Austria

The "Austria" page on the main site has been updated a bit. Still a lot of information to find though.

Paul.

Paul,
I lived in Austria as a "brat", Vienna, Klagenfurt and Graz, from 1952 to 1955. Don't remember a lot about units but I can locate 2 barracks on Google Earth/Virtual Earth, one in Klagenfurt and the other in Vienna, if it's any help. I also did a small piece for the TACA (The Army Children Archive) at http://www.archhistory.co.uk/taca/postings.html about my time in Austria.

John L

JAL wrote:

Paul,
I lived in Austria as a "brat", Vienna, Klagenfurt and Graz, from 1952 to 1955. Don't remember a lot about units but I can locate 2 barracks on Google Earth/Virtual Earth, one in Klagenfurt and the other in Vienna, if it's any help. I also did a small piece for the TACA (The Army Children Archive) at http://www.archhistory.co.uk/taca/postings.html about my time in Austria.

John L

Many thanks John, I will take a look at your entry in TACA. The locations of the Barracks will also be of help. It will all add to the page and hopefully keep the memories alive that little bit longer.

May I link to it on the "Austria" page please?

Paul.

No problem in linking the TACA entry to the Austria page Paul.

I'll post the Google Earth links as soon as I can work out how to do it!!

John

JAL wrote:

No problem in linking the TACA entry to the Austria page Paul.

I'll post the Google Earth links as soon as I can work out how to do it!!

John

Thanks for that John. As I have said before, I am one of these strange bodies who likes to ask first. I will link it shortly.

Running up 432 engine packs during "pack-out" servicing must have addled my brain (it certainly addled my hearing).

Paul

My father in law went to Austria in 1945 when the 1st Btn Royal Gloucesteshire Hussars was posted there. They travelled by sea to Taranto then by train to Graz and took over the equipment from 10th Royal Hussars who were leaving. The regiment was spead around Leoben, Judenberg, Knittlefeld, & Graz. Initially, around Christmas 1945, he was billeted at Schloss Eggenberg in Graz. The Russians had got there first at the end of the war and had taken most things worth having. Activities, apart from normal training routine, included felling timber to be sent to Vienna for fuel, keeping watch for ex Wehrmacht personnel and displaced persons plus liaising with the Russians, their sector border was closeby, on law and order matters. He had a marvellious time, being part of the conquering army, sking and watersports abounded. He was demobbed in Aug 1946 and travelled on the military train from Villach to Calais.

brian beckett wrote:

My father in law went to Austria in 1945 when the 1st Btn Royal Gloucesteshire Hussars was posted there.........

Have you seen this Brian? http://www.glosters.org.uk/textonly_timeline/6

Scroll down until you reach 1946 - The Badminton Blue Danube.

Paul.

The formal parade took place with 2nd Battalion paraded at full strength and their Colours carried by Captains M.C. Dennison and T.S.W. Reeve-Tucker

Captain Reeve-Tucker was,Lt.Col. T.S.W. Reeve-Tucker CO of 1R.Hamps when I joined them in Munster in '64.

JAL wrote:

No problem in linking the TACA entry to the Austria page Paul.

I'll post the Google Earth links as soon as I can work out how to do it!!

John

John,

The link is now on the "Austria" page.

Paul.

Paul,
Haven't sussed out how to post Virtual Earth links so I've emailed the collection to "webmaster". You should be able to open it in Virtual Earth or Live Search as I think its now called.

John

JAL wrote:

Paul,
Haven't sussed out how to post Virtual Earth links so I've emailed the collection to "webmaster". You should be able to open it in Virtual Earth or Live Search as I think its now called.

John

Can you re-send them to me please, the webmaster is off-line at the moment. I will do my best to get them up and running for you. A PM with an address follows shortly.

Paul.

Does anyone have details of the units of the Army of Occupation in the British zone of Austria from 1945?

I am trying to help a friend whose father married in Graz in 1947 in a British Army Church/Chapel in Graz.

I am specifically interested in R.A.O.C. units, probably of 8th Army, as the subject was in N.Africa and then drove the length of Italy via Cassino and Rome to end up in Graz 1945-1947.

Have you looked here Steve
http://baor-locations.co.uk/Austria.aspx

Thanks Gordon.

Yes, I know that site, due to my links with 12 Wireless and its successors, but have not been able to get down into the details of the minor or second line units (nothing new there then). I have found references to many units and corps but even the R.A.O.C. history does not show the elements in Austria. I have it from the horse's mouth that he was definitely in Graz from 45 and stayed there to 47 before going back to UK. His wife and young child followed some years later!

We are now following up his service record and medals through the usual channels and hope that may prove useful for his units, providing his records survive.

Thanks for your prompt response.

Hi Steve
Have you found this http://www.milhist.net/betfor/

Hi Steve,

No. That is a new one on me. I'll go there immediately.

Many thanks