BAOR Units 1947 to 1994 then Germany until now

Calling all 'Sappers and Miners' please have a look at my new blog http://royalengineersbaor.blogspot.com/
I have collected the information from various sources and history can vary depending on who wrote it down and being only human sure to have made mistakes so hope you can help to correct and update please send a private message if you do not want to post a reply
Cheers
Steve

Great blog Steve!
My late brother did his NS with RE's in Korea circa 1954-5.
I still have his diary in which he mentions 12 squadron-January 1955 and mentions Capt.Dufton,Sgts.Wright & Reynolds Cpl. Manning;Carter;Chaplin & Catson. His pay that week went up to a dizzy £1.10 shillings and in March to £2. per week!!!!
In June he mentions leave in Kure, Japan.
In November 1955, he writes about going home for demob on the Empie Orwell arriving Southampton 1700hrs 21st December. Then on to Barton Stacey (which the squaddies called Barton Stalag), and home for Christmas leave!

Hi Redcap and all,

Barton Stacy was the demob camp for almost all RE's during that period.

When Korea started [1951?] we lost 2 or 3 from our unit in Germany; and I met up with one in Barton Stacy again on demob.
They had a hard time, compared to us, poor kit etc;; but did get some leave in Japan.

Cheers
Tony

Thanks Redcap and Tony
Info on 12 Fd Sqn and Korea source…the history of the Corps of Royal Engineers vol X 1948-1960
North Korea attacked 25 Jun 50 the British went in Aug 50 and 1 Commonwealth Div was formed 28 Jul 51 the RE element was 28 Fd Engr Regt including 12 Fd Sqn who supported 28 Commonwealth Inf Bde they had a rough time and on 2 Apr 52 a tragic accident when 5 sappers from 3 Tp were killed and 2 wounded when a truck exploded...the truce came 27 Jun 53 the Commonwealth Div disbanded Nov 54 and 28 Fd Engr Regt remained until Mar 55 returned to UK leaving 55 Fd Sqn until May 56 the last British unit left Korea in 1957
Cheers
Steve

I was in the army, RASC, attached to the RAF at Bruggen 1958/59. There were a couple of RE guys there running the base post office. But whereas we were accommodated with and were part of the RAF establishment they, the poor bastards, were accommodated with a large Royal Signals contingent, that included it's own CSM, for parades and discipline.

I first came across my first Signals unit in Aden.

I have never come across a load of bulshit in my army career. The Signals guys were usually wearing 'best boots' to go to work in.

Quote :

wearing 'best boots' to go to work in.

Those wern`t "best boots".The were highly bulled working boots.Probably second best working boots as best working boots were used as best boots..The Best Boots were for show purposes only and never worn..(tic)

Royal Signals....Bullshitters?????Come now

My Buddy, his Dad and his brother were all Grenadiers. When I first met him and his brother at an ex Servicemen's Club here in Canada they naturally asked me what 'mob' I was in ... Royal Signals, I replied .. You poor bastard, I've never seen bullshit like that bunch ... thing is we just took it in our stride ... apart from bulled boots, the title Royal Signals, 'stripes' and in my case the 6 Armd Div flash all had the white portions highlighted with white ink .. took bloody hours before a real BS parade.

Len (Ciphers)

Here's a photo of my mate Stan Underwood under inspection by Brigadier Ferguson on Birdwood Barracks, Bunde's first Admin Parade after it opened in 1952, look at the ton of white ink used on the R Sigs title, his tapes and 6 Div flash ... ahh! those were the days ..

Len (Ciphers)

That picture brought back horrible memories..Although i only wore BD for a few months i was well aquainted with the white stuff

Even the MT Troop was not spared .. look at the whitewash on the REME Orderly Sgts tapes, also note the Black Armband on the Troop Officer, we were still in Official Mourning for King George VI .. also Tara Jimmy Derwent and SQMS Robbins were not excused the inkpot .. note the way the Camp Lines looked, all brand new and shiny, just like its inhabitants.

Len (Ciphers)

Signals = 'Scalybacks!"

Be Nice .....

Len (Ciphers)

i still remember B D ,they must have gone through some razors to get them trousers smooth,dave.

Does anyone have any information on 1 Postal and Courier Regiment? trying to find if and where they served in BAOR.

Paul.

Paul

I was OC 63 Station Wksp in Langenhagen Barracks, Hannover during the period 1988 - 1991 and 1 PC Regt was co-located with us. They had been there for a considerable time and only moved/disbanded? as part of "options for change" and the restructuring of BFG.

BobG wrote:

Paul

I was OC 63 Station Wksp in Langenhagen Barracks, Hannover during the period 1988 - 1991 and 1 PC Regt was co-located with us. They had been there for a considerable time and only moved/disbanded? as part of "options for change" and the restructuring of BFG.

Thanks BobG,

That gives me something to work on. I also found that they have a website, so left a message on the guestbook.

Paul.

I have photgraphs of 34 Field Squadron 1953 - Roberts Barracks Osnabruck BAOR 10,
408 Training Party A Sqn Gibraltar Barracks Aldershot 1951, Driver training school 1951 Gibraltar Barracks ? Spr 'Tiny' Hartnett nr Swimming pool Roberts Barracks. and 37th Engineer Regt
Bridge built in Holland 'Queen Julianna Bridge' Summer 1954.

ex Sapper A troop 34 field Sqn

If you want to send any photos to any of the editors they would be very grateful to receive them. We are all determined to keep records, verbal and photographic, of BAOR in all of its glory (or otherwise!). We can never have too many photos. If you could label them, briefly, so that we know what and where we are looking that would be brilliant. We will, of course, acknowledge their source. Just send them in a PM to any editor. Thanks

I've got stuff I want to send in, Chris but don't know who to send it to.

Can you point me in the right direction ?

Hi Brum. I come back and every bugger's a General - Sir!!! Please feel free to send me anything you want to - words, photos anything. chrisp@baor-locations.co.uk. Failing that anybody who comes up as orange when they have logged in. I would love to have anything you have. We do, of course, acknowledge all sources - or you can remain anonymous, but we prefer to put correct names on the main site rather than web names. It's up to you. Let me know

Thanks Chris.

Quote :

If you want to send any photos to any of the editors they would be very grateful to receive them. We are all determined to keep records, verbal and photographic, of BAOR in all of its glory (or otherwise!). We can never have too many photos. If you could label them, briefly, so that we know what and where we are looking that would be brilliant. We will, of course, acknowledge their source. Just send them in a PM to any editor. Thanks

Are pics posted in forum threads also viewed to determine whether they should be added to the main Site?

One would hope so.

Royce wrote:

I have photgraphs of 34 Field Squadron 1953 - Roberts Barracks Osnabruck BAOR 10,
408 Training Party A Sqn Gibraltar Barracks Aldershot 1951, Driver training school 1951 Gibraltar Barracks ? Spr 'Tiny' Hartnett nr Swimming pool Roberts Barracks. and 37th Engineer Regt
Bridge built in Holland 'Queen Julianna Bridge' Summer 1954.

ex Sapper A troop 34 field Sqn

Hi Sapper

I am very interested in any photos of Roberts Barracks what block was 34 in, I was in 40 sqn [block 12] from early 1951 to late 1952; also photos of Gibralter Barracks and 37 AER in Holland [might remember a few faces, was 40 sqn there also, but went to Cyprus in 1955

Cheers
Tony