This site is dedicated to Gunner Mark 'Scouse' Taylor 1967 - 1987. AKA 'Tally'

This site is dedicated to Gunner Mark 'Scouse' Taylor 1967 - 1987. AKA 'Tally'
HQ Battery, 12th Air Defence Regiment, RA. A Fellow 'Wreckin' Crew' Member. Rest easy mucker. Photo courtesy of 'Shacks', his room mate.

Tell us what you know?

Hi all,

I have set this Blog up in order that we can share our memories and photos of our time in Napier Barracks. Whichever cap badge you had at the time, you all have a story to tell.

From the late 1940's until 1995, many regiments have passed through the gates of Napier Bks., albeit mainly Royal Artillery regiments and their supporting units. However, other units were present as Occupational Forces, including squadrons from the RAF Regt. and the Royal Scots Fusiliers post 1945; followed by the Royal Engineers in 1950.

Was you a member of one of the many Luftwaffe Squadrons, or an ancestor of anyone and has a tale to tell? 'Richthofen Kaserne' as the airfield with a new runway was known then. Did you serve in the famous Sturmstaffel 1 that was formed here in 1943?

Which artillery regiment did you serve with or attached unit? Did you serve with the 26th US Army Missile Detachment near the gate's entrance when two artillery regiments had Corporal nuclear missiles; or did you serve in the NAAFI, YMCA or WRVS? Come on, tell us what you know and share those photos you have.

Contact me: njedwards368@aol.com


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Napier Barracks, Dortmund at Blogged

Sunday 30 December 2007

The Tunnels!

I was fascinated by your site. I was very interested in the history of the Dortmund barracks when I was there, but information was hard to come by. The Internet has opened up all sorts of sources.

I was particuarly interested in the mention of the famous tunnels. I was involved in investigating these. It was probably 1979? The people involved apart from myself were, as far as I can remember:

Sgt John Barnes - Barney
Lt (or Capt?) Bob Delaney (BK T Bty?)
2Lt Greg Butt, Tp Comd in T Bty.

We did much exploring on the surface, and some digging, but did not come up with any evidence to suggest a tunnel between West Riding/Moore Barracks and Napier. The most interesting finds were when we explored the bunker which lay opposite the guardroom, by the gate of West Riding Barracks.

It seems to have been an air defence control bunker. The interior had been completely burned out and the floor of the main rooms were buried in debris, which explains why such interesting relics could be found so long after the end of the war.
Although the interior was completely burned out we found evidence of a ground glass plotting map with grids and even red and blue traces on them which rubbed off - perhaps the last raid?

We found chest microphones which were standard issue for auxiliaries in these types of bunkers, and spot projectors which would be directed on the ground glass screen to show friendly and enemy aircraft to the fighter controllers.
The only evidence of a tunnel was found shortly after the IRA bomb wrecked 26 Regt's RA Officers' Mess, which lay outside the camp. In the basement we found a walled up passage, which was probaby opposite the bunker? We were not of course allowed to break down walls, but we thought this would allow staff to reach it without coming to the surface? This tunnel would have been only 20 metres long.
There was a report in the BAOR newspaper (Sixth Sense) about our activities, and we were invited to Cologne for an interview on BFBS radio which Barney and myself attended.

We invited the old comrades association of Flak Regiment 4 to the barracks, and we had a really interesting day finding out what had changed since the late 30s (in fact very little). They couldn't tell us anything about the bunker, because it was not there when they left for France in 1940.

I have been told a scarcely believable story about this bunker. A couple of prisoners named 'Boddy' and 'Sole', escaped from the guardroom at West Riding Barracks and were never seen again (!).

Regards,
Paul Mitchell
(12 Lt AD Regt. RA, T Battery 1976-81: Troop Comander, I Troop, Command Post Officer (CPO) & Battery Captain (BK) & 22 AD Regt. RA, 53 Battery
1981-84 as BK & 11 Battery BK very briefly)

Friday 30 November 2007

2007 Pre-demolition

BVB 09 Borussia Dortmund's Training pitches are clearly visible and work is beginning to start to clear the site for demolition.

Photo sourced from the internet

Thursday 4 October 2007

The Future Look


Supplied by Creedo from a local Dortmund newspaper

Sunday 2 September 2007

Napier Cinema

Just thought that I would remind you that there were two AKC cinemas. One in Napier run by a Mr Porter (-1959) followed by a Mr Marshall(1960-). The projectionist was a German fellow who had knocked out two Russian tanks single handed with a Panzerfaust -somewhere in Germany. He had been a member of the HY at some time.

The second one was in Camp 7, run by a Mr Ashton (-1959-), he had an Italian wife from Triest. The Projectionists here were all squaddies, taking it in turn to run the show. Only when they were on a manoeuvres was I called in (1959/60). Both Mr Porter and Mr Ashton were ex-army, both deciding to stay in Germany when they were demobbed.

Well I think that is all, it`s just that I couldn`t find the cinemas on the Camp list.

Cheerio for now
John O`Meara (ex-AKC. 1959-1965)

T Battery, 1969

T Battery outside the Gun Compound in 1969,
when they actually had Guns!
Photo sourced from 'Googie's' post on 12 Regimental's forum. Follow the associated links to access this forum.

Friday 17 August 2007

WW2 Aerial photo of Dortmund airfield

Click on image to enlarge and click on title for link to site with further photos (some are replicated from other sites)
Photo sourced from above site.

Thursday 16 August 2007

QE2 in Napier Barracks 23rd May 1984


Click on either of the images above to enlarge.

Programme kindly supplied by Peter Harrison (Ex 22 AD Regt. RA)

Tuesday 31 July 2007

Going, going........................................gone!





Finally the entrance to Napier Barracks is no more.
Photos courtesy of Creedo, these may well be the last taken? After all; what will be left to photograph of Napier Barracks?

Tuesday 17 July 2007

Sad, sad Napier!

Click on the title above for photos of Napier prior to its demolishment, courtesy of Peter Kronfeld

Tuesday 10 July 2007

Walls Come Tumbling Down





The start of things to come as the RHQ near the barrack's entrance is demolished. The former NAAFI has already succumbed to that fate. The barrack block is soon to follow.
Photos kindly supplied, with thanks by Creedo

Friday 20 April 2007

The sad state of Napier Barracks

Please click on the above title for photos of Napier, kindly supplied by Tobias Dziadzin. Be warned though, it's not the place we were accustomed to!

Wednesday 7 March 2007

G Troop, T (Shah Sujah's Troop) AD Bty.

G Troop, T (Shah Sujah's Troop) AD Bty., 12 AD Regt. RA pose for the camera in Napier's Gym, prior to a tour of Omagh, Northern Ireland - OP FONDANT 1988.

Photo courtesy of Colin 'Smudge' Smith (Ex T Bty.). Cheers Smudge.

Thursday 8 February 2007

23 Field Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers



2nd Infantry Division Insignia.

23 Field Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers of the above Division, moved into Napier Barracks from Hameln in July 1950 until May 1958, when they disbanded with the re-organisation of BAOR.

ORBAT:

2 Field Sqaudron

5 Field Sqaudron


14 Field Survey Sqaudron (Joined Oct. '53 and possibly indenpedant from the regt., but under local command?)
21 Field Park Squadron (Went independant in 1954, but under local command of regt.)

38 Field Squadron (2 Oct. '57, run down to a Cadre and went to Berlin. Insignia, white 38 on a red triangle)

The Napier Cinema (photo taken in 2007) was built by 23 Fd. Engr. Regt. RE within the far end of the barracks, opposite what later became the 'Rapier Club', NAAFI shop.

This information was sourced from the Royal Engineers Museum website/unit history section, but was initiated by former Sapper Peter Bridge, (ex 23 Fd. Engr. Regt., RE) who served in Napier Barracks doing his National Service from 1951 - 1953.

Monday 5 February 2007

12 (Minden) Bty. on Minden Day


12 (Minden) AD Bty./ 12 AD Regt. RA on their regimental parade square for Minden Day,
c. 1986/7.
Photo courtesy of Taff Morgan.

Wednesday 31 January 2007

Sturmstaffel 1 Artwork

Fw 190 A6 'White 7' Flown by Maj. Erwin Bacsila, Jan.'44.
As shown in the artwork further down.





Artwork from the internet

Tuesday 30 January 2007

Flughafen Dortmund

Postcards of Dortmund-Brackel, Dortmund's first Airport (Flughafen), possibly 1926/7?


The airport's terminal in 1927.




Possibly the opening of the airport?


These buildings were situated on the Flughafenstrasse leading up to where the Industrial Estate is now, near RAGTE. They were demolished around the late 1950's or 60's; possibly to make way for the estate?

Postcards courtesy of Creedo.

Saturday 27 January 2007

12 Regiment RA November 1994

Regimental line-up and flanked by their colours: HVM 'Starstreak'.

Photo courtesy of Creedo

Wehrmacht/Luftwaffe ranges and bunkers





Different views of the two different length ranges and bunkers used by the Wehrmacht/Luftwaffe.

Photos taken by John in NZ whilst with 47 GW Regt. in 1959

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