Spot the barracks

This photograph was taken by Public Relations HQ BAOR 1952...any ideas of the location

Could it be Bielefeld, can't think of many 3 storey barracks in Germany apart from Barker Bks, Paderborn?

Could be any one of the many Whermacht barracks we used. Looks similar to Shiel Bks, Verden, Caithness Bks was similar, there again could be either of the two similar bks in Luneburg or Nienberg or Hamm, etc.

Defiantly not any of the two the Verden Barracks...stationed in both and been back taking photos...see main website...it seems all had 3 story accommodation blocks…hoping somebody will recognise 100%

Definitely not Barker Bks Paderborn or Assaye Bks Nienburg.

BS parade though, even have a Colour Guard ...

Len (Ciphers)

Could it be St Barbara's Bks, Fallingbostel. I remember the Accn Blocks faced directly on to the Square?

Definitely not Fallingbostal or Hohne, the bks were all just two storeys.

Elizabeth Barracks, Minden had similar barrack blocks.

could this be the one?  looks very similar

This USAEUR Website may be of interest:-


www.usarmygermany.com/USAREUR_Kasernes.htm

that is harwood bks herford,and that main block was r.h.q. with the guard room at the entance

John Boy,
Looks as if you have identified the barracks. Looks  like either Hammersmith or Wentworth Barracks in Herford (I always seem to get those two mixed up ). Here is a view exactly like Steve's photo showing the two blocks with the smaller block to the right (the one with 7 dormer windows in the roof). From this angle with the larger of the two blocks to the right, it looks as if those house in front appear to have been built over the old barrack square in Steve's photo with the parade in action.I've taken this from Bing Maps






Here is a view of all of the barrack blocks and the two in question are the only two blocks side by side.

the one of harwood bks rhq block the 2nd floor 2nd and 3rd windows from the left was my room and regt sports stores,that was in 56/57

Ronnie,
I don't think  Steve's photo is of Harewood Barracks. Those blocks in Harewood were not in line if you look at an overhead view. They were staggered as per the attached photo.
One more thing, I was in Harewood Barracks between 1952-4 and there is no similarity between Steve's photo of the parade and harewood.

jimsigs,i am on about johnboys photo of the single block,at harwood bks there was 5 main blocks,the block opp it r h,q was the officers block

I think we may be close here see what you think  Roberts Barracks Osnabruck

It could be the same Barracks but viewed from a different angle?   The two guys on the right appear to be holding hands!  

I have been following this thread with interest as it makes a pleasant break from Steve and my ongoing efforts to unravel the mysteries of BAOR in the immediate post WW2 era.

May I offer the following thoughts

1. The setting is a Hitler era Barracks with three not two storey barrack blocks in a semi rural/edge of town location. A low range of hills is visible in the background.

2. The Band providing appropriate martial music is dressed in Infantry, not Cavalry,  accoutrements and is definitely not the Band of the Royal Artillery, one of which was based in Germany at the time.

3. I suggest the parade may be at the start or end of the Annual Administrative Inspection (future FFR) which many contributors may recall with horror. The Reviewing Officer could be the Brigade Commander with his Brigade Major to his left rear. The newly raked gravel, white washed stones on the approach to the Saluting Dias is a further clue.

If we stick with the Infantry theme, in 1952 BAOR was at its zenith in terms of Infantry Battalions under command. Berlin can be discounted as well as the Canadians in Hannover, the Danes in Itzehoe and the Norwegians in northern Schleswig Holstein.

This leaves the following towns as possible locations, all of which had British Infantry Battalions stationed there according to my sources/memory in the early 50s. Brunswick, Buxtehude, Celle,Dortmund, Duisburg, Goslar, Gottingen, Hubbelrath, Iserlohn, Krefeld,Luneburg, Minde, Munster, Osnabruck, Sennelager and Wuppertal

A number have already been eliminated by earlier contributors, to this list I would add Munster and Osnabruck where the Infantry Battalions were housed in post war new build bungalow style prefab barrack blocks. Other locations do not meet my basic criteria

My suggested location would be Clifton Barracks Minden. If you go to the original site Home Page, click on Locations, then Clifton Barracks Minden there is a lengthy thread, including photographs, which indicate this could have been the site of the 1952 photo

john boy wrote:

I think we may be close here see what you think  Roberts Barracks Osnabruck

Top photo
Sixth man from the left
Looks like he's just been dragged out of the boozer
It's Gordon, isn't it ?

buller bks

Shelldrake wrote:

It could be the same Barracks but viewed from a different angle?   The two guys on the right appear to be holding hands!  

Stand up virgin soldiers wasn't it   

gingerjim wrote:

buller bks

What the feck when were jerry posted to RCT Aldershot news to me!!!!!  

john boy wrote:

I think we may be close here see what you think  Roberts Barracks Osnabruck

Good try John Boy...but a larger block count the windows between the doors and look at the chimney positions

JPW wrote:

I have been following this thread with interest as it makes a pleasant break from Steve and my ongoing efforts to unravel the mysteries of BAOR in the immediate post WW2 era.

May I offer the following thoughts

1. The setting is a Hitler era Barracks with three not two storey barrack blocks in a semi rural/edge of town location. A low range of hills is visible in the background.

2. The Band providing appropriate martial music is dressed in Infantry, not Cavalry,  accoutrements and is definitely not the Band of the Royal Artillery, one of which was based in Germany at the time.

3. I suggest the parade may be at the start or end of the Annual Administrative Inspection (future FFR) which many contributors may recall with horror. The Reviewing Officer could be the Brigade Commander with his Brigade Major to his left rear. The newly raked gravel, white washed stones on the approach to the Saluting Dias is a further clue.

If we stick with the Infantry theme, in 1952 BAOR was at its zenith in terms of Infantry Battalions under command. Berlin can be discounted as well as the Canadians in Hannover, the Danes in Itzehoe and the Norwegians in northern Schleswig Holstein.

This leaves the following towns as possible locations, all of which had British Infantry Battalions stationed there according to my sources/memory in the early 50s. Brunswick, Buxtehude, Celle,Dortmund, Duisburg, Goslar, Gottingen, Hubbelrath, Iserlohn, Krefeld,Luneburg, Minde, Munster, Osnabruck, Sennelager and Wuppertal

A number have already been eliminated by earlier contributors, to this list I would add Munster and Osnabruck where the Infantry Battalions were housed in post war new build bungalow style prefab barrack blocks. Other locations do not meet my basic criteria

My suggested location would be Clifton Barracks Minden. If you go to the original site Home Page, click on Locations, then Clifton Barracks Minden there is a lengthy thread, including photographs, which indicate this could have been the site of the 1952 photo

Good try JPW...but the Clifton Barracks blocks are smaller with six windows between the doors and have two dormer windows in the ends...my photo has seven windows and one dormer window in the ends