NAME AND LOCATION OF BARRACKS IN GOSLAR

My father, Bill Davies did his National Service in the Royal Signals between 1949-1951. He started at Catterick then spent 18 months at a camp in Goslar, Germany. His regimental number was 22183646 and he thinks he was with the 33rd Lorried Armoured Division or something similar.
He and I have recently returned to Goslar to try and find the camp he was stationed in. The only camp we could find was Fliegerhorst Kaserne which was then Manchester Barracks. He said he did not recognise it or the surroundings. I therefore thought I would go onto a forum to see if anyone can let us know if there was another camp in Goslar or whether it would have been Manchester Barracks.
My father is now 84 and I am hoping he and I can return there next year all being well. It would be especially good if we have tracked down the camp by this time.
Thank you very much
Regards
Sue Logan

Welcome Sue

Myself and JPW are piecing together the early days of BAOR and cane confirm when 7 Armoured Division reformed in March 1949, 31st Lorried Infantry Brigade moved to Goslar, your father would have been a member of 3 Squadron, 7 Armoured Divisional Signal Regiment stationed with the brigade in the same barracks as the brigade HQ

I have a four figure grid reference for the barracks in the town, not the Manchester Barracks that is to the north of the town, this barracks was first occupied by 1st Household Cavalry Regiment RAC on 26 May 45 HQ Royal Artillery 30 Corps on 7 Jun 45, then by various brigade HQs of the 5th Infantry Division, handing over to Norwegian Army from Mar 47 to Oct 48

Thanks to JPW’s research can confirm the other two barracks in Goslar were Hastings and Seaforth, at some point should be able to discover which one and the exact location and will let you know

In the meantime from my collection of the Royal Signals magazine scans have some detail for you, including a squadron football team including an LCpl W Davies and hope this is your father

Have your email address and will send later on today

The truth is out there!

From another post by JPW on the subject

Firstly Hastings Barracks. I unexpectedly have had sight of a different translation of the history of the Norwegian Brigade in BAOR . We knew already that part of the Brigade was briefly based in Goslar in 1947/8. This new source makes it clear that the Brigade HQ and some support units were in Hastings Barracks (former Dom Kaserne where Rommel was based in the mid 30s). No clues to the origins of the actual name though (Steve and I have yet to identify a Battalion of the Royal Sussex stationed in the town)

Sue you will see from what I am sending you we now have confirmation Hastings Barracks formally Dom Kaserne

Sue

Welcome, glad to be of help

One of our Canadian contributors has relatives who lived in the area for a time, he might be able to add something when he next drops in.

Now all I have to do is identify where Seaforth Barracks was

JPW

Sure this is correct



http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Kasernen/Wehrkreis11/KasernenGoslar-R.htm

If correct Bergdorf-Kaserne is a former name for Seaforth Barracks as the road to the north-west is Bergdorfstrasse

Sue,
You will see my entry on Goslar under 'Locations'.  I am sure your Dad would have known if he had been stationed there and I just wanted to point out a possible reason for any confusion when visiting the site after such a long time.

The the Flugplatz formed a large part of Manchester Barracks as you will see from the above map of Goslar. Even at the time of my visit (1953) the building of new houses between the town and the barracks had started. If you look at Google Earth you will see that the house building now goes over the Flugplatz and right up to the barracks entrance.

I hope find the answer to your enquiry. Good luck.

Bill

Good to have you back

Your expert local knowledge is invaluable in up dating the data base though sadly it is proving impossible to alter the original master documents published on the original website

JPW wrote:

Sue

Welcome, glad to be of help

One of our Canadian contributors has relatives who lived in the area for a time, he might be able to add something when he next drops in.

Now all I have to do is identify where Seaforth Barracks was

Afraid not JPW. The only two barracks I knew were Dom Kaserne which is known now as the Rommel Barracks and the Border Police Barracks now a youth center. Unfortunately the passing of a my source in Langlesheim (Close to Goslar) has passed on. We do intend to visit at least once more, possibly I can find out more then. Not really sure when that will be.

Looking back over my photos of my visit to Goslar in 1953, I came across this one which , for the sake of recording for posterity, I thought I would add to the Forum.  

This was taken just as I left the Flugplatz on the way to Goslar, which with the Harz mountains can be seen in the background.

Already the work on widening the road had started with a viev to the future housing which would completely change this area.

Bill

Thanks for posting your latest photo. an interesting contribution