Updated 15 June 2024

Original name – Reichssicherheits-Hauptamt (Reich Security Main Offices)

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Canadian Composite Battalion of First Canadian Army (1)
9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (2)
2nd Battalion Essex Regiment (3)
1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment (4)
1st Battalion Coldstream Guards (5)
Composite Squadron 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own) RAC (6)
Squadron 2nd Inns of Court Regiment (Devil’s Own) RAC (7)
C Squadron Royal Dragoons (1st Dragoons) RAC (8)
A Squadron Royal Horse Guards (The Blues) Armoured Car Regiment RAC (9)

(1) arrived from Braunschweig – moved to Netherlands 27 Aug 45
(2) arrived from Wilster west of Itzehoe – moved to Unna west of Soest 13 Nov 45
(3) arrived from Unna west of Soest 13 Nov 45 – moved to Hannover 10 Mar 46
(4) arrived from Oerrel south-east of Munsterlager 9 Mar 46 – moved to Hannover 7 Jun 45
(5) arrived from Neumünster 10 Jun 45 – moved to Travemünde-Priwall north-east of Lübeck 10 Oct 45
(6) arrived from Wolfenbüttel 28 Jun 46 – returned 14 Jan 47
(7) arrived from Dunderstadt east of Göttingen 14 Jan 47 – returned 2 Mar 47
(8) arrived from Gifhorn south-east of Celle 2 Mar 47 – returned 1 Sep 47
(9) arrived from Menden north-east of Iserlohn 1 Sep 47 – returned 14 Jan 48

More to follow
Source: 21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine to 1 Mar 49

A Squadron Royal Horse Guards (The Blues) circa 1950

31 Berkaer Straße, Mackenzie King Barracks – 1950

Mackenzie King Barracks, was situated at Elster Platz, Berlin from 1945 to 1951, an armoured car squadron was stationed here until relieved by an armoured squadron. In 1951 the barracks were closed and the armoured squadron moved to Spandau.

The barracks were sited in the Grünewald district of Berlin and was originally a Jewish old people’s home. The building was taken from them by the Gestapo and used by them until the war ended.

Initially on the end of the war it is believed that the camp was in Canadian hands (the British allowed the Canadians into Berlin first as the had had a hard war) and then it obviously fell into British ownership. It is said been that the camp is now a Jewish old people’s home again.

Royal Horse Guards, guard mount-1950

Royal Horse Guards, guard mount-1950

How it was in 1991 – not very dissimilar to how it was in 1950

As stated above, the building is now used as an old people’s home again

All photographs courtesy of ex 22205445 Trooper Pat Howlett. “A” Squadron RHG 1950-54.