40 Army Support Regiment RE

I served in Willich 1976 to 1980

Hello sapper610,

Who did you serve with in Willich? Information to hand gives 40 as disbanding in October 1977.

As Kitchener Barracks did not close until 1992, have you any idea who took over?

Paul.

Hi sapper 610 and Paul

I served at 40 Army Sp Regt RE from Sep 75 to Nov 77 firstly on the MT then in RHQ the place was 21 Army Sp Sqn the second squadron 41? was to be manned by TA if war broke out there was the Engr Base Wksp 522 STRE (Works) and a railway troop

The disbandment is Oct 77 is not quite correct that happened later becoming just 21 Army Sp Sqn...watch this space for more info very soon...according to research so far 21 Army Sp Sqn disbanded 1981 and in 1983 40 Army Engr Sp Regt was reformed with 43 Sp Sqn and 522 STRE (Works) who later moved to Hamlen on disbandment again in 1992 was known as 40 Army Sp Gp...most of the buildings exist today but the single story living in accomadation over the railway and NAAFI have long gone

Please get in touch sapper610 as it was a small unit so we must know each other

Any British Army information on Iserlohn/Hemer/Deilinghofen and Willich will be most welcome

Best regards
Steve from cold Iserlohn

Update on Kitchener Barracks Willich
I was wrong 40 Army Sp Regt did disbanded 21 Oct 77 and became independent as 21 Army Sp Sqn the last CO was Lt Col RWM Eagle the new OC Maj CM Davies arrived in Willich as adjutant 40 Army Sp Regt in May/Jun 76 then the unit consisted of
21 Army Sp Sqn
41 Army Sp Sqn - manned by TA/Reservists on mobilization
Engr Base Wksp
Engr Spares Park
Engr Plant Park
303 Engr Park
305 Engr Park - in Hamm
REME Wksp
PLU? Civil Labour Unit
522 STRE - came under HQ BOAR not 40 Army Sp Regt
After 21 Oct 77
41 Sqn disbanded
REME Wksp became independent
All other units in Kitchener Barracks except 522 STRE came under command of 21 Army Sp Sqn due to the large number of WOs the SSM was RSM Brian Cox the previous RSM 40 Army Sp Regt
Hope this helps Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everbody
Regards
Steve

I was in Willich from 1979-1982.
Kitchener barracks became a home for familys coming into Germany from eastern Europe. Don´t know what the situation is now.
The old depot is now part of an industial estate. many of the old buildings still stand. The gym is now a fittness center. No change there then. Sheds 1-3 have gone. The water tower still leans.
Much of what was Willich is now up in Hameln. 21 Army sp sqn, 65 Corps Sp Sqn & 45 Fld Sp Sqn all rolled into one
It was a funny unit. The Sqn OC was a Lt Col & the SSM was an RSM. All political due to the REME bods.
Wishing all a Merry Christmas
John S

Hi Paul, sapper610 and Toshi

Further update thanks to 'The History of the Corps of Royal Engineers' Volume X looking for help after 1980

40 Advanced Engineers Stores Regiment
Kitchener Barracks

Formed in January 1952 under the command of the Chief Engineer BAOR to bring together the engineer resources and repair units in BAOR which were in various locations from Dortmund to Hannover

Jan 52 to Jul 58
80 Adv Wksp and Park Sqn
339 Plant Park Sqn
1254 + 1255 Ind Wksp and Park Sqns
267 Stores Unit + 721 Wksp Unit - manned by civilians

In 1957 41 Army Fld Park Sqn previously 41 Fld Park Sqn of 11 Engr Gp Roberts Barracks Osnabrück joins the regiment but based at Hameln

In 1958 BAOR was reorganised on a brigade group basis and the Field Engineer Regiments were broken up

Jul 58 to Apr 60
80 Wksp and Park Sqn
21 Wksp and Park Sqn - formed from 1254 and 1255 Wksp and Park Sqns previously 21 Fld Park Sqn of 23 Fld Engr Regt Napier Barracks Dortmund
41 Plant Park Sqn - formed from 339 Plant Park Sqn and 41 Army Park Sqn

Commanding Officers
Jan 52 Lt Col R Gregory - Lt Col LE Upton - Lt Col GHE Pincott – Feb 59 Lt Col JD Grice

Apr 60 to Jan 68
21 Wksp and Plant Sqn
41 Plant Park Sqn
46 Wksp and Plant Sqn in Gheel - Belgium moved from Maidstone and amalgamated with 80 Wksp and Plant Sqn

Jan 68 to Jan 70
21 Park Sqn
41 Wksp Sqn
46 Wksp and Plant Sqn now 46 Park Sqn moved to Sennelager
303 Stores Depot
305 Stores Depot - Cromwell Barracks Hamm
Sub depots at Sennelager - Hanover - Scharfoldendorf - Hameln

40 Army Support Regiment
Jan 70 to Oct 77
21 Army Sp Sqn
41 Army Sp Sqn - not manned G1098 held for mobilisation
Engr Base Wksp + Engr Spares Park + Engr Plant Park + REME Wksp + PLU? Civil Labour Unit
303 Engr Park + 305 Engr Park at Hamm
46 Army Sp Sqn in Sennelager - not manned G1098 held for mobilisation

16 Oct 73 - Freedom of Willich

date unknown - 522 STRE (Works) arrived but not under command

Commanding Officers
Nov 61 Lt Col D Kenwrick-Cox - Sep 64 Lt Col TG Glendenning – Mar 67 Lt Col DG Raschen
Jun 69 Lt Col JH Joiner - Jul 71 Lt Col JD Waymark - Mar 73 Lt Col RA Dennis - Sep 75 Lt Col RWM Eagle

21 Army Support Squadron
Oct 77 to Oct 81
Regiment disbands squadron takes over the role of engineer support for BAOR responsibility for forward sub-depots transferred to 65 Corps Support Squadron in Hameln

41 Army Sp Sqn - not manned G1098 held for mobilisation - disbanded Jan 78
46 Army Sp Sqn in Sennelager - not manned G1098 held for mobilisation - disbanded Jan 78

Officers Commanding
Oct 77 Maj CM Davies - Sep 78 Maj DS Stewart - Oct 80 Maj MJV Hoskins GM

Squadron Sergeant Majors
Oct 77 WOI B Cox...

21 Army Support Squadron disbands now 40 Army Engineer Support Group

Cheers
Steve
Willich 75-77

sapper610 wrote:

I served in Willich 1976 to 1980

I too was in Willich from 1976 to 1978. Although I was in REME I was also the captain of the Willich Wasps which was the Engineers rugby team.

served in wokshps welder 68/72 came from 20 fd sqn maidstone 72/73 15 sqn ripon demobbed ripon oct 73

Another ex 21 member here.  I played cricket and rugby for 21.  Mal Mizen was the last RSM that I remember, Davies was OC.  I recollect the exercise that he organised which involved a march to Krefeld and this was in the middle of a flu epidemic.  Sick parade on the Monday morning needed a Bedford to take everybody to MI room in Krefeld.  Questions were asked.

I served in Willich 1965 to late 1968. In 41 squadron in the delivery troop

I served in 40 from 71 to 73. CO was Col Waymark Adjt was Bill Van Orden. Can remember major exercises in Olen and Grobbendonk. M2 bridge was the latest kit, my mate Jeff Ashcroft trained on them. The NAAFI bar had been christened the 'Yak Club' sang many rugby songs with my guitar and had a band with Jeff and Billy Mitchell. Can anybody remember the Cpl Booth scandal??