Hi, Let me introduce myself, Dave from Hursley Park near Winchester in Hampshire. I am currently engaged in updating the history of Hursley Park and hope that those in this forum may be able to help me with, and be interested in, the research as regards the role Hursley played during WW2. As a bit of background, the House and the immediate grounds were requisitioned by Lord Beaverbrook in 1940 as part of the dispersal of the Supermarine works following the bombing of Southampton. It became the Admin & Design HQ for Supermarine throughout the war years, and after, and was where all of the latest designs for the Spitfire, amongst others, were made and prototypes built. The Park also became an assembly camp for D-Day with many American, Canadian and British regiments passing through. The detail of the Assembly camps is one of the areas I'd particularly like to know more about. I believe that 2 assembly camps C-13 & C-14 were within the estate but beyond that and a few references to those who were there I'm finding it hard going identifying the particular units and any more detailed information or pictures. So if anyone can help ... I'd be extremely grateful. I look forward to chatting with many of you in the future, and if anyone has any questions about Hursley, please feel free to ask and I'll do my best to find out for you. Cheers Dav
Hello Dave, Welcome to the forum. I'm sure someone will be along shortly with some info. Regards Peter
Dav, was Hursley Camp part of the park? I believe there is a WWI connection with a military hospital and RFC airfield? Just having a quick nose in the National Archives catalogue there is this file from WWII related to moving Polish records to Hursley Camp: Detecting your browser settings Or am I going off track with Hursley Camp references? Lee
Welcome to the forum Dav. The 50th (Northumbrian) Division were camped about 4 miles away at Toothill from the 7 April 1944, being sealed in on the 26 May 1944, before being moved down to the Southampton Docks on the 3 June 1944 in preparation for embarkation and later landing on Gold Beach on the 6 June 1944. I understand Toothill had been a US camp before this. So you can probably discount 50 Div from your search. Nothing on Hursley; sorry! Best, Steve.
Hi Lee Dav, was Hursley Camp part of the park? I believe there is a WWI connection with a military hospital and RFC airfield? Just having a quick nose in the National Archives catalogue there is this file from WWII related to moving Polish records to Hursley Camp: Detecting your browser settings Or am I going off track with Hursley Camp references? Lee Pretty much right on all counts. Hursley Park was briefly home to several regiments of the British Army between 1914 and 1917, including the entire 8th Division in 1914. It was also a British Military Hospital between 1915 and 1918 and an Officer's Hospital was in the House. However, it was not a RFC airfield, although it was home to no.2 Cadet wing RFC and the Wireless & observers School (soon renamed Artillery & infantry Cooperation School) betyween 1917 and 1918 (the flying was at Worthy Down to which the RFC moved in 1918). It was taken over by the American Expeditionary Force in 1918 as a Military Hospital which was redesignated Base Hospital no.204. The Americans also had several of their Aero Squadrons pass through Camp Standon which was adjacent to Hursley. As well as the "Sausage Camps" of WW2 after the war the polish archives were moved to Hursley, as you mention, and Southern Bomb Disposal was also based there for a time ... along with a small POW camp. I think there may have been some of the post Dunkirk soldiers posted here but I can't find out where to look to check that out. As to the Sausage camps, I know there are sonme details at the National Archives ... need to visit ... but if anyone knows of regiments (and in particular personal accounts ....) I'd love to hear from them. For example there was a major "pre-DDay party in the grounds for the senior officers. Some of the footings from the WW2 buildings survive under the trees and there are hints in the arieal recon photos ... but the more info the better. Cheers Dave
Welcome to the forum Dav. The 50th (Northumbrian) Division were camped about 4 miles away at Toothill from the 7 April 1944, being sealed in on the 26 May 1944, before being moved down to the Southampton Docks on the 3 June 1944 in preparation for embarkation and later landing on Gold Beach on the 6 June 1944. I understand Toothill had been a US camp before this. So you can probably discount 50 Div from your search. Nothing on Hursley; sorry! Best, Steve. Steve, Thanks, it does help and thanks for looking! Cheers Dave
Long time ago - early 1960s a few of us used to cycle up Port lane or Collins lane. Hursley -memory is not more specific. We found two areas of dug out chalk - mini quarries. There were many green pot marks, we soon discovered what they were, 9mm rounds, we would dig out a lump of chalk and extract the best catapult ammunition you could find!
Re: Hospital,Hursley, a couple of miles away. on the cross roads .Sarum Rd.Kilham Lane and Clarendon Way. Again early 1960s in what is now a wood line on Clarendon Way, there were three or four vacated wooden buildings with verandahs. My pal found a few postcard size photographs - WW1 soldiers. It was known as the 'Isolation Hospital'. This was sadly demolished probably 1960s, the area became SAS- Southern Agricultural Services.
