Updated 18 July 2024

Part II

Original name – Argonner Kaserne
History – The Barracks were built in 1936. On Oct. 26th, 1938 the “Artillerie-Regiment 16” moved in Argonner-Kaserne at Soester Straße. It was defeated in Stalingrad in 1943.

Home to:

61st Tank Transporter Regiment
Windsor Boarding School
Windsor Boys’ School

Under British control the barracks were renamed Brixton Camp becoming home to numerous German and Austrian POWs. By 1948 the former prisoners had made way for the Polish 61st Tank Transporter Unit also utilising Cromwell Barracks in the south of Hamm.

In 1953 the former Brixton Camp was reopened as the mixed boarding Windsor School becoming Windsor Boys’ School (1) in 1960 when the neighbouring Newcastle Barracks became Windsor Girls’ School (2). It remained an all male boarding school until 1980 when it returned to being mixed sex due to draw-downs within BAOR. The school went on to close in 1983. Since then it has mostly been used to home displaced persons and is currently being used by the local Fire Service.

(1) Retaining its POW atmosphere.
(2) I am reliably informed that this caused many a long walk during the hours of darkness.

These photographs (below) were taken by local Hamm resident Christian Sommerhage in the summer of 2007. All things considered the buildings don’t look too bad at all. However, I think they need to change their gardener!

Photos above courtesy of Herr. Christian Sommerhage