2nd Battalion Irish Guards
 "St. Patrick's Barracks"


Previously known as "Estorff Kaserne", which we re-named in 1946
The following six photographs were given to me by the widow of a German soldier who was stationed in these barracks before the outbreak of  World WarTwo. We met through an article which I sent by E-mail to the Hamburg Evening Newsaper (Hamburger-Abendblatt) in which I asked if any surviving residents of Hamburg remembered the 2nd Batn."Irish Guards" being stationed at the barracks in 1946.
A  meeting was arranged in July 2001 for me to return to Hamburg, and the Estorff Kaserne, to meet eight local residents, and two young newspaper reporters, but first, back to 1938  . . . . . . . .

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                                           HAMBURG -Wandsbek 1938
             The German Army preparing for War at Estorff Kaserne


Hans on Guard in 1938



 

 

HAMBURG -Wandsbek 1945
The Irish Guards re-name Estorff Kaserne

"St. Patrick's Barracks"
 


7th. British Armoured Division
About to cross the North Elb Bridge

 
Fellow Mick 'Bill' Curtis
We're just good friends

 
Meeting the local children
Heike and Rainer ( *see below)


The North Elb Bridge in 1945
Hamburg-Harburg


Hamburg City Centre
 Town Hall survived the Blitz of 1943


Estorff Kaserne 1945
Complete with one First World War tank


Victory Club Hamburg


Hamburg Town Hall 3rd.May
Official handover to British Forces

 
St. Patrick's Guardroom
Main entrance
in Tange Strasse, Wandsbek


Gdsn. Victor (Big) Pike
Confined to Barracks
<=== Click on Button for more
pictures from Victor's Album
 



 

HAMBURG 2001
 

2725416 Gdsn. White I.N returns to Wandsbek
 

               
I arrive at the barrier which has been erected across the old Tange Strasse which has been renamed Wilson Strasse. The Sentry Box has been moved, and many trees have grown around the Barrack Square, but the buildings are basically unaltered. No longer a Barracks, but a temporary home for asylum seekers. There are plans to build a huge Media Centre on this site, which would include Film and TV studios.

 

         

I point out to Jens, one of the reporters from Hamburger Abendblatt, the block where my Company were billeted in 1946. The German War Memorial still stands outside the Officer's Mess in remembrance of the Regiments who trained in these barracks, including members of the famous Africa Corps. Carsten talks to Heike about her memories of the time when her own father was stationed here.

                  

Chatting over a cool drink, Heike showed me the snapshot (*above) of her and her little brother Rainer who were photographed with one of the many British soldiers stationed in the Hamburg district shortly after the end of the war. Back in 1946, with Rainer in her arms, Heike used to visit the Mick's mobile-kitchen at Estorff Kaserne each day. Among other goodies they received a bowl of soup each, which they took home to share with their Mum.

      
        The Bier is a bit stronger now !            Heike with her Father      Rainer and Heike show me the City
 

 Heike's father was a Sergeant-Major in Infantry Regiment No.69 of the German Army and after the war became a member of the Hamburg Criminal Police Force.

 

      One of the 2,321  Bridges                 Ober Kommissar Rainer                         The "Michel"

Brother Rainer followed in his father's footsteps and is now an Ober-Kommissar of Police Inspection in Rotenburg (Wumme) near the famous Luneburg Heath. Who better than a police officer to give me a personally conducted tour of the most famous, and infamous areas of the City, including its wonderful world renowned Harbour. We found time to view the  St. Pauli Fischmarkt, the Reeperbahn, and  what is locally known as the "Michel". The Church of St.Michael suffered serious damage in the air raids of 1944-45 but this has long since been repaired and this landmark now symbolises Hamburgs powers of survival.     Hamburg claims to have more bridges than any other capital city in the world. World War Two veterans will tell you how difficult it was to find ONE bridge which an army convoy could safely           cross, especially if you were part of an Armoured Division travelling in Churchill Tanks.

   

A sign of memorable places, and scenes from Hamburg Harbour as it is today



Have you any photographs taken at St. Patricks Barracks in 1946 ?