It's nice to be able to provide a piece of information for another member for a change - it's usually the other way round!
And I forgot to add, thanks for pointing me in the direction of this thread. I would have come across it eventually but your shortcut means I have a lot of really interesting background about Hardwick available to read right away.
Shona, It's a very big and diverse thread. This letter (PDF) by Major Reid may have a bit of relevant info? Hardwick Hall Regards ...
@ Cee Again, thanks so much for drawing my attention to these articles you linked to, really interesting reading. This Hardwick Hall thread is just packed full of material which gives me a real insight into what my father would have participated in as a trainee parachutist. I read the article on the same page posted by BruceLee230 in which Ron Hinman wrote about 'TheTunnels' - what a fascinating memoir! In the course of next week I intend to look at all the memorabilia, photos and links to film footage, its all really helpful in building a narrative around my father's service. Had I not discovered this WW2Talk site I would be nowhere near as well informed as I am now and I'm so grateful for that.
Hi, Here is a PDF study on the Demo Platoon. Fairly light weight, but could be of interest to some. Demo Platoon - Hardwick.pdf - Icedrive Note - PDF has been updated. Regards ...
This photo of 7 Para mortar platoon members is claimed to have been taken at Hardwick Hall in March of 1943. Mortar Platoon, HQ Coy, 7th (LI) Para Bn Hardwick Hall March 1943 | ParaData Regards ...
Hi Chuck Long time, no see, as they say. Sure I've mentioned before that there are no drystone walls on the Hardwick Estate. I think this photo was taken in the Peaks somewhere. Glen.
The Parachute Regiment Association Commemoration Service was on Saturday May 14th. Wonderful event and took place in the stable yard. The reason it was the stable yard is that the Memorial Stone has been moved there from the old carpark/orchard where it had been 'hidden' for many years and where the Service had been held. Now, all those visitors on Saturday morning could see and enquire about the Service and its purpose and all visitors can read what happened at Hardwick from 1941 to 1946. Could this be the start of Hardwick recognising the Camp and letting the public know? My cynical side says the Manager is leaving at the end of the year and can say she did that during her reign! Glen.
A few cast iron items I've found in the park where the camp was. Are they from the stoves in the huts? Any ideas?
I'm a Derbyshire girl and this doesn't look like a Peak District wall to me - at least not the White Peak. There's a copse in the background, for a start, and the stones are too even to be Carboniferous limestone....probably Jurassic limestone ....which brings us back to Hardwick... Vitellino Edited- stone wall in nearby village of Hardstoft
Vitellino, Very interesting observations. I suspect we don't know the full story on that picture. The young chap smack dab in the middle looks like William Hek who was killed D-Day morning when the Stirling he was on crashed on a Dives-sur-Mer hillside killing all on board including other members of the Mortar Platoon. More on the crash here which can be downloaded or previewed online: D-Day Crash at Dives-sur-Mer.pdf - Icedrive Regards ...
While it was going strong it was a fascinating thread as I learned a great deal about the Hardwick Airborne Depot thanks so much to Glen's on the ground investigations. Regards ...
A few weeks ago walking the park and these 'sink holes' have got bigger. Eroded by the cattle and geese when they fill with water. You can see the base to a leg of the trapeze. There is red sand which I assume was used to cushion any falls. Wires are revealed and a brown ceramic electrical insulator. I rescued it and after a clean up found a illegible manufacturer and the date 1941 when the camp began construction. Fascinating what the land is giving up.
HiCee ref walling looks like a Cotswold stonewall small flat stone with some larger ones to tie together .7para flew from Fairford that in the heart of the Cotswolds
Hi Brian, That's an interesting theory. There are at least 3 kids in that pic and they would be 80+ if still alive today. Regards ...
