Long shot - building/location identification?

Hi all,

I am a Canadian and more of my attention has been on WW2, but for the past several years I have been working on a book about the Archer (Valentine 17-pounder SP). I'm close to done and it includes a chapter on the postwar period.

I recently acquired a group of photos through eBay and scanned them today. The unit markings in other photos (crossed keys) clearly identify the vehicles as belonging to 10th Anti-Tank Regiment which was in 2nd Infantry Division in Germany, and based on my research I have narrowed down the timeframe to around 1949-1950. (The regiment was using other equipment until 1949, and in early 1951 anti-tank responsibility was transferred to the RAC.)

Only one of the photos gives any potential clue as to location - the building in the background in this photo. I think it is probably too generic to be of use in identifying the location but thought I'd ask. Any ideas?

I know that the regiment was based in Dortmund from 1948. There are references to batteries carrying out firing practice/training at the School of Artillery BAOR but I do not know where that was.There are also references to Munsterlager, Hohne, and Saltau in the quarterly reports. But I looked through all the photos I could find on the site, and nothing matches.  Any ideas?

Hi a long shot indeed:

https://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/royal-artillery/10th-regiment-ra.html

mention and possibly pictures are available on this site for some of the Bks mentioned:
the picture you have provided is reminiscent of similar garages built in Hitler type Barracks

Hi Chris and welcome

One of three locations, with respect to the webpage it is incomplete, from my research post VE Day with Kew Public Records Office documentation:

HQRA 2nd Infantry Division
19 Feb 48 – Advance Party – Q (Sanna’s Post) Anti-Tank Battery of 10th Anti-Tank Regiment RA from HQRA 7th Armoured Division
Ubique Barracks Camp 8, Dortmund

7 Apr 48 – Main Party – 10th Anti-Tank Regiment RA formerly 21st Anti-Tank Regiment RA from Hannover District
Regimental Headquarters: Ubique Barracks Camp 8, Dortmund
Oct 50 – 7th Armoured Division

X Anti-Tank Battery
Y Anti-Tank Battery

Z Anti-Tank Battery
31 May 48 – Northumberland Barracks Menden – returns 25 Sep 48
early 49 – Moore Barracks Camp 9, Dortmund

School of Artillery British Army of the Rhine
1 Oct 46 – Dennis Barracks formerly Raudkammer Barracks north of Munsterlager
31 Dec 48 – disbanded

Hope this helps

https://britisharmyingermany.com (under construction)

Welcome Chris. There's a few of us Canadians on here. Gives the site a distinct touch of class, I must say.

There is not a lot left (architecturally) of the old Dortmund and the barracks straddling the old B1.  But there is you tube drone footage of Barker Barracks Paderborn

which shows off the Hitler accn blocks and garages (0:11 and 1:20) in glorious technicolour:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sumA-DI8VU

Wow, those buildings are definitely of a similar type and that does really help me visualize them. Thanks.

I was based in Barker Barracks from 1965.  Those garages were frightening mainly because the steel concertina doors had jumped the over head tracks - so the weight of the doors was on the hinges and not on the track.  Remember closing up early in winter 1966 when we suffered ice-rain - added to the weight of the door panels, and then 3 panels slammed down on the cobbles.  Ice-rain and oily cobbles were not a good mix - in them nasty old days we used to wash the vehicles down*, by hand using a mix of Benzine and OMD-110 and of course everything dripped on to the basalt stone cobbles - slippery!  had to scuff the boots DMS in sand before re-entering the block.   Benzine/OMD 110 wasn't good for the skin either.  And there was a guy in 2 Bty whose coveralls caught fire  - on the gun park. beside an 8 inch.

*back then vehicle/gun livery was shiney olive green (long before IRR) and the theory was that the mix would leave a thin coating of OMD on the painted surface to which mud, road muck, sand (ice rain) and burnt propellant powder would not stick - glad IRR came along and put a stop to that myth.

Fella's in Shilo used to clean their summer bush caps in Naphtha. Remember a lad who did that. Put his hat badge (RCA) back in and lite up a smoke. Talk about a cheap thrill. Lucky to not damage him self.

I thought Anti tank RA units had two wheel cannons ?

see http://www.researchingww2.co.uk/anti-tank-regiment-royal-artillery/





2 Division in Germany had Cross keys