I am re-writing about the experiences of a member of the 1 RTR from 1939 to 1945. He has a memory of the Regiment being stationed overnight at West Ham Football Ground prior to D-Day. If this is true, can any one confirm it for me? A photo of the vehicles on the football ground would be even better! RogerB
Just a thought Roger - did he actually say West Ham’s ground or Upton Park as there is an Upton Park in Poole?
Not all stadia in West Ham were Upton Park there were also speedway and greyhound ones. If the war diary mentions which areas were used it may be possible to confirm it from these: Assembly & Transit Maps - Overlord
Marshalling Area camp T4, West Ham Greyhound/Speedway Stadium Camp T4 had a capacity of 2,000 men and 500 vehicles. West Ham Greyhound Stadium was demolished in the 1970’s, and the site was redeveloped as housing. Troops camped in Marshalling Area T (in the London region) in mid-1944 were part of the follow-up forces that landed on the British beaches in Normandy in the days after D-Day. Among the units camped in London before D-Day were troops from the 51st (Highland) Division, who began landing in Normandy on D+1 (7 June 1944). Units in Marshalling Area T embarked through ports in the Thames Estuary, such as Tilbury. From - Assembly & Transit Maps - Overlord TD From the WW2talk thread linked above View - The Sharpshooters 4CLY War Diary 8 May 1944 Moved by road to concentration area in Camp R5, ORWELL PARK SCHOOL, near IPSWICH. Residue remained at Thetford to rejoin us overseas later. B Echelon concentration area is in WEST HAM STADIUM.