Roberts Barracks

Hi all,

I was based with 37 Army Engineer Regiment in Roberts Barracks in 1951 and 1952.

Looking for information:

When did 37 AER arrrive in Osnabruck from Crickhowell, Wales? I believe late 1950, but have seen listed as 1951, but I arrived February 1951 and the unit was already established.

The other half of the barracks was occupied by another AER, if I remember 38 AER?
Also maybe in Roberts was a REME unit, perhaps even a postal detachment?

Have looked at the RE sites to no avail

Regards
Tony

Tony,

I take it you have seen this page:-

http://www.royal-engineers.50megs.com/photo4.html

But I see what you mean about little information on them. Alan Watson's site gives then as moving to Germany in 1951 (no date or location though), as does the Squadron histories.

They apparently moved to Cyprus in 1955/56.

Paul.

Good morning Tony/Paul

37 Army Engr Regt recorded from Nov 50 to Nov 55 part of 11 Engr Gp Roberts Barracks Osnabrück consisting of 33/34/35 Fd Sqns and 41 Fd Park Sqn who left the regiment Oct 55 but remained under their local command when 37 Army Engr Regt moved to Cyprus Nov 55

41 Fd Park Sqn transferred to 36 Army later Corps Engr Regt also at Osnabrück assuming taking over from 37

38 Corps Engr Regt was probably the other regiment in Roberts Barracks recorded there 1952 to Sep 58

The best way to research RE units is below the squadrons are listed and by going through them you find the regiments

http://www.remuseum.org.uk/unit_history/

Hope to produce a list of all RE BAOR units soon

Cheers
Steve

I remember Roberts Bks from the '60's when we lived in Kleine Moscow, Don't know what units they had there then, but I do remember playing in the stables and the swimming pool.

During 1970's my dad was attached to 39 Fd Sqn 25 Engr Regt at Roberts Barracks.

Hi all,

Many thanks for the information,
I like Don Franklin's site, same regiment but different squadron.
He was in 33 and I in 40. I think in the block on the other side of the square in Osnabruck.

remuseum unit history, is new to me, did not find it before. Some sites are not eay to move around in.

Interesting I now have the history of my 40 Fld Sqn from 1862, plus list of CO's an amazing long history, including being overrun by the Japs in 1941 in Hong Kong.

38 CER must have been renamed from 38 AER in late 1952?

Regards
from a very hot 40 degree C Australia
Tony

Tony,

Glad to be of some help.

Steve,

Cracking site, it must be one of the first to have so much detail. Will also send you a PM.

Paul.

If Roberts BKS was an RE camp, why did they have stables? and who did the horses belong to?

Jim,

I think the stables are probably something to do with the original occupants when it was known as Winkelhausen Kaserne?

Hi Jim and all,

I remember horses in a field near the camp in 1952, but no idea of the location.
At a guess horses would have been ridden by officers, also perhaps polo games?

Yes the stables would have been built in 1936, also for officers; I think by that time the German army had been mechanised ?
I think there is a photo of that period with an officer on a horse on the parade ground?

Regards
Tony

You can see photos of the Germans in Winkelhausen/Roberts here:

www.forgottenhistory.co.uk

The Wehrmacht was still primarily reliant on horses as prime movers even by 1941 as was by no means fully mechanised in the 1930's.

I also recently discovered a large colour mural pianted by the Germans in one of the former stable blocks. I need to put this on the site at some point.

Enjoy

Enjoy

Thanks Guys, I think in all my service I don't recall a Bks with Stables, could be wrong though.

Hitch, that link of yours, do you mind if I put it on the RAOC Board?

Keeping in mind when a lot of these installations were originally constructed there are probably many examples that include evidence of Horse Stabling.

The former Dannevoux Artillerie Kaserne being one example where the Stables were converted into Tank Sheds when it became Newcastle Barracks:http://baor-locations.com/Newcastlebks.aspx

jim wrote:

Thanks Guys, I think in all my service I don't recall a Bks with Stables, could be wrong though.

Hitch, that link of yours, do you mind if I put it on the RAOC Board?

No, not at all, please feel free to spread the word.

Take a look at the images of Hammersmith Bks in Herford. There are a lot of Wehrmacht murals inside a riding hall which is still used as such. The murals illustrate riding technique. All Infantry and Artillery Kaserne built before WW2 would have had stable within. All Infantry, Artillery, Pioneer, etc NCOs and officers were taught to ride.

Windsor Boy wrote:

Keeping in mind when a lot of these installations were originally constructed there are probably many examples that include evidence of Horse Stabling.

The former Dannevoux Artillerie Kaserne being one example where the Stables were converted into Tank Sheds when it became Newcastle Barracks:http://baor-locations.com/Newcastlebks.aspx

Agreed. Look also on my site at the 432 sheds within Elizabeth Bks in Minden. As you will see these were originally stable as well. Many of the hangers for armour were/are converted stables.

I was stationed in Robert's Barracks, Osnabruck, with 39Field Squadron RE, from 1967-1972. In that time with in 25 Engineer Regt were 12, 37 AND 39 Field Squadrons. 37 moved across the barracks to join 23 Engineer Regt, where 16 Field Squadron RE and 43 Field Park RE were already based.

Pic of Roberts Barracks taken a few days ago through the main gate looking up the main drag with the LAD at the end of the road. A sad sight all overgrown and uncared for.

[img]

recymech wrote:

Pic of Roberts Barracks taken a few days ago through the main gate looking up the main drag with the LAD at the end of the road. A sad sight all overgrown and uncared for.

May I put that on the main site please?

Paul.

Paul wrote:

recymech wrote:

Pic of Roberts Barracks taken a few days ago through the main gate looking up the main drag with the LAD at the end of the road. A sad sight all overgrown and uncared for.

May I put that on the main site please?

Paul.

Paul, please do the more people see it the better.

Another looking left through the main gate at the Regimental square with the cookhouse behind the tree.

[img]

i was never stationed at osnabruck,the photos will no doubt bring back memories [good and bad],what gets to me most looking back at any bks, is seeing all the care maintainence [and spit and polish]going to rack and ruin,dave.

Found this picture on a german site, good view of the entire barracks.

Super pic bedblock, thanks for posting.

Hi all,

bedblock which site did you find the great photo, I would like to print off a copy? Also the prevous through the main gate and a look at the cookhouse now?

The cookhouse brings back a few memories:
Saturday tea was almost always cheese on toast and kippers; not many takers for kippers so I always had 2 or 3.
Sunday breakfast; a couple of us would get a chit from the padre's orderly to say we had been to early church and so have a late breakfast, a good feed, then make up a couple of bacon butties put under your shirt and walk back over the parade ground and back to bed with our lunch. Mid afternoon was time to get up and go down town for the evening. I dont remember ever paying tram fare?
Happy days
Tony

burgess720 wrote:

Hi all,

bedblock which site did you find the great photo, I would like to print off a copy? Also the prevous through the main gate and a look at the cookhouse now?

The cookhouse brings back a few memories:
Saturday tea was almost always cheese on toast and kippers; not many takers for kippers so I always had 2 or 3.
Sunday breakfast; a couple of us would get a chit from the padre's orderly to say we had been to early church and so have a late breakfast, a good feed, then make up a couple of bacon butties put under your shirt and walk back over the parade ground and back to bed with our lunch. Mid afternoon was time to get up and go down town for the evening. I dont remember ever paying tram fare?
Happy days
Tony

The photo's of Roberts Barracks as it is now are recymech's own. Right click - save as (to wherever you wish) - then print them out. They might nor come out as good a quality though.

Paul.