Aldershot Shelters

Discussion in 'REME/RAOC' started by Pete Ashby, Feb 24, 2016.

  1. Pete Ashby

    Pete Ashby Junior Member

    Does anyone have any photos or information about the tented canvas workshops used by mobile workshops during WW2 known as Aldershot Shelters that they could post please ?.

    Thanks
    Pete
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

  3. Pete Ashby

    Pete Ashby Junior Member

    Thanks TD that is just what I was looking for excellent photo of a shelter and some interesting kit around it as well many thanks.
    If any one else has any pictures or information please feel free to chip in.

    Pete
     
  4. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

  5. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Perhaps more questions than answers:

    The 'Mobile Workshop Shelter Type A Aldershot Pattern' had a 40' wide by 38' long footprint. Maximum height was 18'.

    A reference to a 30' span model suggests there were at least two different sizes. That might be what we're seeing in the photo on Missing Lynx (a Loyd Carrier is about 13' long).
     
  6. Pete Ashby

    Pete Ashby Junior Member

    Interesting Idler, where did the references come from ? I wondered if it was possible to join standard units together to form longer and or wider work space. According to my Father's recollections and confirmed by the unit war diary they were not used very often as they were a pain to erect and work in particularly in windy conditions.
    The workshop would wherever possible use existing structures in and around the locality, barns, farm yards, factory buildings ect in North Africa, Sicily and Southern Italy they tended to work out in the open under camouflage nets.
    Pete
     
  7. idler

    idler GeneralList

    A very good point: the REME staff history (from the red book series). It did mention that they were a pre-war design, slow to erect and quite heavy. Larger workshops later in the war used the 'Semi-Romney' - a Romney Hut frame with a canvas cover instead of wriggly tin.
     
  8. hutchie

    hutchie Dont tell him Pike!!

    I have come across them being mentioned but not by my grandfathers unit, they are mentioned in one of the reme manuals
     
  9. Pete Ashby

    Pete Ashby Junior Member

    I get the impression from 78/692 Inf Trp Wksp diaries that the shelters were not used very often, my Fathers comment being he dragged a 6 ton 4 wheel Dyson trailer packed with these shelters behind his Leyland workshop truck for the better part of 4 years and only used them a couple of times.

    Pete
     
  10. hutchie

    hutchie Dont tell him Pike!!

    Very true Pete, As you say most used buildings already there
     

Share This Page