Hobart Barracks - Detmold

Just received the following information regarding the naming of the barracks

"The occupying British Army named this former Luftwaffe barracks at the end of the Second World War after the British tank warfare specialist Major-General Sir Percy Cleghorn Stanley Hobart KBE, CB, DSO, Royal Engineers"

Regards
Steve

I knew that, there was a portrait of him in 20 Bde HQ.

Hobarts funnies, everyone knows that, don't they?

Except the yanks of course who thought they were nonsense. Omaha anyone?

jim wrote:

I knew that, there was a portrait of him in 20 Bde HQ.

To keep things in the family his son Brigadier Peter Hobart formerly of the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment was then the Brigade Commander
Cheers
Steve
PS Will try and update the page this weekend

Jim
As the General was the Div Comd of 79th Armoured Division at the end of WW2 can we assumed Hobart Barracks was their home until disbandment Aug 45?
Cheers
Steve

As I seem to recall, there was a few regiments/outfits stationed at Hobart Barracks.
Obviously, there was the RAOC Stores Platoon, and a REME outfit(4 Armd Wkps) attached to them. I also recall an AAC outfit attached to another RAOC Stores Platoon.
There were also a few units that had horses and Guardsmen and quite a few cooks.

SlickBrown wrote:

As I seem to recall, there was a few regiments/outfits stationed at Hobart Barracks.
Obviously, there was the RAOC Stores Platoon, and a REME outfit(4 Armd Wkps) attached to them. I also recall an AAC outfit attached to another RAOC Stores Platoon.
There were also a few units that had horses and Guardsmen and quite a few cooks.

Depends when you were there Brownie. QOH were there but before that it was Some Lancers I think? Chestnut troop RHA were there also. Think there were two Squadrons of AAC. 4 Armd Workshops as you quite rightly stated. (Spit) they beat us in the 4 Div minor units final. Company of RMP just by the medical centre at the Hakedahl gate. Never sure if that was the back or the front but suspect back?

Wish I knew then what I know now. Would be rich for one thing.

Gentlemen

The answer to your qureies is to be found elsewhere on the site.

Go to the Home Page

Click on Locations, click on Detmold, click on Hobart Barracks

You will find a list of units in chronological order who are known to have been based in the barracks (data is constantly being updated by the editorial team, Steve has more to add)

Teabag wrote:

Wish I knew then what I know now. Would be rich for one thing.

I wish I just knew what I was meant to be doing at the time!

steve wrote:

Jim
As the General was the Div Comd of 79th Armoured Division at the end of WW2 can we assumed Hobart Barracks was their home until disbandment Aug 45?
Cheers
Steve

That I couldn't say Steve.

Hi All,
We were stationed for five years at Detmold - 12/3 Poggenpohl strasse. I remember clearly the layout of the base and did return in 2004. The front gates, to answer a question, were where the MP's HQ was - now demolished. On the other side of the road was the shed's for the Chieftans, also now demolished and replaced by a massive DIY store.
I remember asking the question why it was the front and I was led to believe it was because at the back gates it was just a guardhouse, remember the Conq tank at the back gates aswell - I think it was a Conq.
Hobart primary is also demolished, though the gym and cinema are still there. Sir John Mogg's primary is still in use. Some of the Billets have been converted. Swimming pool has been filled in - remember a RHA Cannon being dumped into it a few times. All the MQ's are now occupied by migrants from eastern europe. Airfield is still used by the glider club.
I am returning there this year and will return with plenty of pictures.
It would be nice to hear from anybody who were stationed there at the same time 1970 -1975, father was SSGT Tom Gill

Dave Gill wrote:

Hi All,
We were stationed for five years at Detmold - 12/3 Poggenpohl strasse. I remember clearly the layout of the base and did return in 2004. The front gates, to answer a question, were where the MP's HQ was - now demolished. On the other side of the road was the shed's for the Chieftans, also now demolished and replaced by a massive DIY store.
I remember asking the question why it was the front and I was led to believe it was because at the back gates it was just a guardhouse, remember the Conq tank at the back gates aswell - I think it was a Conq.
Hobart primary is also demolished, though the gym and cinema are still there. Sir John Mogg's primary is still in use. Some of the Billets have been converted. Swimming pool has been filled in - remember a RHA Cannon being dumped into it a few times. All the MQ's are now occupied by migrants from eastern europe. Airfield is still used by the glider club.
I am returning there this year and will return with plenty of pictures.
It would be nice to hear from anybody who were stationed there at the same time 1970 -1975, father was SSGT Tom Gill

24/20 Poggenpohl Dave. 75-77. Tower block and full of cockroaches. Didn't know your dad, at least by name anyway. HQ 20 Armd Bde HQ & Sig Sqn

hi dave,my first MQ in detmold was 18/2 hagen str,[1971-1974]the rear gate to camp[hak entrance] on the right as you entered camp was the RMP and medical centre,on the left was the RHA gun park [abbots i think] the tank park was further away on the left,as you walked up the small hill towards the two turreted buildings the turret on the right wsa 655 AVN SQN the one on the right was 71A/C workshops,and it was indeed a [conq] at the main gate. [PS iwas with 655 sqn].

Hi dandc, I was only 5 - 10 when we first where there. Do remember though seeing tanks in the shed on the left, don't know - maybe mech's working?? Remember Cpl's mess being in front of the large parade square. Also remember the officers mess have a large white pigeon hut on the lawn.
The farm that used to be near the MQ's is now gone.
I note that you were at Minden. We did our last posting at Kingsley barracks 77 - 78, my dad serviced as the married qtrs officer - spent more time in the mess!!! I remember 9/12 having their ceremonial bell at the Front guardhouse - always thought that was the rear
My mother was actually a cleaner in the MP _ Medical block, remember that the dentist there butchering my teeth - should actually weigh my teeth in! Also remember splitting my head open and, correct my if I'm wrong, was glued and not stitched - remember the Doc saying the glue had just come into OP's

i think the debate [front gate/back gate will linger ]we always refered the guard room gate as the main gate,from 0600 hrs to 1755 monday to friday the 9/12 had on dislay the bell also 4 cerimonial lances arranged to suspend a large brass [gong] for want of a better word,i think it had battle honours engraved on it,woe betide any soldiers under sentence as they had to clean them every night as well as the conq through the days.[ and no i never had to clean either].PS abbot had tracks therefore could be mistaken for tanks.

Remember doing army swimming test for the Mld' Fist, in the outdoor pool. And using the running track next to the pool - - Running track is still there

Funny, I can't recall a swimming pool in Hobart at all?

Swimming pool was across the road from the cinema and the gym. If you went past the gym and follwed the road round you ended up at Hobart primary. There was also a unused gate there.
At the back of the cinema was the tv repairmans office. The road past the cinema and gym was also lined with Conker trees. Also remember that RHA or RFA had a cannon, this was contiunally thrown in the pool and damaging it.
I also learnt to swim at the pool, which was an outdoor pool....
At SGT's Mess looking towards Hakedahl gates, turn left, down the slope and turn right towards gym and Cinema.

I know I was between 5 - 10, but I have a very good memory - at the moment.

Also, Hobart school had a wooden gangway which led to the dining hall. The main Ed block was ontop of the hill, was stone built. This was next to the parade ground. Remember watching German soldiers marching - thought they were totally scruffy and marched sloppy.
If you continued in a straight line past the school, in the woods at the side of the school, you ended up at the MP's/ medical Centre.

now that is some thing i do not re member,german troops in detmold,what regiment did your dad serve with.

Hi dandc, Dad served with 9/12th Royal Lancers, Chieiftan Tanks at the time/ 1970 - 1975. When I attended Hobart primary, there was a parade on the main sq, and German soldiers did march in conjunctions with the english units. I never stated that troops were stationed there...Why they were there god knows!!! but they were
Do u remember the swimming pool next to the track?

I also remember at the time there used to have a big fete and there there was two converted landrovers that used to drive the kids round. One was shaped like a rocket - and was on a steep incline and the other was a train, can you remember that? I know I was only a young lad, I dont think I'm at the stage when I start forgetting, ...yet...

Also remember watching the gliders take off at the airfield. They used to use a ' donkey pully' to get most of them in the air. Sir John Mogg's school was my first ever school and was not far from the airfield.

Also, when we were taken to the SGT Mess, the main dinning hall was on the right as you went in the main door. The bar was to the left. On the right of the doors to the bar was a medal display alcove. Looking straight ahead from the main doors were the main steps these split left and right and led up to the rooms.
Going towards the bar, which was on the right, was the openfloor and in the left corner a jukebox. car park for the SGT's Mess was to the left of the building, another building slightly forward and to the left of the Mess - I don't know what building this was.
Christmas parties were held in what I believe to be the Cpl's Mess. This was the long building in front of the parade sq.

dandc wrote:

now that is some thing i do not re member,german troops in detmold,what regiment did your dad serve with.

Hi dandc,
I asked my mother regarding what the reasoning for the parade. She stated that it was in June of 1974. 20 Amd brig and a German Brig held a partnership parade - this was to do with trust, understanding between the two...... Parents are very informative.
She couldn't remember which brig, but she states it was a big news item at the time

Dave Gill wrote:

Hi dandc, Dad served with 9/12th Royal Lancers, Chieiftan Tanks at the time/ 1970 - 1975. When I attended Hobart primary, there was a parade on the main sq, and German soldiers did march in conjunctions with the english units. I never stated that troops were stationed there...Why they were there god knows!!! but they were
Do u remember the swimming pool next to the track?

I suspect thyey were Tankies from Augustdorf, we were twinned with 21 Panzer I think.

Dave, I remember the swimming pool now, funny how you get these holes in your memory isn't it.