Ashdown Camp April 2015

GI44-45 Company CP Tue May 05, 2015 1:53 pm

Ashdown Camp Training Weekend
GI 44-45 recently held a training weekend for its members at Ashdown Camp in Evesham, Worcestershire.

In consideration of this unique setting the group chose to represent G Company of the 505th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division during the time frame of December 1943 – February 1944. Throughout this period the Regiment were temporarily billeted in Northern Ireland, effectively ‘in transit’ from Italy to their eventual destination of Leicester, England and preparation for the anticipated invasion of Northern France.

On 18th November 1943 the majority of the 82nd left their billets in Naples and headed for the harbour. Some rear echelon units were still in Sicily, Italy and North Africa. They too were extracted from contact with the enemy and loaded onto troopships bound for 'parts unknown' (The 504th were still on Italian soil as at this time they had been detached from the 82nd to assist the 5th Army). After a brief stop at Oran, North Africa to re-fuel and re-supply the first ships transporting the men of the 505th docked in Belfast Harbour on 9th December to a damp, dark and overcast day.

Northern Ireland was to be their home until 13th February 1944.

Since the Belfast Blitz in 1941, enemy planes were seldom seen as far north as Northern Ireland, however, the possibility of air attack still remained. As a consequence, upon their arrival in Belfast, to reduce the risk, each battalion was allocated a different area of occupation. In each location a camp had been pre-built, giving the men the welcome comfort of British Nissen huts for accommodation, mess halls, wash houses and latrines.

Companies G & H were to be billeted in Drum Manor Forest, just outside of Cookstown, County Tyrone, with the remainder of the Regiment billeted nearby.

(Photos courtesy of BexyM Photography)
https://www.facebook.com/bexymphotography?fref=ts