Forward Ammunition Depot 1942 - 1945
Bures Ordnance Ammunition Depot AAF526


 

 

 


BLACKCAMPS WOOD & LAMARSH PARK

This page refers to the area to the west of the main dispersal site, known as Lamarsh Park and Blacks Camp.
This contained mainly service personnel.

Lamarsh Park top >>>

Blacks Camp bottom >>

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lamarsh


lamarsh

Lamarsh Park/Wood - locally known as Panhandle Wood. This nickname was derived from its general layout, the wood and internal road track is shaped just like a Frying Pan - handle.
Inside the wood it is still possible to find the outline remains of four buildings. The brick bases to the walls are clearly evident which would indicate they were not of the standard Nissen Hut construction.

There appears to be two theories concerning these foundations
(A) This wood was reputably the location of the communication buildings for the Dispersal Site.
One such building would have been a telephone exchange which would have been used to communicate with the Guard Posts, Administration Block, airfield etc.
I believe these would have been totally unsuitable for communications equipment, because of the ingress of damp.

(B) The foundations were for a smaller type Nissen Hut and used to store Munitions such as bullets and incendiaries.

This wood is PRIVATE PROPERTY


searchlight

 

Searchlight - this site is clearly visible beside the Daws Cross to Countess Cross road.
In front of the dilapidated shed (photo 2003) a square concrete base still exists, no doubt this is where the searchlight was mounted.

This had nothing whatsoever to do with the Dispersal site but a routine RAF searchlight looking for enemy aircraft.


blackcamp
Blacks Camp - another locally generated name given to it by the residents.
Major camping area housing USAAF Negro servicemen.
This was the home of the USAAF Truck Battalion. They were billeted in front of the wood in tents . Their task was to maintain the vehicles and the host of other types of transport in use at the time.
Living under canvas offered very little comfort !
road
Entrance road to the Camp.

Acknowledgment to Eric Doe, Richard Benson
Photographs by Alan Beales 2003