Updated 2 August 2024
Düsseldorf was the responsibility of the following higher formations:
53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division 12 Jun 45
2nd Infantry Division 1 Feb 47
Requisitioned civilian accommodation
HQRE 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division 1945 (1)
244 Field Company – 282 Field Company – 555 Field Company
285 Field Park Company – various locations
160th (South Wales) Infantry Brigade 1945-1946 (2)
6th Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers 1945-1946 (3)
4th Battalion Welch Regiment 1945 1945 (4)
2th Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment 1945 (5)
108th (9th Battalion Green Howards) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA 1945 (6)
1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) 1945-1946 (7)
(1) arrived from Hamburg 5 Jun 45 – Schloss Garath Düsseldorf-Hellerhof – moved to Kettwig south-west of Essen 25 Jun 45
(2) arrived from Melle south-east of Osnabrück 10 Jun 45 – area Berger Alle Düsseldorf Centrum – moved to Llanelly Barracks Hubbelrath 16 May 46
(3) arrived from Hamburg 10 Jun 45 – Düsseldorf Centrum – moved to Caernarvon Barracks 1 Jul 46
(4) arrived from Hamburg 10 Jun 45 – Düsseldorf-Mettmann – moved to Llanelly Barracks Hubbelrath 15 Jun 45
(5) arrived from Hamburg 10 Jun 45 – Düsseldorf-Heert – Düsseldorf-Mettmann 15 Jun 45 – moved to Italy 13 Nov 45
(6) arrived from Belgium 17 Jul 45 – Düsseldorf Centrum – moved to Truppenübungsplatz north of Sennelager 15 Aug 45
(7) arrived from UK 13 Nov 45 – Düsseldorf-Mettmann – moved to Travemünde-Priwall north-east of Lübeck 27 Feb 46
More to follow
Source: 21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine to 1 Mar 49
Part II
Church Army Building in Dusseldorf
Photograph courtesy of Tony Burgess
I have scanned my photo taken early September 1952, an old black and white, but seem to last longer than those early colour films. The Church Army sent me an almost identical photocopy taken May 1951. Also I have not got permission to publish their photo.
Amazing how much the Church Army did in BAOR, from fairly early just after the war days as they mention “holiday” leave places in Friesian Islands and near Vienna
Hope it brings back a few memories.
Tony Burgess