Research: Regulated Area No2

Discussion in 'General' started by Tales from the Front, Mar 24, 2014.

  1. Hi everyone,

    I'm doing some research about the camps in South East England which troops involved in the Normandy Landings were locked down in during the run-up to D-Day.

    I'm interested in: where exactly the restricted zone was; if there were any major sites in the zone (I'm assuming Portsmouth and Southampton); how many troops or regiments were held in the area; what restrictions there were in the area eg, visitors couldn't enter the zones, residents couldn't carry cameras, troops couldn't leave their camps; etc. I gather some troops departed from London, so I'm assuming there must have been more than one zone or was it much larger than I've realised?

    I'm sure someone must have written about this subject already, but my searches have so far not returned very much. If anyone could point me towards any articles, or offer me any information I'd really appreciate it.

    Many thanks,

    Chris
     
  2. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

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  3. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    Not sure if the camps below were part of a regulated area


    The notes below from my Fathers Journals showing the running up to D Day in a confined Camp at Orwell Park in Suffolk.

    Below that is an excerpt from a letter from another member of 5 RHA replying to my Father.
    Again from a sealed camp this time in London.
    Hope this is of use..
    .

    On getting back more training and Bullshit, a couple of moves one to Chiltern Foliate near Hungerford and then to Orwell Park. (Ipswich Suffolk)
    So far nothing was said or hinted at, on what we were about. We water proofed our tank and were “genned” up. But you spoke about nothing of what you were to do.
    We were in a park surrounded by a brick wall, guarded around the outside and we were getting very restless and finally we got a weekend pass. Our Troop (Mercers), one of the two of G Battery 5 RHA was made up of Londoners, Geordies and Scots and had been together since I joined up in 1940.
    The Battery strength was about 72 strong .7 men on each tank or SP (Self Propelled Gun) A Troop 4 Guns B troop the same Plus HQ. Fitters, stores personnel and a Honey observation Tank.

    A weekend pass was not enough,
    (We had a good Knowledge of what we were about, but no talking)
    We knew, so I took additional days (AWOL) my mate Jock went to Scotland. And others took additional days, but we all returned to be grabbed by the Redcaps.
    We were marched in front of a new CO. Three at a time.
    “You will take my punishment;”
    “I order seven days field punishment.”
    I think that out of 72 some 40 went on the parade.
    It was May extremely hot, in full kit, Overcoat, valise, backpack, rifle, ammunition and kitbag with your personal gear. Rifle above your head. Right turn, left turn, double, about turn, and as one Sergeant got tired another took over, that went on from 5 AM.
    The following day the Redcaps that had “Brought us in “came and told the CO. That Field Punishment had been banned so we got Jankers. We could not go out anyway.

    Letter from Gunner Brewer

    You mentioned the “Concentration Camp “at Orwell Park,
    We were in a similar situation but first West Ham stadium ,then on a bomb site in Canning Town because we were sailing from London Docks .At least we were able to slip under the wire when the guard was not looking and get home .Plaistow Underground Station was close by.
    In the D Day Museum at Portsmouth they have put on display a letter from me to my Mother having a real tick about not being allowed to get home from the sealed camp
     
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  4. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Hi Chris and welcome,

    A couple of links you may have already picked up with regard location. I can't find any written restriction orders, but there is a lot of anecdotal evidence. There must be a book or two on the subject?

    http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/34298-assembly-transit-maps-overlord/

    http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Logistics1/USA-E-Logistics1-9.html

    http://www.skylighters.org/sausage/

    http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/armycamp_eh_2006/downloads.cfm?stage=1&CFID=19217&CFTOKEN=E1099A6B-F8C2-4690-953A4312FA56D06C&

    Hope that helps a little ... :)
     
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  5. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

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  6. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    It would appear by the date below and the (kept in the hold for days) that my Fathers group may have set out from Felixstow this only a guess but it would make sense


    June the 2nd. We moved with all our kit, people at the roadside shouted “Good luck”.
    We were put aboard an American LCT.and kept down the the holds for days not allowed to see England any more. (But not a word about the invasion) We were all “Genned up” for on our jackets we wore a little Jeraboa (A desert Rat) a Brigade flash and the words General Offensive. Now we knew
     
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  7. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

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