Tweedsmuir Military Camp

HelloI came across your site by pure chance! I had a few minutes to spare, typed in Diddington Polish Camp into Google and there was the link to your web site. I notice that you, Zen, were born in Diddington Hospital, as was I. I was wondering whether you have any information about the camp. Looking at the various links about this area in Google, I can't help thinking that there seems to be a lot of interest in the camp Diddington. Thank you for taking the time to write such a comprehensive web site and keep up the good work. Regards Elka S.

Hi, I was astounded and uplifted to view your site via Google. I have an ongoing interest to research as much information as possible to find out more about Tweedsmuir and the life around it. I, together with an older sister, Bozena, was born in the camp in March 1951 (sic), and I still believe I can recollect living there, even though my family moved to London circa 1955. I would be very interested to know if any documents exist that list the names of families living there.   Kind regards,   Richard Kociolkowski

Dear Zen and Wies I am writing to you from Kitimat, which is in the very west of Northern British Columbia, Canada. I decided to email you after reading your website about Tweedsmuir Camp. I am a school teacher and researching a project on Canada's Yukon territory - its geography, history and the like. I found parts of your website appropriate to my lessons and am considering using them.   You may be wondering just how your site links in with the work I am doing with my school children. Well, one aspect of my research has focused on Yukon hut accommodation. Having typed into my search engine 'Yukon huts', your description of the Construction of Tweedsmuir Camp popped up.   The very best to you both. Regards,   Jolanta Waszalewska P.S. Like yours, my life started with my parents fleeing Poland after the Second World War.

Hi Zen and Wies, I like the new website. Congratulations! Chris

Hello Thank you for producing a really good site. I was born in England and lived in Witley, a short distance from Thursley, for fifty years. The remains of Tweedsmuir Camp therefore soon became the local kids' playground. The buildings had gone but the concrete roads were still there.   My wife's father was based at the camp before going overseas. She is the reason I now live in Canada where I have met men who passed through this huge camp.   I would be interested to hear the condition of the camp now. Thank you   Peter Webb

Hello, Great website.  Found it when I was looking for something very different. My grandparents came over in 1945 and lived at Tweedsmuir - Jan & Janina Kot.  They loved Thursley so much they later moved to Homefield Cottages where they stayed for the rest of their lives.   They rest now at St Michaels Church, Thursley. I often heard about the camp when my babcha was making bigos or pierogi for me.  Does anyone remember them?  They had 3 children at the camp, one of whom is my mother.  From a young age I was shown the remaining brick at Tweedsmuir that marks the corner or their home before it was demolished - it's still there to this day and I can find it still, even in the dark! I would love to hear from anyone who remembers them or the rest of my family. Carl

Dear Wies and Zen We have really enjoyed reading your website. We are twin sister and brother who were born in St Lukes hospital Guildford. Our family lived in Bowlhead Green until we reached the age of 8 when our parents decided to emigrate. We now live in Leeston, New Zealand with our own families.   Reading about Tweedsmuir, reminded us of the times we used to visit friends in Thursley on hot summer afternoons after walking from home with mum for what seemed like hours. The photos of Thursley are wonderful - they bring back so many memories!   We hope to visit England this summer and, time permitting, would like to visit the area (including the camp) before we get too old. There's probably not much of it left now. Thank you   Katy and Jon

Dear Zen and Wies, I just don't believe it!! Among some of my parent's old papers, I recently found their marriage certificate. It states that they were married in St Edmunds church in Godalming, England at the end of January 1949. Apparently Father Gajda performed the ceremony. A demob passbook that belonged to my dad shows that he and my mom lived in Tweedsmuir Camp until September 1949 when they emigrated to America. Could it possibly be the same camp you two have written about on the web? I now live in Lancaster, America. My parents, both of whom have passed away, settled near here in 1949. I have my own family now. I must admit to never having thought about Camp Tweedsmuir or England until I pieced together my family history! How small the world has become because of the internet. I would love to come over to the UK and perhaps meet with you. Maybe you could show me around the place?! Regards Stan Mieborski

Firstly, can I say I love the new design...and the additional links. This is the reason I`m in contact again. After seeing the link to Diddington, I telephoned my mother, who grew up in Tweedsmuir. She said that her birth was registered in St Neots...would that have been the case for children born in Diddington??? Many thanks Richard Bond (Grandson of Augustine and Josaphene Chruszcz) (The answer to Richard's question is 'yes'. All births in Diddington Camp/Polish Hospital were registered at the nearest registry office , which was in St Neots.)