Elizabeth Barracks

Elizabeth Barracks

Original name - Gneisenau Kaserne
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1st Bn Essex Regt 1949-1951 (1)
1st Bn South Staffordshire Regt 1951-1953 (2)
1st Bn Royal Sussex Regt 1953-1956
1st Bn Dorsetshire Regt 1956-1958 (4)
1st Bn The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 1960-1963

1st Bn Black Watch Apr 1964-Feb 1968
1st Bn The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)1968-1969
1st Bn The Green Howards 1972-1973
1st Bn King's Own Royal Border Regt 1973-1977
1st Bn Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 1979-1984
3rd Bn Royal Anglian Regt 1984-1987
1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1989-1993 (5)

Others

Suffolk School
Closed 10 September 1993

(1) 1st Bn The Essex Regiment were based here up until 1951 when they then moved on to Lüneburg.
(2) In 1954 the battalion was posted to the Suez Canal zone, before being speedily dispatched to Cyprus where hostilities had broken out between the two communities on the island.
(3) 61st Lorried Infantry Brigade, which was part of 6th Armoured Division. Returned to the Britain in March 1956, in preparation for a posting to Korea.
(4) The Devon and Dorset Regiment was formed on 17 May 1958 at Minden in Germany with the amalgamation of the two famous former Regiments, The Devonshire Regiment and the Dorset Regiment.
(5) Arriving from Colchester in February in 1989. Leaving between July and September 1993 and parading as a regiment at Shorncliffe in mid September of this year. 10 September 1993 was the Regiment's last day in Minden, with the barracks then being handed back to the Stadt.

Taking its original name from August Wilhelm Antonius Graf Neidhardt von Gneisenau (27 October 1760 – 23 August 1831) who was a Prussian field marshal.
The British naming was after Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603) who was Queen of England, Queen of France (in name only), and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death.

This barracks is certainly the most ornate that I have seen (apart from BMH Munster). Why it is so, I cannot say. Today it is used shops. Fortunately the bulldozer of progression has not progressed here.

More pictures and info can be found here.

An aerial view, possibly WWII era.

I was based at Elizabeth Barracks in 1968/69, with the REME LAD, attached to the 1st Battalion The Sherwood Foresters, Commanded by LtCol Castle. I was the Armourer Corporal,although REME we as armourers worked mainly under the direction of the Regimental QM.The armourers shop was located bottom floor in the first block on the South East corner of the square (QMs and Support Company block). There were four of us in the armourers shop Art/Wpn S/Sgt Ecclestone, Cpl Keith Simpson(myself)and two Craftsmen one of whome I believe was commisioned. On promotion to Sgt I left the Foresters but met Colonel Castle many times in my career. During his time in the Prince of Wales Division and as his Artificer Weapon when he commanded BATUS Canada. It is sad to see such a fine Military instalation fall into disrepair and squalid use. I well remember the highly polished floors of the living accommodation and the clean tiled floors of the barrack blocks.

Keith J Simpson Ex LAD REME 1st BN The Sherwood Foresters.

Main Gate

The picture above shows soldiers of the 1st Bn Essex Regiment who were based at Elizabeth Barracks in 1951

Courtesy of Mr Sydney Fountain

I was stationed here as a National Serviceman from Sept 1954 until March 56, with 1st Bn the Royal Sussex Regiment. The later photographs on your website turned back my clock over fifty years. I am not sure when the Battalion first went to Minden, late 1953 I think. We were preceded by the 1st South Staffordshires. On our unit's return to the UK in March 1956 - in preparation for a posting to Korea - we were succeeded by the 1st Dorset Regt. We were part of 61st Lorried Infantry Brigade, which was part of 6th Armd Div. Also in the same Brigade in Minden (at Clifton Barracks) during my stay were 1st Green Howards, who were replaced in 1955 by 1st Manchester Regt. Hoping to set the records straight.

Mike (23040685 L/Cpl M. Chambers)