Luftwaffe POW Camp on Blackheath?

At Home Dad · 16-11-2008, 04:03 PM

Hallo all

I was told by my Gran about a cage POW camp on Blackheath/top part of Greenwich park hill and that it contained mainly Luftwaffe aircrew.

Was this true?

I always found it ironic, that they would place Airmen in an area which gets the best views of the attacks on East/South East London. Although I guess it was equally perturbing for the Germans in case their colleagues above opened the bomb doors a few seconds too early!

If this camp existed, was it ever bombed?

Kind regards

Verrieres · 16-11-2008, 04:45 PM

Hi,
Believe there was one at the Hallams,Blackheath not sure if this is the one you`re refering too but a full list of the camps names locations etc are available at;-
http://www.islandfarm.fsnet.co.uk/LI...W%20CAMPS1.htm

as it says on the text a lot of work has gone into compiling the data so please if any thing is used give them the credit as an excellent source.
Regards
Verrieres

Drew5233 · 16-11-2008, 04:50 PM

I lived and grew up just around the corner from Blackheath and have never heard of this before. There is a area of the heath near to the entrance to the park that got bombed during WW2 and the craters were still there when I left London around 96.

The only other bit I know about the area is it has and never will be built on due to the area being a mass grave from the plague hence its name.

von Poop · 16-11-2008, 04:57 PM

Very hesitant to comment as there are other far better qualified POW chaps here, and my Geography of that area is sketchy (couldn't fit anything on the Island farm lists), but could this be it? :

History of Chilworth Friary
" A prisoner of war camp was established at The Hallams, Blackheath during 1945-46 and many of the German prisoners attended the services at Chilworth."

River Wey & Navigations : Around Guildford, Surrey

Quote:

458 German POWs were consigned in September 1945 to satellite hostels under Merrow's responsibility. Locally 220 went to The Hallams (1) (GR: TQ038452) near Blackheath and a further 144 to huts in Shackleford near Godalming. In June 1946 Merrow Camp was cleared of Italians and filled with Germans who had been held in North America during the war. By this time The Hallams was holding over 400 prisoners.
(1) The Hallams is a Grade II listed country house built in Victorian style by the architect Norman Shaw in 1894. The house has 13 bedrooms and was valued in 2007 at £2,250,000.

There's also some mention of a 'PoW camp 1020' at Shooters Hill (in the area??) on the site of an old Z Battery - could that be it?
Greenwich Industrial History Society, Issue 45

Edit: Cross posted with above 2 posts.

Drew5233 · 16-11-2008, 05:05 PM

The Hallams Blackheath is in Surrey according to Google. If anthing it may be the Shooters Hill one as the road runs through Blackheath but it is a rather long road.

At Home Dad · 16-11-2008, 05:41 PM

Yes, 1020 Shooters Hill sounds the best bet.
Based at the Golf Club apparently. Haven't
been able to find out if it was for Luftwaffe.

Kind regards all

Drew5233 · 16-11-2008, 05:53 PM

Well I've never heard of it(You really do learn something new everyday), its around 4 miles from Blackheath

Founded in 1903 and now boasting an 18 hole course running across the valleys, the charming Shooters Hill Golf Club has a fascinating history.

Shooters Hill Golf Club - Clubhouse

Initially commandeered as an anti aircraft battery in 1940, its use towards the latter part of the war changed to a prisoner of war camp and HQ for the Home Guard.

Nowadays, with 100 acres of land all owned and maintained by the members, plus 10 handsome tennis courts alongside, it attracts players from both the local area and farther a field.

the_historian · 17-11-2008, 02:29 PM

Can't remember if I've posted this before, but here's a list of camps I put on Online-Archaeology a while ago-
UK POW Camps in WW2 by Gordon Wilkie > Online Archaeology > Online Archaeology - Articles
Bear in mind that all camps are listed under modern county names. There's a few new things need to be added when Steve gets the time though.

john conor · 03-06-2009, 07:20 AM

I dont know more about this but i will try to reply immediately

soren1941 · 09-06-2010, 11:32 AM

I understand the The Oval cricket ground was also used as a POW camp

16-11-2008, 04:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
At Home Dad Loyaute M'Oblige Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Leytonia, East London Posts: 395	Luftwaffe POW Camp on Blackheath? Hallo all I was told by my Gran about a cage POW camp on Blackheath/top part of Greenwich park hill and that it contained mainly Luftwaffe aircrew. Was this true? I always found it ironic, that they would place Airmen in an area which gets the best views of the attacks on East/South East London. Although I guess it was equally perturbing for the Germans in case their colleagues above opened the bomb doors a few seconds too early! If this camp existed, was it ever bombed? Kind regards

16-11-2008, 04:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
Drew5233 Very Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Leeds Posts: 13,417	I lived and grew up just around the corner from Blackheath and have never heard of this before. There is a area of the heath near to the entrance to the park that got bombed during WW2 and the craters were still there when I left London around 96. The only other bit I know about the area is it has and never will be built on due to the area being a mass grave from the plague hence its name. __________________ Combat Communicators of the British Army

16-11-2008, 05:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
Drew5233 Very Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Leeds Posts: 13,417	The Hallams Blackheath is in Surrey according to Google. If anthing it may be the Shooters Hill one as the road runs through Blackheath but it is a rather long road. __________________ Combat Communicators of the British Army

16-11-2008, 05:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
Drew5233 Very Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Leeds Posts: 13,417	Well I've never heard of it(You really do learn something new everyday), its around 4 miles from Blackheath Founded in 1903 and now boasting an 18 hole course running across the valleys, the charming Shooters Hill Golf Club has a fascinating history. Shooters Hill Golf Club - Clubhouse Initially commandeered as an anti aircraft battery in 1940, its use towards the latter part of the war changed to a prisoner of war camp and HQ for the Home Guard. Nowadays, with 100 acres of land all owned and maintained by the members, plus 10 handsome tennis courts alongside, it attracts players from both the local area and farther a field. __________________ Combat Communicators of the British Army Last edited by Drew5233; 16-11-2008 at 05:59 PM. Reason: Senior moment :)

17-11-2008, 02:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
the_historian Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Scotland Posts: 488	Can't remember if I've posted this before, but here's a list of camps I put on Online-Archaeology a while ago- UK POW Camps in WW2 by Gordon Wilkie > Online Archaeology > Online Archaeology - Articles Bear in mind that all camps are listed under modern county names. There's a few new things need to be added when Steve gets the time though. __________________ Regards, Gordon History Vault Bookshop http://www.UKBookworld.com/members/historyvault Fortress Scotland-http://photobucket.com/albums/y20/Historian/ Last edited by the_historian; 17-11-2008 at 02:35 PM.

16-11-2008, 04:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Verrieres Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Durham Posts: 948	Hi, Believe there was one at the Hallams,Blackheath not sure if this is the one you`re refering too but a full list of the camps names locations etc are available at;- http://www.islandfarm.fsnet.co.uk/LI...W%20CAMPS1.htm as it says on the text a lot of work has gone into compiling the data so please if any thing is used give them the credit as an excellent source. Regards Verrieres

16-11-2008, 05:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
At Home Dad Loyaute M'Oblige Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Leytonia, East London Posts: 395	Yes, 1020 Shooters Hill sounds the best bet. Based at the Golf Club apparently. Haven't been able to find out if it was for Luftwaffe. Kind regards all

03-06-2009, 07:20 AM	#9 (permalink)
john conor Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1	Hello I dont know more about this but i will try to reply immediately

09-06-2010, 11:32 AM	#10 (permalink)
soren1941 Living in Ypres Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Ypres Posts: 1,303	I understand the The Oval cricket ground was also used as a POW camp __________________ Sample 'Michael Wittmann' Passchendaele Prints ~ WW1 & WW2 themed prints http://passchendaeleprints.com/ I begin with the principle that all men are bores. Surely no one will prove himself so great a bore as to contradict me in this. Soren Kierkegaard

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