Queen Elizabeth Barracks (Boyce Barracks/Haig Lines), Fleet, Hampshire 20/06/2010.
I found out about this site on a ‘Lead & Rumour’. I’ve lived in this area for 10 years and never knew about this place!!!
I did a recce and found out, as with most ex-military camps awaiting flattening, it was regularly used by the Surrey and Hampshire Police, for training and dog handling... Ok, I better go through the right channels...
A few emails and phone calls later, I got given open access to the camp, in exchange for a copy of all the photos.... Happy with that!
I ended up doing a 2 day explore, day one with a friend and day 2 with my wife. It’s a big site and took over 400 photos. Because of that I’m going to post 5 reports on it covering the following:
Part 1-Barrack Buildings and Around Camp
Part 2-Messes and Clubs
Part 3-Training Wing and Cinemas
Part 4-Accommodation
Part 5-MT Park
That is now 2 reports... I'll be doing Parts 2-5 all on Part 2 heading... (See below) Thanks
Don’t worry, i’m not posting all 400+ photo’s, I’ve cut it right down, but there is still a few.
Camp History
Originally started (not built) in 1914 as an HQ for troops billeted around Church Crookham and Fleet, called Haig Lines. Extended/Built in 1938 for the Royal Army Medical Corps as their training depot and renamed Boyce Barracks, after Maj William Wallace Boyce D.S.O. RAMC.
Made up of pre-war, single story, prefabricated wooden buildings, in the ‘Spider’ layout, designed to accommodate 2500 men in peace time. The site also included a number of training facilities, 2x 25m Ranges, cinema, administration and stores buildings, as well as 2 gymnasiums and a large parade square.
The camp was renamed again Queen Elizabeth Barracks after a visit from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth (the wife of King George VI and late mother of our present Queen Elizabeth II) in 1948.
The Queen Mother (Colonel-in-Chief RAMC) with the Sgt's & Warrant Officers outside the Sgts Mess.
The RAMC moved out in 1962 and the camp was used for training a few weeks a year.
The camp was then taken over by The Royal Corps Of Transport from 1965-1970
Then Finally used by various Gurkha Regiments (Including Gurkha Rifles) from 1970-2000.
The land was sold to Bryant Homes in 2002 who want to redevelop the site for housing, shops and schools.
I would like to thank Mrs. Nicky Parsons for getting me access to the camp and I would also like to dedicate the report to all members or the RAMC as it was their original camp and with it being RAMC Corps Day on 23 June, I think it’s quite fitting!
On with the Pics....
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I love the wood burners!
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Sun Bathing on the Parade Square!... Don't let the Sergeant Major See!
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I found out about this site on a ‘Lead & Rumour’. I’ve lived in this area for 10 years and never knew about this place!!!
I did a recce and found out, as with most ex-military camps awaiting flattening, it was regularly used by the Surrey and Hampshire Police, for training and dog handling... Ok, I better go through the right channels...
A few emails and phone calls later, I got given open access to the camp, in exchange for a copy of all the photos.... Happy with that!
I ended up doing a 2 day explore, day one with a friend and day 2 with my wife. It’s a big site and took over 400 photos. Because of that I’m going to post 5 reports on it covering the following:
Part 1-Barrack Buildings and Around Camp
Part 2-Messes and Clubs
Part 3-Training Wing and Cinemas
Part 4-Accommodation
Part 5-MT Park
That is now 2 reports... I'll be doing Parts 2-5 all on Part 2 heading... (See below) Thanks
Don’t worry, i’m not posting all 400+ photo’s, I’ve cut it right down, but there is still a few.
Camp History
Originally started (not built) in 1914 as an HQ for troops billeted around Church Crookham and Fleet, called Haig Lines. Extended/Built in 1938 for the Royal Army Medical Corps as their training depot and renamed Boyce Barracks, after Maj William Wallace Boyce D.S.O. RAMC.
Made up of pre-war, single story, prefabricated wooden buildings, in the ‘Spider’ layout, designed to accommodate 2500 men in peace time. The site also included a number of training facilities, 2x 25m Ranges, cinema, administration and stores buildings, as well as 2 gymnasiums and a large parade square.
The camp was renamed again Queen Elizabeth Barracks after a visit from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth (the wife of King George VI and late mother of our present Queen Elizabeth II) in 1948.
The Queen Mother (Colonel-in-Chief RAMC) with the Sgt's & Warrant Officers outside the Sgts Mess.
The RAMC moved out in 1962 and the camp was used for training a few weeks a year.
The camp was then taken over by The Royal Corps Of Transport from 1965-1970
Then Finally used by various Gurkha Regiments (Including Gurkha Rifles) from 1970-2000.
The land was sold to Bryant Homes in 2002 who want to redevelop the site for housing, shops and schools.
I would like to thank Mrs. Nicky Parsons for getting me access to the camp and I would also like to dedicate the report to all members or the RAMC as it was their original camp and with it being RAMC Corps Day on 23 June, I think it’s quite fitting!
On with the Pics....
1.
2.
3.
4.
I love the wood burners!
5.
7.
8.
9.
Sun Bathing on the Parade Square!... Don't let the Sergeant Major See!
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
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