A Canadian Teen Amongst the British in Hemer

My father, WO Victor G. Lock, was Ordnance Corp, Canadian Army.

We had two tours in Germany (1959-62 and 1969-72). In the first tour Dad was stationed at Hemer, although he worked at one of the forts in Deilinghofen (I think Prince of Wales, but am not sure). We lived out along the Hoennetal in a small town called Balve, actually just outside Balve in some factory housing in Helle-Balve. I started school in the primary school in Prince of Wales, facing the road to Apricke, which was just up the hill. Later I attended second grade at the school in Hemer Married Quarters, on Berliner Strasse. We then moved to Soest and lived upstairs on the 'economy' renting from Frau Elizabeth, who ran the Salvation Army Canteen in downtown Soest on Bruderstrasse.

Second tour -- again lived for a short while in Balve with German friends as Dad tried to find housing. We then lived in a village called Mellen, near the Sorpe See, then Beckum along the Hoennetal. I attended Junior High School in the Married Quarters in Hemer and went to the 'Teen Hut' there for socials and dances. We again moved to Soest in the last year we were there (1970-71) and lived in Married Quarters (10-A Canadischer Weg).

The Canadian Armed Forces pulled out of NRW and transfered everything to Lahr and Baden-Baden. My father was one of three Canadian Army personnel who remained behind to complete the close-out. I was, therefore, the last Canadian kid to live in the old Brigade Area. We were then living in Iserlohn.

Not knowing anyone, of course, I rode my moped into Hemer to the old "Teen Hut" (by then known as the Youth Club) hoping to establish some sort of social network. It was suggested perhaps I speak with Noel, who worked at the NAAFI on Zeppeliner Strasse as he was President of the youth club.

I did so and he invited me along to the club the following evening, I believe it was, then out for a few beers with him and his best mate, Sean.

I spent many hours at the Youth Club...or, rather, started off there before heading off to various gasthofs in Stephanopel (between Hemer and Deilinghofen, down in the valley) and Hemer with my new "mates." This would now be 1971-72.

I attended Cornwall Comprehensive in Dortmund, 6th Form and Prefect.

I returned to Canada with my parents -- very much against my will! -- with the condition that I be allowed to return to my beloved Germany and beloved Soest after graduating High School. I did return in 1973-74 and worked for a year for a German construction company builidng a resort hotel on the south shore of Moehne See (The Atrium, it's called). Dreadful job, by the way...hated it.

While working out of Soest I lived on Lendringser Weg, not far from the Married Quarters and across from one of the Belgian Kasernes on the south side of the town.

I re-met a family I'd been acquainted with while living in Iserlohn and going into Hemer and spent a lot of time with the Ivory family (Jimmy, Dorothy, Lillian, Sean, Seamus and Paul...and Faughaballah the dog. Clearly, with a name like that for the dog (a Cairn), the family was Irish Rangers).

I remember my times -- the "Canadian time", the "British time" and the "working time" -- in Germany fondly. Living there has had a profound impact on my life, as it did for all of us.

I would enjoy re-establishing contact with any of my old mates who lived in Hemer and remember me circa 1972. Or anyone else, for that matter. There are days it seems like yesterday...

I can be reached at calgaryfella1953@hotmail.com.

Cheers!

Stephen Lock
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Small correction Stephen your first school would have been in Fort McLeod. Which now houses refuges from the Congo in the parts still standing. I was posted in Fort Prince of Wales 64-68. The teachers lived there in Officers Quarters untill finding a residence.

Hardrations wrote:

Small correction Stephen your first school would have been in Fort McLeod. Which now houses refuges from the Congo in the parts still standing. I was posted in Fort Prince of Wales 64-68. The teachers lived there in Officers Quarters untill finding a residence.

Yes, it was McLeod. The building I was attending Grade 1 in faced onto the road leading up to Apricke. Part way through the year, as I recall, we got moved into the one wing of the school in Hemer itself, along Berlinerstrasse. It was odd returning ten years later to attend high school in the other wing of the same building!

I also recall a young German boy for reasons I have no idea about who lived in Apricke and was sent to the school in Ft. Mcleod. I don't think his father was Canadian, but it is possible. The boy had the unfortunate name of "Odo" -- a fine Teutonic name, no doubt, but it sounded funny to us plus he always seemed to wear lederhosen and suede jackets...

Interesting the remaining sections of the camp are being used for Congoese refugees. I understand the old married quarters in Hemer are largely occupied by East German and ethnically-German Russians.

I know the Russians are not fitting in well, heaven knows how the residents of Deilinghofen and Apricke are responding to people from the Congo!

Many years ago, circa 1962 or so, there was a Displaced Persons camp along the Hoennestrasse leading into Balve, mostly (as I look back) those from Eastern Europe escaping the Soviets and Communism. I don't know what happened to it.

Gone but not forgotten:

The British in Westfalen touring exhibition will be at these venues:

From
26 Aug 18 Mindener Stadt Museum
28 Oct 18 City Archives Hamm
13 Jan 19 Ermschertal Museum Herne
17 Mar 19 Historisches Museum Bielefeld
19 May 19 Städtisches Museum Herford
21 Jul 19 Kreismuseum Wewelsburg (nr Paderborn)

The virtual tour and highlights of the original Paderborn exhibition are on-line here:

www.paderborner-konversion.de/briten-westfalen/virtueller-rundgang