Memories of Toc H

Hi all

I am researching the history of the organisation Toc H and would love to hear your memories of its work with BAOR. Any stories or anecdotes gratefully received at steve@largeinnorfolk.com

Thanks

Steve Smith
Toc H - Norfolk Activities

Best Egg N Cress Sarnies ever ..thats my fondest memory of TOC H

Used to get a fantastic full English with tea and toast complete with a sunday paper in Paderborn for 6 Dm, great hangover kit.

Tea and sticky buns on Sunday Mornings at Gremmendorf, while scanning through the Sunday papers.

Summer 1953.The TocH tea van and ladies turning up in the middle of nowhere whilst we we on field exercises! The Yanks (enemy) took arial photos of us all lined up waiting for our cuppa!

We (RAF)used to say"Dim as a Toc H lamp"What is the origin of that?

Gordon. wrote:

http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-salient/museum-talbot-house-history.htm

.


Many thanks for that Gordon,we are always learning.

Now i know what Toc H is lol

I remember a TOC H in Cologne around 1951 time with the RA, great for the cuppa and wad, also newspaper came with it hahah

I spent four years in West Germany and never heard of it.

Neither did I .. two years in Munster (1952/4) , never saw Toc H in any location.

Len (Ciphers)

I think depending on your location it varied, some had Salvation Army, Red Shield or YMCA. I can't remember ALL the various names. I think in general, ALL were church based.

'Good Bless' all those organisations who suported the forces, and still are, no matter where the servicemen and women were, especially in the years immediately following the War.


PS. Must not forget the Naafi, who supported the guys in the Falklands and other dangerous places.

ciphers wrote:

Neither did I .. two years in Munster (1952/4) , never saw Toc H in any location.

Len (Ciphers)

There was one apparently - but when I am not sure. Date the car in the photograph, and it will give an approximate time.

Paul.

www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Munster says "TocH just outside York"Don't regognise the house from my time there 1979-1988.

Auto looks like a new Ford Popular,early 50s would be my guess.

there was a Toc H in Verden located in the Cavalry Bks in town, what happened to it when the bks were handed over I dont know.
Bob

Sure looks like a 50's vintage Ford, they were still producing the line (Popular, Prefect, etc) in 1957 to my memory .. but as for York, I'm supposing they are talking of York Barracks or Gremmendorf Kaserne as we knew it during my days there at 20 Armoured Brigade 1952/54, don't recognize the house at all.

Best 'church' canteen I knew was the Church of (Jock's) Scotland which was located close to Ypres and Gaza lines in Catterick, good food, free if you pleaded poverty .. and the worst was the YMCA in Newton Abbott when the Signals Depot Regt was there, miserable, toffee nosed buggers ran that one, I think they actually despised squaddies.

Len (Ciphers)

I seem to remember a Toc H in Hemer and a Red Shield in Dortmund....or was it the other way round ?
Pardon ?

bazza wrote:

I seem to remember a Toc H in Hemer and a Red Shield in Dortmund....or was it the other way round ?
Pardon ?

I think that it was the other way round Was there not a Red Shield Club on the main drag through Hemer?

Near the end of Honnetal Strasse there was a level crossing (with the wooden Polizei); across that to the crossroads, turn right and the Commerz Bank was set back off the road slightly on the RH side, and the Red Shield (or Church Army) was a bit further down on the same side. I seem to remember that there was a record shop near enough opposite on the other side of the road!

Paul.

Thanks Paul. My wires crossed again !
Baz.

bazza wrote:

I seem to remember a Toc H in Hemer and a Red Shield in Dortmund....or was it the other way round ?
Pardon ?

Hi Bazza
In Dortmund was it near to Napier, if so, we called it the Stonk Club. ring any bells ?
Jerry

Hi Jerry
I can't remember much about Dortmund I'm afraid, I wasn't there long before being posted on.
I've just noticed your age.An old school friend of mine was in the RASC in FARELF in'60/61, before that in 55 Coy. When were you in Malaya mate?
Baz.

bazza wrote:

Hi Jerry
I can't remember much about Dortmund I'm afraid, I wasn't there long before being posted on.
I've just noticed your age.An old school friend of mine was in the RASC in FARELF in'60/61, before that in 55 Coy. When were you in Malaya mate?
Baz.

I was 3 Coy in Ipoh/Terendak Malacca 1961- 64
Did an air loader course in 61 with 55 in Seletar
By the way my Great Grandfather was Artillery served in Barbados and Gibralta my Grandfather was born in Woolwich. way back in 1860-80 ish

There was a Toc H on Furstenweg in Paderborn. It's been levelled and is now a carpark and there was one on Seeburgerallee in Berlin just up the road from Spandau.

Have to agree about the egg and cress rolls. For some reason, the TocH put out much better scoff than NAAFI and if I recall, they were cheaper than NAAFI as well. They were also very popular with the Toms. I am aware that NAAFI saw off the Red Shield and the WRVS when they brought Pay as You Dine into Germany, but I think Toc H bailed out of Germany way before then.

Bazza -- I can't speak to whether there was a Toc H in Hemer or Dortmund as I am not at all familiar with the outfit, however, I do know there was a Red Shield Club in Hemer (affiliated with, or actually was, the Sally Ann) down on the Hauptstrasse. I think it was still there under the British as well....

There was also one in Soest on Bruederstrasse, the pedestrian mall, but I am pretty sure it closed down when the Canadians left the region.