Hi Cee Assume these photos were taken early on in the life of the Depot maybe 1941 or 42 to record what was taking place. The instructors and 'trapezers' are wearing the early step in smock. You can see all the different regiment cap badges. Had a good conversation with two old guys who remember the soldiers in Holmewood nearby. Ivor said there would be around 200 from the camp who drank in 'The Pig' where there were 'friendly fights' then they used to go to the Chippy. Ivor and his friends used to sit with the soldiers in the back. The soldiers were very friendly but you had to keep an eye on your ducks and chickens! Every Saturday they were taken down to the cinema in the Camp for free. He and Roy said they wondered down to the Camp often. They used to collect spent shells from the firing range and even hand grenade cases. Ivor told me when a German bomber jettisoned its bombs close by he brought back a piece of shrapnel so big he needed a wheelbarrow. Just wonderful listening to them.
Glen, In the rope photo there appears to be piping beyond the flat roofed building in what could be the small area near your building B. Perhaps there actually was a shorter line of swings there as well? Regards ...
Hi Maybe the two frames, Trapeze and Trainasium, were on the X's I put on the photo earlier. I've got another photo of PT and Drag Training, again taken at another angle. You can see part of the waste tip behind the right parachute of Holmewood or Hardwick Colliery. Called Hardwick as it was opened by the Hardwick Coal Company on the Duke of Devonshire's land. Now this has nothing to do with the Airborne Depot but happened during 1942. This is an original poster that can be seen in Holmewood Library. I suppose with the threat of German invasion reduced the Home Guard still needed to show the public what they were capable of. Ivor Turner told me he was there and not many people actually paid the 6d entrance fee!
I have found this image of the Hardwick Hall camp. It was probably taken in 1946 when the camp was occupied by members of the Polish Resettlement Corps. I don't think that there are many views of the camp at this time.
Hi Glen. I have today posted on the forum an image of the camp that I have discovered in the family papers. Carl
Hi Carl, That's a real gem since there are no photos I know of showing that side of the camp. I'll let Glen know. Regards ...
Hi Carl OMG!!! Can't thank you enough for this photo. It's a view of the Camp I've been wanting to see for over 2 1/2 years. I've read mentions of Nissan huts but now I know the huts were brick built because of Roy Elliott and others who actually saw the Camp. Roy actually worked for a company called Richards who were amongst others who knocked it down. The photo confirms this. I'll check but just looking at sloping road I have an idea of its location. I'm sure the main road to the Hall is at the top of the slope. As Cee has mentioned to me, it'll be even better of you could please post a scan of the photo, Carl. Glen
Yes it is marvellous photo, a rarity for sure. I looked into the location and marked it (hopefully correctly) with angles in attached aerial. The parade grounds can be seen to the top left of Carl's photo. Regards ...
Hi Cee Beat me to it! That's just where I would locate it. Probably stood on a building and most of those trees are still there. There are more photos out there in family collections to be discovered!
Glad to have been able to help. Sorry it took so long to find this picture. It was with some other papers in a box of family archives. I will get a proper scan and post it but the original photo is very small so there will not be a lot more detail. A friend recently showed me a copy of a photograph from her friend that shows several Polish soldiers standing outside some brick buildings which I now think are the Hardwick huts. I will try to get my friend's friend's name!
Hi Carl I'm sure you know of POLISH RESETTLEMENT CAMPS IN THE UK 1946. I have been in touch with Zosia who runs it and sent her articles from the Derbyshire Times about Hardwick Camp. The only information she had was a couple of articles in Polish. You could email your photos to her so she could put them on her site or I could do it with your permission. It might jog a few memories of people who were there. I volunteer at Stainsby Mill which used to serve the Hardwick Estate and last Sunday I showed a young Polish couple round and had to mention the Camp which they knew nothing about. The National Trust are definitely missing out of an opportunity to attract visitors with so many Polish and other eastern Europeans working in the area and the country.
This is a picture of Polish soldiers (including a female soldier) at Hardwick Camp in c1946. It was given to me by a friend who was given it by someone she met but I do not have contact details for the source.
Carl, Thanks for the better quality scan and the group shot of the Polish soldiers. Hopefully more information will come out on who they are. In your photo there are at least 5 taller structures of similar build along the top that came out clearer. Not sure of their purpose at the moment? Regards ...
3651088 Corporal Charles McCOY 13th Battalion Parachute Regiment A.A.C. Wounded in action in Normandy, died as result of a fall on 13th December 1944 Casualty Nottingham Journal 16th December 1944 Nottingham Journal 19th December 1944
I posted the picture of the camp on the Facebook Old Chesterfield pics group and it has attracted a lot of interest. One person says he is researching the camp for the National Trust.
Cpl McCoy looks to have been a South Lancs Reg draftee, the 13th (South Lancs) was formed from a contingent of men from the Regt. Whilst not related to Hardwick Hall, there was a Polish Resettlement Home at Bovey Tracey, Devon (at entrance to Trago Mills), which only closed about 10 years ago! Its been mainly redeveloped as a traveller site, but the back of the site still has the old buildings, now overgrown.
Hi Carl Thanks for posting the photo on the Old Chesterfield Pics Facebook page. It's certainly jogged some memories and kicked off conversation. I'm sure the guy researching the Camp has been on this thread and is 'using' all my hard work!! I'll be having words with him! Glen
Hi A couple of interesting articles from the Derbyshire Times which mirrors the views of some locals in these times! This tells us that the Camp's future had been decided. The last article I could find about the Camp, Love the reporting.