Eagle at Mansergh Gate

In the photos of Mansergh Bks it states that the eagle was fount about 10 years ago when a vehicle backed into it.

I served with 47 Fd Regt (attached) back in the mid 1980s and the eagle was discovered then. That's over 20 years ago. My memory may be fading after years of testing the local Pils, but I'm sure that it was discovered after a REME 434 lost its steering coming back off a road test, slowing down enough for the wall to stop it, but not enough to stop it uncovering the stone eagle.

Cheers Plant Pot. I'm on the case!

Webmaster

I believe that the barracks was occupied by the RAF until Sep 61 when 36 Hy AD Regt RA arrived from Shoeburyness as a consequence of the building of the Berlin Wall. We stayed until about Nov 61 when I think 22 Lt AD Regt RA moved in.

Also there was a Luftwaffe Training unit and a school for the children of British servicemen.

We were very impressed with the accommodation and with Gutersloh when compared with the Victorian slums of Horseshoe Barracks Shoeburyness.

There was much speculation concerning the origin and use of the barracks during the 3rd Reich years. Has anyone got any information on this topic please?

I was always told that during its time as a Luftwaffe camp Mansergh was a Luftwaffe flak camp, used to train mobile anti aircraft crews, and as a small training airfield. The area behind Kings School being a very large and flat grass landing area before it was built on after the war.

However, as I say I only have hear say and rumor to base that on rather than any real evidence. It would be good to know the truth of the matter.

There is a guy called Tony who works on the gate at PRB. He told me of a very old book (written in English) that is available, detailing the camps there. I need to find the time to go back and see him. It was also mentioned that Mansergh was used to train the Luftwaffe clerical staff. Wait out!

Admin wrote:

There is a guy called Tony who works on the gate at PRB. He told me of a very old book (written in English) that is available, detailing the camps there. I need to find the time to go back and see him. It was also mentioned that Mansergh was used to train the Luftwaffe clerical staff. Wait out!

It is possible that that was one of the roles of the camp, but there are an awful lot of garages just to teach clerks. Mind you, that could account for most of the blocks being on only 2 floors..... don't want too many stairs for the little darlings

there is a book called" flugplatz gutersloh" by gerry lewis which is in english and gives a history mainly of PRB, but also mentions mansergh barracks, and has some good photos.

Guys hi,

The camp was a signals camp when the Americans entered it from the autobahn.

This camp was in support of Princess Royal Barracks (Luftwaffe Camp) on the otherside of town.

Hope some of this helps.

PS - My first post, great site and very informative.

My Father worked at Gutersloh in the post office around 60-62 - I think he also ended up running the bar at the transfer station there. He has loads of stories, including having a bust up with a minor royal family member for queue jumping ("I don't care if you are the duke of whatever, you are a first lieutenant in the Hussars - now get to the back of the queue!")

I myself landed there in 1992 en route to Dortmund with the HAC - it was a real treat to see where he had served but sadly I didn't get to see much of the place

Hello all,
I've just discovered this site and have naturally looked at all the information on the Bks I've served at in Germany. Having been with 1 AAC at PRB myself (this century), and having had friends at Mansergh Bks and having made some good German friends in a local (non-squaddie) bar, I was intrigued by rumours (I emphasise this word as I am not gullible enough to be 'sucked into' such stories lock, stock and barrel) that there is a tunnel system joining the 2 camps (going under the town). The most convincing version of the story was that German officers were accommodated and trained/briefed etc at Mansergh and the tunnel was a quick and safe means of access to PRB for their duties.

I was initially very sceptical and still am, having firstly been told by an old, old ex-squaddie now living in the area who I assumed was pulling my leg - however I have since heard various versions from many locals in the area.

Can anyone shed any light on this or is it an urban myth or FOAF (Friend Of A Friend) tale?

On a similar note (though probably not posted in the right place):

I'd be intrigued to know, as I have previously served in Osnabrück and have heard similar stories regarding Roberts Bks and several locations in and around the city. As far as the story goes in Os, I was 'informed' that there are a lot of natural underground springs, streams and caves that are inter-connected and sprawl all the way north from Os up to the Alfsee area! Supposedly the Germans used some of these to their advantage - although not all the way to the Alf-lake... or maybe not.
I seem to remember a story about a man's body being last seen floating in a pond in Bramsche (what - 15km north of Osnarück?) and disappearing... only to emerge months later in Alfsee. Hmm... the mind boggles!
...anyone?

Archibal wrote:

Hello all,
I've just discovered this site and have naturally looked at all the information on the Bks I've served at in Germany. Having been with 1 AAC at PRB myself (this century), and having had friends at Mansergh Bks and having made some good German friends in a local (non-squaddie) bar, I was intrigued by rumours (I emphasise this word as I am not gullible enough to be 'sucked into' such stories lock, stock and barrel) that there is a tunnel system joining the 2 camps (going under the town). The most convincing version of the story was that German officers were accommodated and trained/briefed etc at Mansergh and the tunnel was a quick and safe means of access to PRB for their duties.

I was initially very sceptical and still am, having firstly been told by an old, old ex-squaddie now living in the area who I assumed was pulling my leg - however I have since heard various versions from many locals in the area.

Can anyone shed any light on this or is it an urban myth or FOAF (Friend Of A Friend) tale?

On a similar note (though probably not posted in the right place):

I'd be intrigued to know, as I have previously served in Osnabrück and have heard similar stories regarding Roberts Bks and several locations in and around the city. As far as the story goes in Os, I was 'informed' that there are a lot of natural underground springs, streams and caves that are inter-connected and sprawl all the way north from Os up to the Alfsee area! Supposedly the Germans used some of these to their advantage - although not all the way to the Alf-lake... or maybe not.
I seem to remember a story about a man's body being last seen floating in a pond in Bramsche (what - 15km north of Osnarück?) and disappearing... only to emerge months later in Alfsee. Hmm... the mind boggles!
...anyone?

Archibal I'd take all those/these stories of tunnel systems, underground hospitals and buried tanks with a pinch of salt! There are quite a few camps on this site where similar things are mentioned ie tunnels and buried tanks Barker at Paderborn, underground hospital in Northampton at 'Woofers' and best of all the underground 'Autobahn' system that went from 'Falling-Bar-Stool' to Calais................I wish!!!

soprano54,

thanks for your reply to my post - it's pretty much what I expected
I don't take such tales and rumours seriously, but nevertheless find them interesting for what they are.

Is there any truth in any of this (where do rumours start in the first place?), however I believe you are probably right about the pinch of salt perspective!

Not that I want to tread on anyone's toes here, but surely this line of interest would make a good entry on the sites 'Urban Legends, Folklore, Myths, Rumours, and Misinformation' link?

Anyway, I'm off to get my sharkeye & shovel... there's a bricked-up wall in the QM's cellar...

Hi There,

I know this is a very old post etc. But I just stumbled across it.

I was stationed at Mansergh from 1989 to 1994 and I still live in Gütersloh. The "Tunnel" does actually exist. There are two entrances, one which is under the at the time training wing from the Royal Artillery who were stationed there and the other is in the cellar from the officers mess. I have personally seen them.

Within the Officers mess there is still memorabilia from the Germans, i.e. the wooden wall paneling with "quotes" engraved in them also in the cellar on the beams are engraved quotes. It is just a shame that the barracks will be sold this year, and that all this history will vanish i.e. be destroyed.

The other interesting part is that I once spoke to an ex b110 pilot who back then lost an arm, who later (before he passed away) had a toy store in Gütersloh, and he also told me that there was another tunnel but from PRB to somewhere in a forested area in Brackwede, since this is where they stored extra fuel and ammunition. Also that the airfield was "flooded" when it was not in use so that the air recon would not realise what it really was.

It does not surprise me. Both sides built underground and NOT merely tunnels. My uncle-in-law was bussed from Bath for one of three eight hour shifts -daily- building massive u/g site. That was the technology of the time. I wasn't there of course.

plant-pilot wrote:

In the photos of Mansergh Bks it states that the eagle was fount about 10 years ago when a vehicle backed into it.

I served with 47 Fd Regt (attached) back in the mid 1980s and the eagle was discovered then. That's over 20 years ago. My memory may be fading after years of testing the local Pils, but I'm sure that it was discovered after a REME 434 lost its steering coming back off a road test, slowing down enough for the wall to stop it, but not enough to stop it uncovering the stone eagle.

I remember it well, my claim to fame was, as the MTO at the time, I completed the FMT 3 (In red). I also recall the one armed guy who owned the toy shop in town - my son used to spend his hard earned pocket money there on Marklin train accessories.

Mansergh Closing Credits:

https://www.facebook.com/wdrlokalzeitowl/videos/2091787000848352/

Last scene - handed back!

https://www.westfalen-blatt.de/OWL/Kreis-Guetersloh/Guetersloh/4001934-Briten-uebergeben-Mansergh-Barracks-Guetersloh-nach-84-Jahren-entmilitarisiert-mit-Video-Letzte-Kaserne-ist-Geschichte

Interesting read and videos. I'll have to get my wife to tell me what's being said. My German is only good enough to get into trouble, but not to get out of it.

with a bit of luck the report will appear here: https://www.forces.net/?utm

translated of course. Bielefeld next . . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVxMxih_rt8&feature=youtu.be

Stadt Guetersloh have engaged various experts to decide what the future of Mansergh Barracks should be.