Afternoon all, I was looking at a large National Trust property the other day and saw some references to the place being used by a 'Canadian armoured division' during the war. Does anyone know which division this might be and what the Park was used for? It is said that the Park was pretty much trashed during the war and I suspect it may have been used for vehicle servicing, rather like Donnington Park, leaving lots of sump oil and lead-based paint in unmarked and unrecorded pits...lovely..... Any help gratefully received! CS National Trust | Sheffield Park Garden
Hi we used to play at sheffield park as kids this would have been around about 1973-4, when the lakes were dredged found loads of relics... from what we found out by exploring ..foundation slabs for nissen huts naafi cups and plates tin helmets button sticks 303 ammunition live ,fired and blank also 9mm,45,38,50 cal.wooden practice mine [solid wood with metal plate] etc. as for the history ...earliest we know is on victorian ord.survey maps [the first ones ever] it is shown as barracks. to back this up as kids playing we discovered a stone marker comemorating the spot where a sargent was killed in 18 something [as far as i know it's still there] as to ww2 history a short walk from there is a pillbox which had names and addresses of canadian soldiers written on the walls presumably stationed there .between there and the car park there is a copse of trees on one of these there was a hand carved canadian cap badge carved into one of the trees about three feet round it was a maple leaf with a scroll around it i visited this copse a few years ago only to discover the 87 storm had got it and the trees taken away. hope this helps runrabbit
There was definitely one Canadian Unit at Sheffield Park between 30 November 1941 and 1 May 1942. It was Le Regiment de la Chaudiere. Their war diary confirms it. 3rd Canadian Division. This archaelogy report states that 6000 troops passed through the park in several camps between 1942 & 1945. One of the structures is the remains of a sewage works built during WW2. It even has a map showing the location of the remains. http://archaeologyse.co.uk/ReportLibrary/2008/2008125-3510-WWII-Structures-Sheffield-Park-East-Sussex.pdf
I believe the Canadian Army also built what is now the Scout Hut in Balcombe, about 5 miles away, and there was a Canadian Army presence in Balcombe House.
Hi Tim, I'm the Estate Warden at Sheffield Park and I'm really interested in putting together history of the WW2 activities. Is there any possibility of you sending me copies of the pics you have? You can email me at kevan.gibbons@nationaltrust.org.uk if you would like. It would be really nice to 'chat' some more. Same goes for anyone else with relevant info. Cheers Kev
Hi Tim Great to know you have images of Sheffield park at that time. Is it still the case you have these images... like Kevan has said above it would be great to see them. Kind Regards Bev
Tim is there any chance of you emailing me some photos. My mother has dementia and it would be good to show her some photos of then. My email address is lynn.lecras@sky.com
Lynn: Kevan left his email address, so you can contact him directly that way. If you don't get a response, then he may have moved elsewhere. In that event, try contacting Sheffield park directly sheffieldpark@nationaltrust.org.uk Sorry about your mother, it's a wicked affliction that leaves just the shell, so anything to get her memory kickstarted is good. Have you thought about your local History Group, they may be interested in teasing out her memories and recording them, sometimes with others she knows who can add bits here and there. If it's not too difficult you might be able to arrange a visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheffield_Park_Garden A reasonable selection of photos of the grounds here http://www.urban75.org/blog/a-stroll-around-capability-browns-sheffield-park-and-garden-east-sussex/
