Chronology of Noteworthy Events - Part 1 Part 1 of Tweedsmuir Camp's chronology covers the years which saw both its commissioning and construction. The camp's layout was determined by War Office officials and the drawings made by draughtsmen employed by the War Department. The intention was for the camp to be built by a civilian workforce, but a lack of suitably qualified personnel necessitated the drafting in of Royal Canadian Engineers who were transported by sea from Canada, using Transatlantic Convoys or 'TCs' as they were called. 1940 28 October 1940 War Office (WO) London authorised construction and assigned civilian contractors to complete Tweedsmuir, which at the time was known as Thursley Camp. Authority was also granted for the erection of 4 other camps at Bramshott North, Bramshott South, Ludshott and Headley. 1941 3 February 1941 Actual civilian labour force comprised 9 carpenters and 67 labourers; 2,824 short of the January forecast. 8 February 1941 Canadian Military Headquarters (CMHQ) London, offer to take over the construction of the 5 camps but the following day (9 February) the WO refused " ... because contracts had been let." CMHQ pressed the matter requesting that "... one 500 unit of engineers ... be shipped over as quickly as possible ..." and asked "... for a second unit to follow." 20 February 1941 As a consequence of CMHQ's request, the WO wrote formally to CMHQ asking whether engineer units "... might be made available". 18 March 1941 Since only 300 civilian workers were available, with no prospect of this number being increased, the problem of accomodation was discussed by General McNaughton (Commander-in-Chief, First Canadian Army, UK), General Montague (Senior Officer, CMHQ), and Brigadier Murison (DA and QMG Canadian Corps). 19 March 1941 Following an urgent meeting held between Canadian and British military authorities, agreement was reached to resolve the problem of accomodation but only after General McNaughton applied political pressure for Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE) to become involved in the construction of the 5 camps soonest. (In the final analysis 3 of the camps, Headley, Ludshott and Thursley were constructed by RCEs. The remaining camps, at Bramshott North and Bramshott South, were completed by civilian contractors). 7 April 1941 CMHQ London, received authorisation from National Defence Headquaters (NDHQ) Canada to create a Works Directorate under the command of Colonel Mackenzie to oversee the assignment (CMHQ Administrative Order No. 65). Advance party from 1 Battalion, "C" Company, RCE moved to Thursley to prepare the site and make "... arrangements to commence construction programme." 14 April 1941 13 and 14 Field Companies RCE and, 1 and 2 Road Construction Companies RCE started work on Thursley Camp. 22 April 1941 Colonel Mackenzie, Director of Works CMHQ, reported for duty at 0900 hrs and assumed command. He visited all the sites of work, including Thursley. 23 April 1941 Colonel Mackenzie met with Mr Satchwell, Supervising Civil Engineer (SCE), to discuss the "... design of buildings, sewage layout and construction matters generally." 28 April 1941 Captain Darey, Officer i/c Stores, Works Directorate "... arranged for the SCE to purchase eight, high powered engines to drive saws." 6 May 1941 On authority from the WO (letter BM1/2609) approval was granted for Thursley Camp to be renamed Tweedsmuir in honour of Lord Tweedsmuir, 13th Govenor General of Canada. (The title, 'Tweedsmuir Camp', was brought into effect following a CMHQ Routine Order issued 6 June 1941). Authority was also given for camps Witley 101, 102 and 103 to be renamed Algonquin, La urentide, and Jasper respectively. In addition the camp at Bramshott North was renamed Camp Ontario, Bramshott South as Camp Huron, Ludshott as Camp Superior and Headley as Camp Erie. 7 May 1941 Colonel Mackenzie, Major Kerry and Mr Satchwell met on site with officers of 1 Bn. to discuss "... details of construction, nailing of tongue and groove floor boards, partitions around boiler rooms, nailing of wall board and disposal of excavation spoil." (Evidence of spoil disposal can be seen on the eastern boundary of the camp.) Click the image for a larger picture. 14 May 1941 Major Kerry received news of a "... fatal accident due to overturning of a lorry driven without authority". 31 May 1941 Captain Darey made arrangements to have Camp Tweedsmuir photographed from the air to check on the effectiveness of camouflage techniques. 5 June 1941 Colonel Mackenzie visited Lady Tweedsmuir in Oxford who was "... unfortunately just missing Lord Tweedsmuir." (Lord Tweedsmuir had died on 11 February 1940). 6 June 1941 CMHQ Routine Order 761 required Thursley Camp to be renamed Tweedsmuir. (From this day onwards, the site has always been referred to as Tweedsmuir Camp). 50% of the parade ground had been excavated. "A digger commenced on sewers today." (Some of the drains and sewer pipes, such as the example in the photograph to the right, were laid eight feet deep.) Click the image for a larger picture. 9 June 1941 Four compressors were working - two running saws, one a jackhammer and one a spray gun. Bricklayers were working under "marquees" in spite of heavy rain. Since this was regarded as good practice, RCEs working on both Camp Erie and Superior were advised to put up "... tents over their brickwork in bad weather." 11 June 1941 Regarding the supply of food, "... green vegetables (were) becoming more plentiful now. The principal vegetable supplied to troops, in addition to potatoes, (was) cabbage. Rationing of eggs (was) not yet official but both NAAFI and retailers (were) careful to allot only so many to each customer in proportion to the size of the family or group etc. The average cost (was) 2/6 (12.5 new pence - UK) per dozen." 21 June 1941 At 0930 hrs Colonel Mackenzie met with General McNaughton and other senior Canadian officers at Tweedsmuir Camp. Having reviewed progress reports, photographs, costs and drawings of the work there, the party moved to "... the high spot in the camp ... where all work in progress could be seen." (The "high spot" referred to is located immediately in front of the water tower in Beansides Wood and from where the photograph to the right was taken in April 2001; 60 years after McNaughton's visit.) Click the image for a larger picture. (General McNaughton's visit to Tweedsmuir also included the inspection of troops; an occasion recorded for posterity by a photograph.) Click the image for a larger picture. 37.5 meters of concrete road and 167 square meters of "crossovers" poured. 50% of sewer excavation complete and 40% of sewer pipe laid. 38% of buildings had been completed by this date. 332 military personnel employed on the work. (The crossovers, located in the north east of the site, are clearly visible today. They provided military vehicles access to fuel pumps, the maintenance garage and for parking and turning.) Click the image for a larger picture. (The following day, on 22 June, Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa; the planned invasion of Russia. Hitler named the operation after Freidrich Barbarossa, a medieval German king and Holy Roman emperor). 28 June 1941 143 meters of concrete road poured. 43% of buildings completed. Excavation for remaining buildings - 90% completed. 359 military personnel employed on works. 12 July 1941 90% of excavation for all buildings completed. 27% of "drainage manholes" completed. 12,000 red bricks were being "... drawn from HAMBLEDON..." (Nutbourne Brickworks) every day. 171,000 bricks in total were required - 150,000 for buildings and 21,000 for the rifle range. 19 July 1941 90% of barracks had been covered in. Interior work, including the installation of "ten-test" (soft board) wall linings, painting, plumbing and electrical work started. Approximately 447 meters of concrete road completed. 26 July 1941 All work was reported as being "up to estimate ..." and being "... called for completion at the end of September." 9 August 1941 Time was lost on the construction of the camp due to "heavy rain." Work was proceeding as close as posssible to the specified schedule. 16 August 1941 Sunday work had to be instituted "... in order to speed progress and off-set time unavoidably lost on account of heavy rain." 23 August 1941 Construction activities had generally been delayed due to "... the civilian labour position." 30 August 1941 Although work was proceeding as quickly as possible, Works Directorate considered that the completion date was being held up because materials were difficult to obtain due to the war. Despite the camp being incomplete (plumbing fixtures and fittings were difficult to come by) it was thought that "... men could be housed ..." by the end of September. 6 September 1941 Assignments were still being "... pushed as hard as possible." All available men were "... placed where urgently required." Steps were taken to speed up the procurement of plumbing and sanitary fittings. 20 September 1941 Additional army personnel were "... drawn from various RCE units and placed where ..." they were "... most urgently needed. Sanitary and plumbing fittings now becoming available ..." and were being installed "... as rapidly as possible." 27 September 1941 Erection of the gymnasium and dental huts was well under way despite a change in their design. Sewage disposal plant was about 65% complete and the installation of "all machinery" therein was due for completion by 18 October 1941. 4 October 1941 By now the camp was "... pratically complete ..." except for certain items ... such as urinal slabs. Some of the semi-skilled personnel (had) been withdrawn ... for training." Overall, work was "... proceeding at a satisfactory rate." 25 October 1941 Barracks were furnished with double bunks "... to accomodate RCE personnel on works. Generally, good progress (had) been made in finishing ... and cleaning up of site." 1 November 1941 "Tented camps housing RCE personnel (had) been struck and tents returned to stores. RCE personnel engaged on works now housed in camp buildings." The camp continued to be tidied and made good. 22 November 1941 Work was "... proceeding on blackout screens for windows and on paths and various miscellaneous items." 26 November 1941 A Handing-over Board "... was held this day", presided over by Major J Blundell, RCE. December 1941 Throughout the month of December, Tweedsmuir Camp was being cleaned, tidied and generally brought to order. 10 December 1941 The Lorne Scots (Peel, Duffering and Halton Regiment) moved into the camp and prepared it to act as Number 1 Non-Effective Transit Depot. 31 December 1941 On this day, the last of 1941, a very poignant entry was made by Lieutenant Colonel Akins (Works Directorate) who wrote, "We have had to revise our DRLS (Despatch Rider Letter Service) from time to time as the various units moved to locations of construction. The present schedule connects Units or Detachments with each other and with the SCE whose Headquarters are at Yew Tree Cottage. The service was a great help in maintaining contact between ourselves and the latter when the three big camps were being built. A New Year's Eve party was held in the Officers' Mess 4 Battalion, RCE and another at 2 Detachment, RCOC (Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps) to which the Director of Works staff were invited. Characteristic of the army, our little unit has had quite a big turnover of personnel since it was organised back in April 41. Only two of the original officers, Captain Darey and Lieutenant Brock, are still with us and of the NCOs, there are Staff Sergeant Walker and Sergeant Hunter. In addition only seven sappers and privates remain from those who came in April; this out of eight officers and 31 other ranks all told with us now." Copyright © 2006: Zen and Wies Rogalski End of Part 1