KLUTER KASERNE DETMOLD

Longstanding members of the site will know that Steve and I are currently embroiled in a major project to try and create a frame work of unit locations for the early days of BAOR with a fair amount of success

We have recently discovered that 8 Infantry Brigade of the 3rd British Infantry Division were probably the first British troops to be stationed in the town, taking over from an American Division in July 1945

The 1st Bn South Lancashire Regiment were based in Kluter Kaserne but I have been unable to identify what the barracks was known as in the subsequent years

Can anybody help? A German language website indicates the barracks was in use till the British left in 1992 and was then converted to a secondary school but gives no clue to the British name (have discounted Hobart Barracks, which as an ex Luftwaffe site was an RAF earmark, for a number of years)

JPW, was it Lothian Barracks?

Shelldrake

As befits a senior Gunner I believe you have identified the target correctly

The recent photos of the August Herman Francke Schule on the Stadt Detmold site are almost identical to a photo of the Lothian Barracks Officers' Mess which is part of the Detmold Locations slot off the Master Front Page of this site

Many thanks

JPW, my pleasure.

It's a little known fact that in 1944 Kluter Kaserne was home to a Battalion of Bund Deutsche Madel, during that period it was known as Kluterous Kaserne.

I can confirm that Lothian Barracks was the British name for Kluter Kaserne in Detmold, having been stationed there myself from 1978 to 1980 with the Blues and Royals. This posting was a regular rotation at the time between the Blues and Royals and the Life Guards, alternating every four years if memory serves me correctly. When returning from a night out in Detmold , one would hail a taxi and simply need to say "Kluter Kaserne" to be delivered to the main gate. When enquiring of the locals in my admittedly rather limited knowledge of the German language as to the history of the place, i was given to understand that during the war a Wehrmacht Cavalry unit was stationed at the barracks, appropriately enough. In a corner of the site there was a small building, abandoned and unused for many years judging by it's dilapidated state, which i think must have been a water pumping station of some kind. I went in to explore it one day and could see that there was some deep water beneath some corroded metal floor plates. Hanging on a hook on the wall in one of the rooms was a World War 2 German gas mask container, which i promptly liberated and still have in my possession.

Thanks for all the input

Due to work commitments been unable to spend time on updating BAOR Locations but have checked out Lothian Barracks Detmold on the Stadt Archives website and added details from JPW and my research from May 1945 onwards

In 1939 known as Artillerie-Kaserne on Klüter Strasse after WW2 the street was renamed Lemgoer Strasse so then known as Klüter Kaserne

Jul 45 – 1st Battalion South Lancashire Regiment a unit of 8th Infantry Brigade (HQ in Detmold) command 3rd Infantry Division of 1st Corps District left with the Division for the UK via Ghent Aug 45

Aug 45 – Replaced by an unknown unit of 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division unit until May 46 when the Division went north to replace the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division CAOF

May 46 – 7th Royal Tank Regiment arrived from Krefeld formally 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division now 22nd Armoured Brigade (HQ in Warendorf) command 7th Armoured Division of 1st Corps District to UK Sep 46 replaced by an unknown unit

The Lothian Barracks page has been updated

All the best
Steve

markus germanicus wrote:

I can confirm that Lothian Barracks was the British name for Kluter Kaserne in Detmold, having been stationed there myself from 1978 to 1980 with the Blues and Royals. This posting was a regular rotation at the time between the Blues and Royals and the Life Guards, alternating every four years if memory serves me correctly. When returning from a night out in Detmold , one would hail a taxi and simply need to say "Kluter Kaserne" to be delivered to the main gate. When enquiring of the locals in my admittedly rather limited knowledge of the German language as to the history of the place, i was given to understand that during the war a Wehrmacht Cavalry unit was stationed at the barracks, appropriately enough. In a corner of the site there was a small building, abandoned and unused for many years judging by it's dilapidated state, which i think must have been a water pumping station of some kind. I went in to explore it one day and could see that there was some deep water beneath some corroded metal floor plates. Hanging on a hook on the wall in one of the rooms was a World War 2 German gas mask container, which i promptly liberated and still have in my possession.

I was in Detmold when the Blues and Royals amalgamated, what a bloody carry-on that was!

I was stationed in Lothian Bks from '64 -69 with the 3rd Carabiniers Band. On our Sgts Mess opening night, to entertain the othr units I was introduced to the daughter of the AAC REME ASM who subsequently becae my wife -- we married in the Hobart Bks Garrison church two years later. my wife Christene was employed in the ACC orderly room in an aircraft hangar in Hobart Baks.
We now live in the lake district and ave been back to Germany as members of the local twinning assoc. to Rinteln.

Welcome to the asylum, Jim !

I remember when 3rd Carbs were in Cyprus, in '69.
My squadron leader, whos driver I was, visited their mess and told me to wait in the kitchen, with the peasants, while he was socialising.
When the mess staff discovered that my wife was from North Wales I was given large amounts of Carlsberg in half litre bottles, (I've never seen Carlie in that format since).
I don't know how the hell I drove back to camp.
We allways felt sorry for the Carbs, being amalgamated with the Scots Greys, a Welsh regiment merging with a Scottish one. Pure military genius, (not !).

Thanks Brum,
Clang ! did I say my wife was with ACC meant of Course AAC Army Air Corps -- MUst have been thinking about the wedding -- Garrison Church --- ABOVE THE COOKHOUSE Accompanied by the smell of dinner rising fom below --------- Classic !!




Welcome to the asylum, Jim !

I remember when 3rd Carbs were in Cyprus, in '69.
My squadron leader, whos driver I was, visited their mess and told me to wait in the kitchen, with the peasants, while he was socialising.
When the mess staff discovered that my wife was from North Wales I was given large amounts of Carlsberg in half litre bottles, (I've never seen Carlie in that format since).
I don't know how the hell I drove back to camp.
We allways felt sorry for the Carbs, being amalgamated with the Scots Greys, a Welsh regiment merging with a Scottish one. Pure military genius, (not !).[/quote]

Reviving this thread to say apparently my grandfather, a Yugoslav national, was here during his time in Germany before immigrating to Australia. Perhaps he was staying there just before hopping on the boat Protea departing from Venice to Australia in 1948 or perhaps he was there long term.

More details in the "Served in Germany 1945-49? In contact with someone who did?" thread.

Welcome Kernel

Unable to help with personnel but can with units for the period

Delete the following from http://baor-locations.org/lothianbks.aspx.html unable to make changes as the website is locked

Aug 1945 – Replaced by an unknown unit of 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division
May 46 – 7th Royal Tank Regiment arrived from Krefeld a unit of 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division now 22nd Armoured Brigade (HQ in Warendorf) command 7th Armoured Division of 1st Corps District to UK Sep 46
May 1946 – Replaced by an unknown unit of 7th Armoured Division

Replace with

7th/9th (Highlanders) Battalion Royal Scots of 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division to May 46
7th Royal Tank Regiment of 4th Armoured Brigade to Jul 46
Air Division HQ, Allied Control Commission, RAF Station Detmold to Jun 47
1st Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment of 7th Armoured Division to Nov 47

Firmly believe that the barracks shared the same name with the future Hobart Barracks as according to the historical records for 7 Armd Div for Jul 47, the following all have the same grid reference but barrack names not mentioned

1st Royal Tank Regiment
1st Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment
HQ Royal Engineers 7th Armoured Division with all squadrons

Looks like the road to Kült (Lemgoer Strasse) divides the two barracks a section of map from the 1940s

Lothian Barracks  Detmold   

9th Lancers   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw3ZfQjUUrc&list=PLlSEe-IVpCiGqwhcJ4BW4xAyB5nOZcekH&index=38

1951.05	Germany: Lothian Barracks, Detmold	33 Armoured Brigade
.	1956: Joined 11 Infantry Brigade Group	11 Infantry Brigade Group
.	1957: Joined 20 Armoured Brigade Group	20 Armoured Brigade Group
1960.05	England: Bhurtpore Barracks, Tidworth	.
.	11 Sept 60: Amalgamated with 12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's) to form 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's)	.

For attention of Kernel.
If your Grandfather was born 11 Jan 1922? Then we did exchange files from the Australian Files re your Grandfather sometime ago, when he applied for Australian Citizenship.

I can only add one more  document discovered today it is:

Allied Expedition Forces ( A.E.F.),  Displaced Person (D.P.)   Index Card

Marked: I.R.O Area Office, Detmold.

I will add the Card here when you agree it to be viewed. OR I  can send it to your chosen mail.

Alan