Best Postings & Worst Postings

jim,i was in r.h.q. block first on the r/hand side next to the g/room the 12th l.a.a moved there from celle in jan/march 56 tlll oct 57,it was a great camp

Hi Ronnie,

That was the same RHQ block when I was there in 1952-4. The armoury was on either on the top floor or built into the attic at that time. Seem to remember queing up to draw out our rifles for parade. I was in the 3rd block up on the right hand side which I think was 3 Squadron of the then Signal Regiment.

jim,the armoury was in the same place when I was there,there was a swimming pool opp the guard room,the officers mess was opp r.h.q,block,it was a great camp,we used to go to whillie shultes bar just down the road from the camp,great cutlets and kutofel,brings back memories

Great memories Ronnie.
When was there, the statue of Bruno the bear was on display located somewhere in between the Sgt's mess and 2nd/3rd block up on the right, in the middle. I know its not there now and is in the UK, or at least its replica is.
Can't remember willie shulters bar but that's down to my memory. Remember the displaced people behind the wire fence to the right. Used to chuck over chocolate for their kids. Went back to Herford in 1963 (with 7 Sig Regt) and Harewood Barracks was occupied by the Horse Guards. Never able to revisit the old camp then or since but its still looks busy when looking at google maps.

Ronnie,

Here is a picture of the block I lived in. 3rd up on the right from the guard room. It was 3 Sqn, HQ BAOR Signal Regt then in 1952.

Which Barracks housed BFBS and the Church Army?

Shelldrake,
BFBS in Herford was in block B Wentworth barracks

jimsigs

Thanks for that Jimsigs. I can recall when Duty Driver in the early 60s collecting the Sunday papers from Herford, we always had some great cheese and onion rolls in the Toc H/Church Army.

jim,when was that photo taken,your block s bty the one befor that was t bty and the one opp was r bty,when the 12th left the 12th lancers moved in in oct 57,i am sure that photo was taken after we were there,and there was no building there on the right hand side going to the cookhouse and naffi/beer bar,or garages?

Your right Ronnie, There was no building next to my block, on the run down to the cookhouse. The photograph is taken from Google maps. So I suppose it must be fairly recent and much later after our time. You mentioned the swimming pool opposite RHQ block. Do you know that I cannot remember that, unless in 1952 it was either empty, hidden or covered over.

Can anyone remember the YMCA at the end of Mindener Strasse which consisted of a large house with an uphill slope driveway. It was there when I was in Herford 1952.

Here is what I think is the house from  current Bing maps. The tower block in the corner was obviously not there in our time, but the former YMCA house I have marked with a yellow arrow looks like it. The driveway looks like steps now and the wall at the front is still there. After having a tea and wad we would walk all the way up Mindener Strasse to Harewoood Barracks.

jim, just looked at photo,i used to go to the y.m.c.a,they did the best beens on toast,i am sure it was nearer the town centre in56,i walked up mindener str many a time,was the caravan there near the camp selling frankfurters

Ronnie,
Pretty sure the YMCA was located at the house on the map. That road was Berliner Strasse a.nd I think it was a tram route.

Another blast from the past in Herford. Who remembers the AKC Cinema in town of that era. It was not far from the Alt Mark, in fact it was in Elizabethstrasse. Here are a couple of photos taken from Bing 3D maps of the cinema today, which is called the Capitol.
One film I can remember seeing in around 1953/4 was the 'House of Wax' in 3D complete with the 3D glasses. That was in 1953/4 !!!!

jim,thinking back you were right about the y.m.c.a.,plus the cinema for the forces iam sure it was called the globe opp the sigs regt camp,i remember seeing yana there and leslie whelch the memory man in 56

Thinking about AKC Cinemas in the BAOR of old. I remember in 1953 whilst on my B2 Wireless Op course in Hamburg going to the AKC Cinema in the City Centre. Think it was a former German Theatre and there was no smoking allowed. Quite novel for us squaddies as back in the UK, smoking was allowed in all cinemas then. Quite frightening medically wise compared to today.

Fortunately I never had a really bad posting but Ordnance Depot Antwerp 1971 - 74 was the best by far.   Least popular surprisingly was Cyprus 1965 - 67. Far too many 24 hour guard duties and a CO who was just too regimentally minded.

One posting I had as a 'Bleep' (Data Telegraphist) on detachment from 28 (BR) Sigs Regiment was to Tongeren (Tongres) in Belgium. The place of work was deep underground in the 'caves' under part of Masstricht in Holland, right next to the Eban Emal Canal.

The shift on duty would be bused over the border, then driven to the entrance of the caves out side the Maastricht, not sure where. I can remember that most of the NATO staff were either Belgium Air Force signals folks, or Belgium Army. I, with a group of fellow Brits attacehed to 4 squadron, 28 (BR) Sig regt was a guided tour around some of the cave tunnels, where we finally came out a secure rear entrance right on the Eban Emal Canal. Apparently the origna tunnels had been built from the times of the Romans onwards.

I worked in a Signals Relay Centre, send and receiving NATO and other messages on punched paper tape etc. It was a great detachment for 6 months, then back to the real world of 28 Sig Regiment.

Did any Ex-R Sigs who served at 28 Signs, St Tonis ever go on detachment to 4 Squadron in Tongeren?    

Found this old photograph of Det 28 (BR) Sig Regt.   Think the girl on the left must be WRAC att, unclevanya extreme right and Gordon in the middle.  

Does no one remember Renata/ She ran the local with her brother in Neumunster
a very beautiful young lady in 1956.She made our posting one of the best . Is she still around must be around 70 years old now.