Family Research 23rd Advanced Base Workshop 1945 onwards

Harry Hardy: I am researching my father's military records which I received from the Army Personnel Archives in Glasgow. He served with 53rd Welsh 158 Brigade from Normandy to Hamburg where he was on VE day, pictured on one of the bridges in his jeep. He was a technical officer with REME and ended up at 23 Advanced Base Workshop (Heavy) with BAOR after the war. He was officer commanding at one point obtaining the rank of Lt.Colonel before leaving the army in 1948. He joined the army as a mechanic fitter in !938 in Lincoln and received his commission in 1943 joining REME more or less at its inception.
Whilst his records are very detailed up until 1943, there is not much to go on after that and I am especially interested in what happened from 1945-1948. I remember him telling me he acted as a local commandant and had a sooped up satff car as some of the men working for him were ex-Mercedes racing mechanics. Other than that I know very little about his time in Germany.
Can anyone add any details or info about that period please or REME in general? Thanks.

Hi HH,

Welcome to the forum.

We have one member who is clued up on much about 23 Base Workshop during the time you mention.

I'm sure our knowledgeable member will be along soon!

Regards
Alan

PS. If you pm me or email? Should you wish. I will assist you to post any photos.  Just pm your email address to me. I will respond with my email address so you can forward photos.

See links bottom left of your Post.

I thought I'd add a few photos of  22 Advanced Base Workshop (I believe sited in Brussels in ?).

In June 1943 Ivan Hirst was assigned to the 22nd Advanced Base Workshop. He later took over the VW Plant at Wolksburg.


Local Labour and accomodation resulted Workers living in bivis outside of the Workshop
.








Local Labour and accomodation resulted Workers living in bivis outside of the Workshop
.

Alan great images!

22 Sep 45 - 22 Advanced Base Workshop REME is recorded in Loth-B today Lot south-west of Brussels command HQ 20th Line of Communication Sub Area for local administration...cannot comment earlier or later as HQ Line of Communication is pending due to the currant situation...BTW there was also 21 Advanced Base Workshop REME in Antwerp-B at this time

HardyHarry

Not an expert on 23 Advanced Base Workshop but according to Kew records they are first recorded in Wetter south-west of Dortmund Jul 45 and redesignated 23 Heavy Workshop Company by Feb 46 less Company on 13 Jan 49

Hope this helps

Steve, I'll  lookup the 21 Workshop!

Ps. is P. busy?  I refrained from 23 Wksp comments! As I know now't like P.  I did send some photos to HH which have had done the rounds much earlier..

Alan

Thanks for the pictures and additional information.

Hi: I'm new to this site (i.e never previously contributed) and hoping not to muddy the waters for those of you who are well ahead of me in their love and understanding of this historical research.
I remembered that I had seen the term "22 HWC REME" written in my father's old photo albums from his army days. In fact, after double checking, it's also noted on my birth certificate!
Reference to, and photos regarding Normandy June 6 1944 at Ver-Sur-Mer, 7 Armoured Corp Troops W/S, Brussels, Domitz, Laeken, Laurenburg, Antwerp Feb 1946, Bergadorf, 166 W/S, 109 LAA Regiment W/S are somewhat all shuffled together in this old album
The photos that were just posted on the site were very interesting. I, having no idea of the scale of the operation, the immense size of the shops and manpower that my Dad was involved in.
He simply refered to himself as a tank mechanic. And I can never remember him talking about the war. Such a shame that this becomes an interest after most everyone who lived through it, has now gone.

Rick

Welcome Rick

22 HWC REME = 22 Heavy Workshop Company Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

109th (7th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery were part of 106th Anti-Aircraft Brigade

Can only help post VE Day hope this helps

https://britisharmyingermany.com (under construction)

Thanks for your note, Steve. The clarification of rhe acronyms was very helpful.
I am having a little difficulty navigating the site, so apologies for any faux-paus!
Rick

Rick

Do not have an exact location for 109 LAA Regt Workshop as yet but does show they were with the regiment

IE 9 Jul 45 – Bergedorf south-east of Hamburg

Sorry cannot find a 166 Workshop

Steve

Thanks again, Steve.
The photo on the site of the huge workshop with all the tanks was amazing. Incredible to think that my Dad might have been in there somewhere when in was taken.
I'll do a little more digging into his archives. ( A nice project for these strange times.)
I saw a post that suggests a family member might be able to access their parent's military files (?). Any experience with that?
Rick

Rick, tracing folks is not my thing...have enough problems with units...there are others here who may be able to help.
Steve

Here is where to apply for a deceased  relative's Military Eecords
You will have to supply a copy of the deceased's Death Certificate
A £30 fee will be required

https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-record


Alan

Thanks for the info, Alan.
Rick in Canada

Good Luck, Rick,
PM or Mail me if you have a question!

Alan

steve wrote:

Alan great images!

22 Sep 45 - 22 Advanced Base Workshop REME is recorded in Loth-B today Lot south-west of Brussels command HQ 20th Line of Communication Sub Area for local administration...cannot comment earlier or later as HQ Line of Communication is pending due to the currant situation...BTW there was also 21 Advanced Base Workshop REME in Antwerp-B at this time

HardyHarry

Not an expert on 23 Advanced Base Workshop but according to Kew records they are first recorded in Wetter south-west of Dortmund Jul 45 and redesignated 23 Heavy Workshop Company by Feb 46 less Company on 13 Jan 49

Hope this helps

Alan
Update! 22 Advanced Base Workshop REME moved from Line of Communication to 8 Base Sub Area Hamburg on 22 Oct 45, location not shown however by 14 Oct 46, 22 Heavy Workshop REME were located in Pirbright Barracks Hamburg-Osdorf with detachments at the Elbschloss Brewery and Blohm & Voss Works.

Steve,

My initial information came from VW story about Ivan Hirst the Reme Major. Additionally, one of my ex Boy Service friends mentioning his dad went with the Workshop to the Marine Bks, Hamburg.

Alan

Correct Alan Pirbright Barracks was formerly Marine Finkenwarder

Fresh update post VE Day having recently received Line of Communication War Diaries:

23 Advanced Base Workshop – GHQ Troops/17 Line of Communication Sub Area – 1 Corps District 22 Jun 45 – redesignated 23 Heavy Workshop Company 6 Feb 46 – GHQ Troops 5 Jun 46 – HQ BAOR 15 Jul 46 – less Company 13 Jan 49
Arras-F south-east of Calais-F – Harkort-Eicken Steel Works Wetter west of Iserlohn 5 Jul 45