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US Army in Dunbridge & Lockerley 1944

 

Dunbridge (SU 3126) in Hampshire a sleepy village, 200 metres South of the River Dun. In October 1943, was part of WW2's Operation BOLERO. Construction commenced, near the village of Lockerley (SU 2926), two miles to the west of Dunbridge, of a US Army depot which, when completed, consisted of fifteen miles of sidings and 134 sheds; Dunbridge was the connection to the SR main line from Eastleigh to Salisbury. In June 1938, the station yard, which, in the summer was associated with the movement of strawberries, handled 182 wagons - six years later, in June 1944, it was a focal point in operation OVERLORD and wagon movements peaked at 5,246!  By October 1944 supplies were being sent direct to France. The depot was behind St Johns Church off of East Tytherley Rd in the grounds of Lockerley Hall and Bentley Wood. After the US army left and a period of use by the Royal Army Ordnance Corps it closed in the 1950's and now nothing but slight earth disturbance remains. These photos (apart from last one) were taken by Capt. Duane M. Hart (photo left), commanding officer of the 820th Ordnance Base Depot Company during its assignments under Operation Bolero.  Many thanks to his grandson Jonathan Hart for scanning them and making them available.

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"Mill Arms" Dunbridge 1944 taken from vehicle of the US army  who were stationed in the area.

 

A pub in the area called Spring Cottage, now a private dwelling. Its at West Grimstead on Chapel Hill at the junction

with Grimstead Rd. No longer has a thatched roof. The sign is pointing left to East Grimstead and Farley.

 

Spring Cottage as it is now

 

Entrance (round building) at Home Farm going towards East Tytherley half a mile past the Star Inn

 

Tytherley cricket pavilion?

 

Sgt. Luther Dalrymple of the US Army on the B3084 near Kimbridge

 

Lt. Dave Goldman painted cartoons like this on the walls of the Mess Hall in Lockerley

 

Jack Peach gamekeeper of Mottisfont Estate on the left was hare hunting with ferrets. Possibly at Dunbridge gravel pit

 

Message from Jacks son Bob to Stephen Godwin "He went on to regale me of tales of how his father (and Bob himself)

would win money off of the US soldiers by challenging them to shooting challenges during the war!!!!!"

 

Sgt. Luther Dalrymple and T/4 James Daniels (When I nod my head, hit it)

 

T/4 James Daniels, Sgt. Luther Dalrymple, T/4 Raymond Burns

 

 

Funeeee!. Huts identical to Ganger Camp ones.

 

 

Dunbridge with former shop on left of bend

 

US army photographers at work

 

Purchased by the Southern Railway from the War Department in 1946 for use at Southampton Docks.

Then renamed ??? and used 1948/1962. Scrapped in 1967

 

 

Capt. Duane M. Hart. (Photographer)

 

 

Lockerley Hall entrance

 

Building still there minus railings door and steps

 

Dakota?  flying over the camp

 

 

Aerial view of the camp 1947

 

A wider view of the area showing airfield