Hi, As part of my research into the role of Hursley Park during WW2 I am trying to identify and collect information on the Marshalling ("Sausage") Camps in Hursley Park (located between Winchester and Southampton in Hampshire). I believe there were 2 Camps within the Park and I have the following National Archives references: WO 199/2286 WO 199/2287 WO 199/2040 but wondered if anyone can give me advice on the content of these and how best to approach researching them as it'll require a trip to Kew and I'd rather be prepared as I've not been before. What would be great would be some site maps as there are still remains and some archaeological resistivity surveying has been done on one part, and there may be a chance for more. I have also managed to gather a few references to British, Canadian and US units that passed through, but wondered if there is a more effective way of knowing which units were stationed there, and when than the it and miss approach I've adopted so far. If I can identify the units then I guess I'll have more of a chance of identifying personal accounts and/or photographs. There are tantalizing glimpses but I'd love to know more. For example when some of the Supermarine workers (the HQ, design and experimental departments had been 'dispersed' there in late 1940) visited the huts after the war, and before they were demolished, they remarked on the Paintings on the walls done by some of the GIs ... would be great to know what they were and who did them etc. All that's left now are some concrete and brick footings and a few names carved in the trees. Any help so I can piece together the story would be very much appreciated. Cheers Dave
Site: Peoples War - Ralph Martin. Mr martin writes, he was with the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire regt at Bournemouth posted to the Hertfordshire regt, April/May 1944 to tented accommodation at Hursley.
Soldiers Stories, Colonel Robert P. Tabb: (Part1) 237th/49th and 238th Combat Engineer battalions arrived Liverpool 20 Jan. By train to a prepared (?) camp at Hursley Park. Unit refresher Trg - 6 April we moved out of Hursley (Extracted from Soldiers stories)
Hursley a place I knew so well back in the early 1960s. A place so full of history, the ruins of Merdon castle- a husband and wife feud of 18 years! Buried somewhere in the churchyard - 'Tumbledown Dick' Richard Cromwell -the son of Cromwell who married Dorothy Major, after a few tribulations ended up as the lord of the manor dying aged 86!
Hello again Dave, I've just done a quick search on the web and found these. I think you might have already found a couple but hope the others are of assistance. http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?4439-Army-camp-locations-WW1-WW2 http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/archive/index.php/t-10437.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/68/a8992768.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/68/a8992768.shtml http://www.crossandcockade.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=330 http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=159340 Best, Steve.
'83rdinfdivdoc.org' - Documentation of the 83rd Thunderbird Div (Ohio) GOC Major General Macron. The 83rd were at Hursley.
From: '83rdinfdivdoc.org' - Journal of special troops (Band) Departed Hursley 2100hrs for Southampton arrived 2330hrs boarded LCI, 19 June 44. Departed Southampton LCI - 0700hrs arrived Omaha beach 2000hrs - to bivouac area Coordinates - 6591 France 1/50,000 Sheet 6E/6.
Thanks guys. Most of the Web references I already had ... but more than happy to check 2x rater than miss something. The link to the 83rd docs was really interesting, especially when I checked someof the other units ... one of the first things I found was the following: "... left Camp Amesbury, England 16 June 1944 and arrived at Guernsey Camp C - 13 16 June 1944; left Guernsey Camp C - 13 17 June 1944 and arrived at Southampton, England ... " What is interesting here is that "Guernsey Camp" clearly wasn't in Guernsey ... and C-13 is a marshaling camp code I've seen for Hursley. So, was this a codename or did the writer just mis-hear "Hursley" for "Guernsey" ... or write is very badly in the notes that the typed version came from ... or am I leaping to conclusions? Suggestions welcome Cheers Dave
Thanks guys. Most of the Web references I already had ... but more than happy to check 2x rather than miss something. Just re-read this and my apologies if it sounded a bit off-hand, it wasn't meant to be. I am really grateful for every reference that people come up with ... it's easy to miss these things amid the vaguaries of google (and my memory!). So thanks again. I hadn't seen the stuff on the 83rd Infantry before and had a good browse of it last night and picked out several references. That's exactly the sort of stuff (like the BBC bits) that I'm really interested in. So if there are other regimental histories .. Canadian, Polish etc. as well as British and American I'd be really interested, e.g. for the WW1 research I did Australian & South African archives proved quite fruitful ... but it's knowing the stuff is there and what sort of records may be useful is where I need the help! Also, I double checked Steve's list and it reminded me to follow up a thread I'd not done before ... 25th LAA Rgt ... which led me to 50th (Northumbrian) Division and then 8th Armoured Division ... both of whom had at last some units at Hursley. So, again, thanks for the help ... well worth it :smile:
Just re-read this and my apologies if it sounded a bit off-hand, it wasn't meant to be. I am really grateful for every reference that people come up with ... :smile: Hello Dave, Your message wasn't off hand, so don't worry. I made the statement in response to your User Introduction thread that the 50th (Northumbrian) Division was at Toothill, but in subsequent reading I notice that some of its specialist units were stationed elsewhere, albeit close by... Your enquiry regarding Hursley has certainly got me looking for the name! I'll let you know if and when I spot the name. Good luck with your search!! Best, Steve.
During the summer of 1940 there were Canadian troops stationed in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, some of whom had previously been at (or went on to) (?) Winchester. There was a small camp in the fields at Phoenix Green, another small one in the oak wood in Hartley Wintney, and a group of Officers at Elvetham Hall. Being only 9 y.o. and a girl, I didn't collect badges as the local boys did, but it is possible there are some badges still around in Hartley Wintney, which might give a clue to the identity of these groups. Edna
