The site of a Second World War prisoner of war camp at Wooler, known as Camp 105. This was a purpose-built, standard type camp. Common buildings and facilities at standard type camps included water towers, offices, officer's mess, a canteen, guard rooms, barrack huts, ablution blocks, cell blocks, a camp reception station (medical facility/hospital), a cookhouse, dining rooms, recreation rooms and living huts or tents. Wooler Camp held at first Italian and then later during the war German prisoners. It functioned as a work camp, where prisoners were sent to work as labourers in the local area. It could have been in use up until 1948. The camp has since been demolished and the site is now occupied by a school. Lat/Long: 55°32'43.32"N 2° 0'14.81"W Aerial photos, in the last 15 years, show signs of hut foundations (North of the school and to the East of the site). The view, below, shows the school reused the camp's entrance and road....
This camp was the scene of a Postwar Murder, by one Prisoner of War against another. On the 8th November, 1947, the body of Eugen Merganthaler was found bludgeoned to death and his face badly battered. Merganthaler had previously been reported missing and the police had been sent to question the 400 PoWs at the camp, when the body was found by Weetwood Bridge. Merganthaler was due for repatriation in December 1947. He is buried in Cannock Chase. Burial and death records, plus newspaper clippings, show Merganthaler. But the headstone is spelt Eugen Mergenthaler Karl Kneissler, aged 22, was convicted of the murder (though he always protested innocence) and sent to Lincoln jail. In 1948, Kneissler was sent back to Germany, to finish his sentence.
When did this camp open? I'm curious whether it occupied the site used by 161st Infantry Brigade in 1940. The grid reference might allow me to find out. Does anybody have a road name?
The latitude and longitude are listed above. It converts to NGR of NT 99838 27961 The road name is also listed in the title - Brewery Road. There was another PoW Camp, nearby, which allegedly shared the same number (Hetton House Camp, Chatton, Wooler, Northumberland - NGR: NU 041 296). The Brewery Road Camp opened, judging by the number, around 1942. A lot of PoW Camps took over existing establishments/locations.
Sorry, I was typing quickly. I meant to say, now that I have the grid reference it might allow me to find out. As to the road name--I was being blind. Appreciate the information.
Nice blended photo peter. Have you seen my own pics when i was there last month? I visted heton house 1st and met the guy thqt lives on the site of the camp who has bases etc in his garden. He also said that he was told that his house and or hut where he has is garage was the med centre. As to the school there are two entrance gates. As you look at the school your image is of the gates on the right hand side. Those on the left have lions on them. I have drone shots of the woods at hetton
Feel free to put a link to your website, Martin. I know visitors would like to see the photos. Perhaps you will share your photos of each site, as this part of the forum develops....? it will be good to compare then/now images.
Wooler Camp 1947 -1948 Came across this thread and site while I was scanning my Dad's picture collection in and doing a little research on the places he told me about ( He was sent to Wooler Camp to work after coming across from Europe as a Displaced Person in 1947. He was Latvian, aged 21 at the time. ) He had some pictures of the camp , some in and around the camp and of people he was there with before he left in 1948. I'll post the two camp pictures, I think they were 1948, and show the layout and 'sports area' at the time and may have been taken from the brewery tower I think I can see in Pete Woods posted montage at the start of the tread looking North west towards Westwood Avenue. The layout must have been as it was as a POW camp, I can't believe they would have changed it, but what do I know If is is of interest I can share the camp life pictures but though at the camp they were post its POW camp days.
Another picture of one of the Lions at the entrance that have been retained by the current school. - I wonder how many kids have sat like that on it since the school open. I think the car park at the front must have been used to park lorries to take the agricultural workers out to work. There was obviously a one way system in place as well. ed
