Sennelager?

While stationed in Minden in the 50s we spent some time under canvas one summer.  My recollections are more than hazy but I have the feeling we were near Sennelager. It seemed a large area with several units encamped nearby with signposts pointing to various locations. We heard that a convoy of Yanks was expected to arrive during the night, and decided to welcome them. When the NAAFI closed and we were feeling full of the joys we set about the task of changing the signs to point in all the wrong directions.  Apparently the Yanks on arrival were rather confused, got lost, and took ages to find their designated area.

I'm not sure now  if it was Sennelager, but I do remember walking a long way one evening to a local boozer where I had a huge steak with fresh peas and new potatoes for 3 Marks.

I also remember a bunch of us piling into a 3 tonner and going to Hamburg. We ended up in a place called Cafe Arnold's in St Pauli (isn't it amazing how the memory can dredge up stuff like that from 60 or so years ago, but ask me what I had for supper last night and I wouldn't have a clue!)

KrisT wrote:

I'm not sure now  if it was Sennelager,

It wasn't..... I just checked a map and conclude it must have been Rheinsehlen 

Sorry for the confusion, its past my bedtime and have missed my meds....

Krist T.

Nice story.......The confusion added spice. .

Keep taking the pills ..I do.

Regards
John.

Johnwalker wrote:

Krist T.

Nice story.......The confusion added spice. .

Keep taking the pills ..I do.

Regards
John.

But the story doesn't end there! In the Cafe Arnold I met a lovely young lady who seemed to be learning some sort of profession......but I'm afraid that's all I remember!

I first went to Sennelager in January 1955 to attend a 3 week course at the RASC Training Wing before being posted to GSO Hildesheim.
Many years later in the early 1980s I was with 150 Regt RCT (V) on a weekend stay with 6 Tank Transporter Squadron RCT and I went for a walk in the woods behind the barracks and suddenly came across an overgrown clearing which turned out to be a small cemetery with about 30 gravestones in it.
Every single one was for a child and the age range was between about 4 and 14. Just the names and ages were shown, no date of birth or death. It was a very sobering experience and I have often wondered where they came from. Probably an orphanage, I don't know, but I still think of it from time to time.

Noch ein bier,

Norman.

Norman, Pborn4 is the resident expert on all things Sennelager, he may be able to shed some light on the above.

Thanks Sheldrake, I will try to contact him.

Noch ein bier,

Norman.