British Ordnance Collectors Network
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Somewhere in England
- Thread starter Bonnex
- Start date
Where is it?
My guess is that it was taken somewhere in England in 1946. The more mature Ammo Techs, or AEs, might be able to identify the store shed. It looks like it could be Bramley (ammunition depot long since closed) and, who knows, it could be still there in Shed 7 covered in dust. More likely though, it was moved to become the excellent collection of German ammunition that the Royal Military College of Science had in the 1960s.
My guess is that it was taken somewhere in England in 1946. The more mature Ammo Techs, or AEs, might be able to identify the store shed. It looks like it could be Bramley (ammunition depot long since closed) and, who knows, it could be still there in Shed 7 covered in dust. More likely though, it was moved to become the excellent collection of German ammunition that the Royal Military College of Science had in the 1960s.
pointblank0
BOCN Supporter
Bramley depot
Does anyone have any pics of Bramley depot? I remember going there for excersise when I was a cadet in the early 90s. I seem to remember there being a CS chamber, loads of large hangers all with rail access, a couple of old trains and an old Wessex helicopter on the grounds. I hear that some of it is used for banger racing now but public still have no real access due to too many unaccounted for munitions etc. If I remember rightly, they found a load of buried mustard gas canisters or something, when they were trying to clear it up a bit, so abandoned the project and kept it fenced. Would this be correct or do I have the wrong place entirely?
Does anyone have any pics of Bramley depot? I remember going there for excersise when I was a cadet in the early 90s. I seem to remember there being a CS chamber, loads of large hangers all with rail access, a couple of old trains and an old Wessex helicopter on the grounds. I hear that some of it is used for banger racing now but public still have no real access due to too many unaccounted for munitions etc. If I remember rightly, they found a load of buried mustard gas canisters or something, when they were trying to clear it up a bit, so abandoned the project and kept it fenced. Would this be correct or do I have the wrong place entirely?
Is that a vehicle inspection pit, bottom right? Might help to ID the building.
Chris 42 RQ
Well-Known Member
Link for bramley
You might like to have a look at this link-
http://www.films.mod.uk/south_east/bramley_1.htm
You might like to have a look at this link-
http://www.films.mod.uk/south_east/bramley_1.htm
Bramley
The clearance at Bramely was called Operation Apple, they recovered large amounts of ordnance including 18 pdrs and 4.5" projos filled with mustard. They were all fuzed and many were in amazing condition.
The clearance at Bramely was called Operation Apple, they recovered large amounts of ordnance including 18 pdrs and 4.5" projos filled with mustard. They were all fuzed and many were in amazing condition.
Chris 42 RQ
Well-Known Member
Railway wagons and all!
From my memory and talking to others (two of whom were involved) the entire lot was then encased in concrete on site in the railway wagons and shipped out early one morning to a Naval dock yard where the wagons were then loaded onto a ship for a secret location to be deep sea dumped.
It was said that the railway wagons were used as a mould for the concrete and they also went into the drink (sounds feasible, but?) I do remember the big fuss about it all in the local newspapers as it was decided to line the entire routes of the train/s with policemen and service staff to ensure nothing untoward occurred!And the condition of some of the items were indeed stated to be in "from factory" condition so many years on!
From my memory and talking to others (two of whom were involved) the entire lot was then encased in concrete on site in the railway wagons and shipped out early one morning to a Naval dock yard where the wagons were then loaded onto a ship for a secret location to be deep sea dumped.
It was said that the railway wagons were used as a mould for the concrete and they also went into the drink (sounds feasible, but?) I do remember the big fuss about it all in the local newspapers as it was decided to line the entire routes of the train/s with policemen and service staff to ensure nothing untoward occurred!And the condition of some of the items were indeed stated to be in "from factory" condition so many years on!
Not everything went into the sea! There were many chemical items removed from the ground and then destroyed in a more enviromentally safe manner elsewhere.
Discussed this this photo with PeterG, who passed through CAD Bramley (when it was also the School of Ammunition) in about 1950. He doesn't recall the collection and doesn't recognise the setting. Might be Fort Halstead as they had been carrying out a lot investigation into German ordnance.
Regards
TimG
Regards
TimG
It has been interesting to read the traffic on Bramley in connection with the photograph - particularly the CW diversion. Op Apple dealt with the find of about 145 buried chemical shell located as a result of a gas main installation at Bramley. After recovery they were stored at Bramley until disposed of 'with environmental sensitivity' as recorded by Pete. This happened after the CAD and US AD interests had left so there were no other munitions involved (at this time) and it was likely after DSD ceased which if I remember correctly was in 1986.
I agree with TimG that Fort Halstead is a strong candidate for the location of the photograph.
I agree with TimG that Fort Halstead is a strong candidate for the location of the photograph.
pointblank0
BOCN Supporter
Thanks for the link. This is the place I remember. Spooky place if I remember right. Can anyone confirm that there is a smashed up Wessex helicopter on site? I may be getting confuesed with somewhere else, but I'm pretty sure it's here.........Oh and the CS chamber?
Chris 42 RQ
Well-Known Member
Chopped chopper.
The smashed up Wessex was there last year but now the trees are in leaf it is not possible to see it at the moment.
I think the Bramley discussion like all these things is subject to "chinese" whispers as indeed all these things are.
I do as a child remember a lot of fuss in the local papers regarding the use of police/Army personel and the "lining of the route" but it was a long time ago and sadly I threw the paper cuttings out years ago so even my recall of those "reports" will be blurred.
Bramley has a building project that is fairly ongoing and uxo's are still found on every land sell off-the depot shrinks and the housing estate races to meet the new boundaries.
The smashed up Wessex was there last year but now the trees are in leaf it is not possible to see it at the moment.
I think the Bramley discussion like all these things is subject to "chinese" whispers as indeed all these things are.
I do as a child remember a lot of fuss in the local papers regarding the use of police/Army personel and the "lining of the route" but it was a long time ago and sadly I threw the paper cuttings out years ago so even my recall of those "reports" will be blurred.
Bramley has a building project that is fairly ongoing and uxo's are still found on every land sell off-the depot shrinks and the housing estate races to meet the new boundaries.