Street fighting wing-London School of Tactics

patcam · 17-11-2006, 10:33 PM

Does anyone have any knowledge or memories of the above which took place in Battersea?My father,Major Alastair Keith Cameron,Coldstream Guards, was the Chief Instructor until his death in 1944.

von Poop · 17-11-2006, 10:49 PM

Sounds fascinating but seemingly unknown on Google (and certainly to me.)
Might be worth a PM to handtohand22, he still pops in according to his profile & I suspect this might be very much up his street(fight).
Good luck,
Adam

Paul Reed · 17-11-2006, 11:01 PM

I know it reputation, but wasn't aware of what it was called; many Normandy memoirs mention street fighting training in the Blitz shattered streets. Do you have any more details of it yourself?

Cpl Rootes · 17-11-2006, 11:59 PM

Didn't the Pegasus Bridge assualt force train there?

patcam · 18-11-2006, 07:41 AM

I have very little,except that according to his diary by 31st May 1944, 2482 officers and NCO's had been through the training.
There is a nice story about how this noisy activity was viewed by the local population in Battersea.An elderly woman came up to him one day and said"You know what we call you?Hitler is Public Enemy Number 1, and you are Number2!"

Kyt · 19-11-2006, 05:33 AM

As we don’t seem to have been able to help, I suggest you contact the Local History service for Battersea (Wandsworth Council). Any activity that would have involved armed men training in bombed out buildings would probably have involved some sort of co-ordination with the local authorities, and they may have had an army liaison officer. If so, then any paperwork, correspondence etc may still be in their archives. As a lot local authorities have become more interested in their war time experiences, some sort of research on this may have already been carried out. Otherwise, it may be worthwhile mentioning that you’re researching your father – just as extra leverage.

Anyone, if there are any documents this may lead to a paper-trail back to the information you require.

Goodluck with your research

I think the address would be:
Local History Service
Wandsworth Borough Council
The Town Hall
Wandsworth High Street
London SW18 2PU

patcam · 19-11-2006, 06:08 PM

Thank you so much Kyt-a good idea certainly worth trying.I will report back if I have any luck.

Paul Reed · 19-11-2006, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patcam

Does anyone have any knowledge or memories of the above which took place in Battersea?My father,Major Alastair Keith Cameron,Coldstream Guards, was the Chief Instructor until his death in 1944.

Incidentally, did your father die in Normandy? I cannot seem to find him listed in the CWGC database?

patcam · 20-11-2006, 09:00 PM

No,he died in a motor accident in England on the 15th July 1944.

Paul Reed · 20-11-2006, 10:26 PM

Oh I see - how tragic.

17-11-2006, 10:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
patcam Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 9	Street fighting wing-London School of Tactics Does anyone have any knowledge or memories of the above which took place in Battersea?My father,Major Alastair Keith Cameron,Coldstream Guards, was the Chief Instructor until his death in 1944.

17-11-2006, 11:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent/France Posts: 3,448	I know it reputation, but wasn't aware of what it was called; many Normandy memoirs mention street fighting training in the Blitz shattered streets. Do you have any more details of it yourself? __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

17-11-2006, 11:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cpl Rootes Very Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: With Puff the Magic Dragon, living by the sea Posts: 1,040	Didn't the Pegasus Bridge assualt force train there? __________________ Regards, Alex http://rootsie.wordpress.com/

19-11-2006, 05:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
Kyt Very Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,968	As we don’t seem to have been able to help, I suggest you contact the Local History service for Battersea (Wandsworth Council). Any activity that would have involved armed men training in bombed out buildings would probably have involved some sort of co-ordination with the local authorities, and they may have had an army liaison officer. If so, then any paperwork, correspondence etc may still be in their archives. As a lot local authorities have become more interested in their war time experiences, some sort of research on this may have already been carried out. Otherwise, it may be worthwhile mentioning that you’re researching your father – just as extra leverage. Anyone, if there are any documents this may lead to a paper-trail back to the information you require. Goodluck with your research I think the address would be: Local History Service Wandsworth Borough Council The Town Hall Wandsworth High Street London SW18 2PU __________________ _______________________________________ Squadron Leader Pujji - Audio Interviews (half way down the page)

20-11-2006, 10:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent/France Posts: 3,448	Oh I see - how tragic. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

17-11-2006, 10:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
von Poop I Like Tanks Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Perfidious Albion. Posts: 8,372	Sounds fascinating but seemingly unknown on Google (and certainly to me.) Might be worth a PM to handtohand22, he still pops in according to his profile & I suspect this might be very much up his street(fight). Good luck, Adam

18-11-2006, 07:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
patcam Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 9	I have very little,except that according to his diary by 31st May 1944, 2482 officers and NCO's had been through the training. There is a nice story about how this noisy activity was viewed by the local population in Battersea.An elderly woman came up to him one day and said"You know what we call you?Hitler is Public Enemy Number 1, and you are Number2!"

19-11-2006, 06:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
patcam Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 9	Thank you so much Kyt-a good idea certainly worth trying.I will report back if I have any luck.

20-11-2006, 09:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
patcam Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 9	No,he died in a motor accident in England on the 15th July 1944.

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