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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Hampshire & Isle of Wight => Topic started by: bulsara on Thursday 10 August 06 20:55 BST (UK)
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Hi,
I am trying to find any information about the army camp in Hursley during the last world war..Please.
bulsara
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try google. EXAMPLES OF RESULTS
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/72/a4049372.shtml
http://daveg4otu.tripod.com/ah1900/hm.html (hursley park)
http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10003570&c_id=10001043
Pauline
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Thanks for the links but not really much info about the camp itself. ???
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If Google cannot come up with what you are looking for, it may well be that it is not available on the web and the older methods of research may have to be brought into play again. Try contacting the Hampshire Record Office - they may well have either photographs or some records.
Nell
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Hi Bulsara,
I realise this is "a little late" but are you still interested in "Camp Hursley" during WW2?
If so I may be able to help.
If you have managed to find what you were searching for I'd be interested to knwo what you've discovered.
All the best
Dave
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Hi Dave,
Yes I am still hoping for any info as my father was there and I am trying to find out more about him.
bulsara
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Hi Bulsara,
OK can you give me a little information about your father and his unit?
In 1943-44 much of southern England was used for what were sometimes called "Sausage camps", Camps designed to accommodate the troops assembling in Britain for the planned invasion of Europe, D-Day.
The estate of Hursley Park was an ideal location for 2 of these camps: C-12 and C-13 as the proximity to Southampton and the dense tree cover met many of the prime considerations. Just outside the estate in Ampfield and towards Romsey the roads were lined with troops.
The two camps at Hursley were used in 1944 by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division of the British Army (who landed on Gold Beach on D-Day) and consisted of a mixture of huts and tentage (a throw back to the tents of 1914 that had also filled the park). Some were in the north around Merdon Castle. Others to the west in what is called the Waterloo plantation
Unlike many other camps in the parks of Stately Houses in the area the troops did not occupy Hursley House, this had already been requisitioned by the Ministry for Aircraft production in 1940 and was where Spitfire design was carried out after the Woolston factory of Supermarine was bombed out.
Very little evidence remains of the camp today, a few building footings amongst the trees and a few names carved on the tree trunks. There are a few photographs and accounts of the camp that have survived, but for most Hursley was just a stopping point to refuel and prepare for loading at Southampton. After D-Day a steady stream of (primarily) US troops passed through the camp and on to Normandy.
I'd be interested to hear about your father's time there and which unit he was with etc.
I hope the above helps.
All the best
Dave
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Here is one record held at The National Archives....
WO 315/49/4 Move of Military Archives to Hursley Camp. Disbandment of Polish Military Archives and Museums. 1942-1945
It seems to be the only file that is even slightly relevant...
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Camp C-12 was the first US Camp handed back to the British after the War. The camps were then used for various purposes including a Polish resettlement camp (a satellite camp to Hiltingbury Camp), a temporary store for the Polish Military archives mentioned above and Bomb Disposal (with associated prisoner of War "Camp")
The camps' positions are marked on the D-Day map in the D-Day Museum in Southsea. One legacy they did leave was the road from Standon to Merdon which had been a simple track, but was turned into a metalled road "in a day" by the US Army.
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Thanks for all the info David.
My father was in the Devon Regiment and was also at Aldershot.I have no idea why he was at Hursley though.At some time during the war he was in North Africa,also in Malta and Italy.
bulsara
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I'm going to guess that if he was in the Devonshire Regiment he was in the 2nd Battalion. Does that make any sense?
The 2nd Btn Devonshire Rgt. along with 1st Btn Hampshires and 1st Btn Dorsets made up the 231st Brigade of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division (don't ask me why Hants, Dorset & Devon = Northumbria !!!!)
So him being stationed in Hursley would be entirely logical. The units moved around quite a bit but most of the 50th was around the Hursley to Romsey area in the lead-up to the landing on Gold Beach on D-Day. If you have his regimental details that would help confirm, or completely trash, the theory.
If you have any recollections or info on his time in Hursley (however small) I'd be very interested as I'm working on an update to the history of the estate.
Glad it was of some use.
Cheers
Dave
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Hi Dave,
On the only papers that I have seen it says 4 Devon hope that makes sense to you.It doesn't to me.
bulsara
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Hi both
I came across this post while googling Hursley in connection with DDay
145 (Berkshire Yeomanry) Field Regt RA ran three camps during the summer of 1944 C16 C17 and C18. The postal addresses of these was Hursley.
My paperwork is not with my so I cannot give the full address. Our regimental history states that they processed troops of the 50th Div with C18 having Durham Light Infantry and Seaforth Highlanders go through. Also C18 accommodated Americans & ATS either side of the camp. At night the our men used to mount a guard between the two and whack any American soldier with a pickhelve who was trying to sneak under the wire to the girls' billets
C17 although postally Hursley was located where the M27 services are now.
I will add some more when I have my papers to hand
Rgds
Andrew
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Hi Andrew,
Thanks for the information.
I have seen a map of the embarkation area with C16 & C17, slightly to the north of the M27, and C18, grouped with C19-C21, closer to Basset on the outskirts of Southampton. I'm curious why they were using Hursley as the postal address but I believe it was the Divisional HQ so that might explain things.
I'd be very interested to hear any other information you find.
Thanks again
Dave
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Hi Dave
The addresses for RHQ and each Bty from the war diary are as follows
145 (Berks Yeo) Fd. Regt R.A.
Camp 016
C/O GPO Hursley
Hants
395 (Berks Yeo) Fd. Bty R.A.
Camp 016
APO
England
396 (Berks Yeo) Fd. Bty R.A.
Camp 017
APO
England
509 (Berks Yeo) Fd. Bty R.A.
Camp 022
APO
England
So the camps are C16 C17 and C22 not C18 - my bad memory. Do you have a copy of the map you can post ?
Also I found this on the web
Nightingale Wood, Romsey (C16 & C17) WWII D-Day Marshalling Area Camps C16 & C17 (camp capacity 3,250 personnel & 465 vehicles)
Southampton Common (C18, C19, C20 & C21) WWII D-Day Marshalling Area Camp C18, C19, C20 & C21 (8,500 personnel & 1,000 vehicles).12th Hospital Train, 12th Medical Dispensary
Toothill (C22) WWII D-Day Marshalling Area Camp C22 (camp capacity 2,000 personnel & 285 vehicles)
http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/community/showthread.php?6828-Army-Camps-Barracks-Hampshire
I have two tapes with memories about the camps of which I will transcribe and will post them for you after my summer hols. (off tomorrow
Cheers
Andrew