Final Parade of 1 SSM Battery, RCA, Fort Qu'Appelle, 1970

As a signalman, from 1963 to 1969 Hardrations served with both 2 SSM (Training) Battery in Canada and 1 SSM Battery in Germany. Although he wasn't present for the final parade of 1 SSM Battery on June 1, 1970, at Fort Qu'Appelle in Iserlohn, he does have four photographs of the event that he received from another battery signalman. Hardrations has provided a brief description for each photo.


The soldier standing on the rocket launcher by the warhead in the last two photos is a US Army Specialist 4th Class. I'm guessing he was a member of the 69th Missile Detachment, the American unit responsible for the Battery's nuclear warheads. The Detachment was stationed with the Battery at Deilinghofen and at Iserlohn. The 1970 edition of 'The Canadian Gunner' indicates that they were on parade too, that day.

As I said, the parade took place on June 1st. On July 1st the Battery was no more. All of the stores turned in and the personnel either heading back to Canada or to 1 RCHA at Fort Prince of Wales. It was the end of the Canadian Army's nuclear era.

Cheers,
Dan.

Great photos Dan, especially the honest john. Saw one of those being deployed over Salisbury plain around the late 1950's. Only a practise version.
Also, remember the Canadians down near Soest who used to do exercises with us in BAOR. I was up at Munster with 206 Signal Sqn at the time. Our wives used to visit the Maple Leaf shop on their wives club outings quite regularly.

Excellent photographs Hardrations/Dan they bring back a lot of memories, most of them bad!   

Shelldrake wrote:

... they bring back a lot of memories, most of them bad!

What possible bad memories can you have after seeing a photograph of a fully capable nuclear delivery system?

Cheers,
Dan.

Dan M wrote:

Shelldrake wrote:

... they bring back a lot of memories, most of them bad!

What possible bad memories can you have after seeing a photograph of a fully capable nuclear delivery system?

Cheers,
Dan.

I served on them!!   

I enjoyed seeing those photos but with respect, I can't help wondering where the rest of the equipment was. There was a bunch of people (we called them A&T), who assembled the rockets and moved them to the firing position. I don't see a command post either. I suppose all that kit had been moved before the parade.
I remember the Yank detachment in Deilinghofen, they were like something from "MASH". We used to watch one of them, with an afro hairdo, who used to get on his skateboard and roll down the hill from the cookhouse to their accommodation next to our HQ Bty block.
I'm with Sheldrake, I did not like the Honest John missile and all the interference we got from the Yanks that came with it. At the first opportunity I was out of Paderborn, posted to a gun regiment.

First off Dan. Thanks for posting those. Never ever thought about it my self.

1: Yeah we had the Yank Det. in our fort, Fort Prince of Wales. The SSM Bty only moved to Fort Qu'Appelle in Sept/Oct 68. Most of the Yanks were good guys. A Capt. Lamb was their Det. Co. he was a very nice fellow. Some of the soldiers were a bit thick, but what do you expect with the draft and getting any body that could breath and walk with Vietnam going on.
2: In respect to the handling troop, etc. You have to remember these photos were sent to me by my old bud Larry who still lives in Deilinghofen our village for Fort Prince of Wales. So if there were photos of the handling equipment on parade I didn't get them.
3: Of my two tours in Germany 1 SSM Bty RCA was the best. Meeting former veterans of the battery they all agree it was outstanding for us. Even my old BSM, Mr. Wilt who went onto be RSM 2 RCHA and CWO (Chief Warrant Officer) Europe often mentioned that this  was his best posting, his tours went back to Hanover days, so I would imagine that he knew what he was talking about.
4: Yeah we got stuck with tours at the SAS site, but what the heck, there could have been worst things.
5: While in Fort Prince of Wales we had the only authorized canteen in 4CIBG in barracks.
6: We shared Fort Prince of Wales with 2 RCHA/1RCHA and thourougly pissed off the S/Sgt RC Sigs Troop RCHA that we were allowed to wear Stable Belts RC Sigs, bush pants with the old wooly battle dress and no ties. In fact 1 SSM Bty started the rage for neck scarfs (black) an honor going back to Cosgrave Rockets, War of 1812 (Thank you R.A.)
7: We had a former P.O.W. of "WW 2 who was first generation Canadian. His name was Shultz and he was going to find his old German P.O.W. guard and lay a licking on him. The guards name was Shultz and would beat old Dutchie. Any how with 3 months in Germany old Dutch was more German than the Germans. We had a Normandy Veteran who shouldn't have been in Germany, we had a shell shock Veteran of Korea, we had more nuts and crackers and this was super out fit who met all it's NATO requirments and more.
8: Yes 1 SSM Bty was not the kind of people you wanted your daughter to bring home. But God Bless Them All, those that have gone on before us and those still around to remember that out fit.
9: Oh yes, before I forget one of our WW 2 vets fought on the other side. Last time I saw him was in Isralie occupied Siani Desert. Interesting place to meet a former Wermacht veteran.
10: One correction Dan. I started out a Signalman but left as a Cpl.

First off an apology for being wrong on what's left of the original buildings in Fort Qu'Appelle (Winkleman Kaserne) I recieved some photo's from a former member of the German Airborne Btn. posted there prior to it's closing. He lives in Deilinghofen and took these for me just recently. Apparently there are 4 buildings left. I guess I didn't look hard enough when I went through last time.

First off this is the old entrance and guard room

The former parade square.

The Gymnasium

I know it's in the Kaserne but Volker didn't make a notation on this picture.

Here is a clip for Mons Barracks/Fort Qu'Appelle/Winkelmann Kaserne

The Royal Leicestershire Regiment Nov 52 to Jan 55

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/colours-for-leicester-regiment

The regiment were the first into Iserlohn May 45 taking over from the Americans part of 147 Inf Bde, 49 (West Riding) Inf Div but their barracks were Northumberland Barracks Menden the first troops into Mons Barracks were 1 Corps District Signals