© British Army in Hameln.com / Arnd Wöbbeking
© www.british-army-in-hameln.com / Arnd Wöbbeking
🇬🇧 1949-1951 🇬🇧
21 Field Engineer Regiment
4th Field Squadron RE
The war had been over for four years, and the occupying forces of the time were spread across all of Germany. Hameln was located in the British occupation zone, so it was no surprise that many troops from the United Kingdom were stationed in and around our town. Two former Wehrmacht barracks were available in Hameln, and in 1949, the 4th Field Squadron of the Royal Engineers was relocated here. The squadron belonged to the 21st Field Engineer Regiment and was housed in the Gordon Barracks.
Based on my experience, I knew that photographs of this squadron probably existed—but I didn’t dare to hope I would actually get my hands on any. To my surprise, things turned out differently: a friend was keeping his eyes and ears open and found some photos for me in an auction house in England. These came from an officer of the squadron. I managed to purchase a few of these rare and very old photos for my website, and I’m pleased to be able to present them here.
The images show the squadron in the field, building a Bailey bridge over a rather deep ditch, somewhere close to Hameln, so they are marked on the backside. It was backbreaking work to position the heavy bridge parts correctly, but even today, this type of bridge is still used around the world.
🇩🇪 1949-1951 🇩🇪
21 Field Engineer Regiment
4th Field Squadron RE
Der Krieg war seit vier Jahren vorbei, und die damaligen Besatzungsmächte hatten ganz Deutschland unter sich aufgeteilt. Hameln befand sich in der Britischen Besatzungszone, weshalb viele Truppen des Vereinigten Königreichs in unserer Stadt und der näheren Umgebung stationiert waren. Zwei ehemalige Wehrmachtskasernen standen in Hameln zur Verfügung, und so wurde 1949 die 4th Field Squadron der Royal Engineers hierher verlegt. Die Einheit gehörte zum 21 Field Engineer Regiment und war in den Gordon Barracks untergebracht.
Aufgrund meiner Erfahrung wusste ich, dass von dieser Squadron sicherlich Bilder existieren müssten – doch zu hoffen, tatsächlich welche zu bekommen, wagte ich nicht. Überraschenderweise war es anders: Ein Freund hielt Augen und Ohren offen und entdeckte für mich einige Fotos in einem englischen Auktionshaus. Diese stammten von einem Offizier der Squadron. Es gelang mir, einige dieser seltenen und sehr alten Aufnahmen für meine Webseite zu ersteigern, und ich freue mich, sie hier zeigen zu können.
Die Bilder dokumentieren die Squadron bei der Feldarbeit und beim Bau einer Bailey-Brücke über einen tiefen Graben irgendwo in der Nähe von Hameln, so sind sie beschriftet. Es war Knochenarbeit, die schweren Brückenteile in die richtige Position zu bringen, doch diese Brücken werden auch heute noch weltweit eingesetzt.
Bridge inspection
Bridge ready
Men in the field
Men of the 4 Field Squadron relaxing in Holzminden
Last updated: Oktober 31, 2024 at 17:35 pm
2 Kommentare
Hello, my Grandfather, Philip Butler, served in the Royal Engineers, (21st Field Regiment) in Germany, and many other countries. He joined as a boy soldier in 1938, aged just 15. He would have no doubt, know Yakker Yates. He was based in Osnabruck and many other barracks with The British Army on the RHINE. He left the Army in 1963, and met his wife, my Grandmother Maria Gebhardt, from Hannover in 1950. I believe they met at an Army social dance, near Hamlyn, where my Mother Rita was born in 1951. My Aunt Anita was also born in Germany at a military hospital in 1952.
I have his Army service book, which shows the various places he served throughout his 25 year career. He received his Warrant on the 9th of May 1958, aged 35.
Sadly, he passed away September 18th 1982, aged only 59. I always think about him, hes still very much missed.
Thank you for your comment here. So sad to read, your Grandfather died so young.
And is is very interesting to read you family story about Hameln area. Thanks again!
Best wishes Arnd