 Armoured

JPW..........You say you will let me know ??.

JPW, I can not remember any other REME LAD, at 1 corps troop wksps Kunsebeck. As far as I remember we used to look after 2 RHA transport from Dortmund, (i think). I was attached to Recovery, and we used to drag in all kinds of things from everywhere.

JPW, I was posted to Kunsebeck on February 4th 1957 into 1 Corps Workshop R.E.M.E. 3 Armoured were there during my stay there, it was a Krupp arms factory, all the red & white 'fencing' posts around the camp were machine gun barrels. On leaving Kunsebeck I was posted to Hobart Barracks, Detmold, into the L.A.D. 654 Squadron, Army Air Corps. Even though we shared the camp with what I remember as 3 Armoured Brigade the only time we came together was in the N.A.F.F.I. I've still got the scars from my first meeting when a row broke out between the heavy recovery team. One of the gang decided to throw a pint glass, the intended guy ducked the dimpled glass hit the metal back of a chair opposite me at our table I got the fragments full in the face. The temptation to throw one back quickly subsided, I was an 18yr old skinny rookie he was a mountain of muscles, I can say it now, he was also an animal. Sorry this ended up a lengthy post, just had to tell you that story. Finally was 3rd Tank Regiment at Detmold any connection. Kunsebeck was still going strong when I left in February 1958.

Teabag wrote:

Can't really remember them but I do remember having to "volunteer" some of my pay for the wedding of Anne and some git from a cavalry regiment.  Don't think it lasted though!  As an anti ro
yal, do you think I could sue for my money back especially as they got divorced?

Teabag,
Same thing happened to me in 1960 when MARGARET GOT HITCHED TO ARMSTRONG JONES,we all got stopped 1shilling (old money)and as i was a NS man it bloody well hit the pocket hard,when i complained got threatend with a charge.....Told it was our duty to the Queens Sister,never got anything off them when i got married so lost out there.
Mick..

JPW,
I read that you make mention of Itzehoe. My late Uncle was stationed there in 1945 having arrived there with The Middlesex Yeomanry, which was indeed part of 22 Armoured Brigade.
Jimsigs1

Jimsigs

Steve and I  could well be in touch privately as we continue to try to unravel who was where, when in the early days of BAOR including Itzehoe

biggest fiddle in the british army was barrack room damages , how could you damage barrack blocks that were built 50 or 60 before you joined , or rusty old nissen huts , ginger

Can anyone remember what we used to pay for barrack room damages in boy service ? I know it all had to come out of our five bob weekly pay at the table.

Can't remember paying Barrack Room damages per se but I do remember having deductions for Haircuts (1/6d), "Voluntary" Allotment (7/6d), POSB (7/6d), Credits (?) and 5/0d on Wednesday Pay Parade. What was left   I squandered on fast cars, women and fine wines.   

My dear Sheldrake, would you enlighten us regarding the fast cars women and fine wine, as there were none in our day. Maybe a bike, the NAAFI girls (who were all spoken for) and lemonade (tuppence a glass). or perhaps you were living in another world.
Jim

Sorry Jimsigs!, I got a bit carried away - I meant Brasso, Blanco and Boot Polish.   

jimsigs . that bike you mentioned, wos it the regimental bike . we all had them i remember , two spring to mind , whitfield joyce and her mate pissie chrissy , bit hard peddling that pair , ginger

Shelldrake wrote:

Can't remember paying Barrack Room damages per se but I do remember having deductions for Haircuts (1/6d), "Voluntary" Allotment (7/6d), POSB (7/6d), Credits (?) and 5/0d on Wednesday Pay Parade.   What was left   I squandered on fast cars, women and fine wines.   

I can remember paying Barrack room damages on many occasions but to be fair they were paid because somebody had smashed somewhere/ something up. They were never deducted without us being told the reason.
In Boy's Service we lived in fear of Brasso. One drop on a blanket, or an item of uniform meant that the item had to be paid for and usually the cost was more than a month's pay in those days.

brum wrote:

.
In Boy's Service we lived in fear of Brasso...........

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Ah! The good old days before even humble squaddies had civvy employed to polish and scrub ! But why did the management always confuse us by calling "Brasso" "Bluebell " ? And can anyone else remember how an ironing burn on a BD jacket could be removed by rubbing it over with a two bob piece or a half dollar if you were rich enough to have one ?