Report - Queen Elizabeth Barracks (Boyce Barracks/Haig Lines), Fleet, Hants 20/06/2010 Part-2

[SgtSam]

WARNING - VERY PICTURE HEAVY

Part 2-Messes and Clubs
I’m not going to cover the history again, as it’s all in part ONE of the reports.

For Part - 1 with Camp History, Click the link below
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=51321

Most Army camps will have a number of Messes and/or Clubs, normally Officers Mess, Sergeants & Warrant Officers Mess, Corporals Mess and a Junior or Other/All Ranks Club.

I managed to find all the above on QE Barracks. The only one I was unable to get into was the Other Ranks Cook House as this was being used for storage. But I was able to get in to the all the Messes, I was very shocked to find the JRs Club was better fitted out then the Officers or Sgts mess, the only thing I can think of is that they stripped the messes when they left.

The Sgts mess was very plain and typical. The officers mess was decorated with some amazing pictures from their very last party.

We found an additional Bar in the training wing as well. My guess this was an ‘easy’ room for those on courses with 28 AEC rather than a bar.

The Officers Mess

The Sergeants And WOs Mess

Other Ranks & Corporls Mess with NAFFI

"There must be a Beer round here somewhere?"

"Ah...! Whats That?"

"Gutted, it's empty"

The Camp Spar Shop

A very strange false wall at the back of the JR Club leading to 4 accommodation rooms?


Look forward to Part 3... Traininig Wing And Cinemas!

 

[SgtSam]

I have just been corrected in posting too many reports of the same place (Slap my wrist) So I’ll tag the rest on here over the next 2 days.

Part 3 – Training Wing and Cinemas

We stumbled on the training we by total accident, outside it looks like a normal accommodation block, but we saw an open door of a different style, so had to take a look.

There was clear signs of use of the TW after the camp was closed also looking round the site we found blood up walls, on windows and Police tape everywhere... Was a little worrying at first, until we worked out it must have been from various Police training exercises. It was only Cas-sim blood! <phew>

The Main cinema has been covered before, so only a few shots of that, but we also found a smaller cinema next door.
The projectors in the Main Cinema where just cool though!

A sound proof room, guessing where the Gurkha's did there english exams?

Cinemas

Police Traininig (We Hope)

 

[SgtSam]

Part 4 – Accommodation

Just a few photos for the accommodation as it all pretty much looks the same.

The rooms are set up for 14 bed spaces in the main rooms 6 rooms to the block, there are side rooms just off the main ones, this was mainly for the Junior NCOs (Corporals), also one end of the main corridor is the toilets and the other end shower rooms.
The odd store room and drying rooms are also dotted around.

Some of the rooms were still in a very good state

Other Rooms were beoyond it!

A bit worrying in the shower rooms!

God save the Queen!

 

[SgtSam]

Last set... This was a big site, and managed to cover it all over 3 days. It’s always a shame to see places like this disappear into a modern housing estate. With over 60 years of British Military history within its fences. I just wanted to share as much as I can.

Part – 5 Military Transport (MT) Park

The MT park was in the south of the camp in a separate compound. Contained a very large vehicle parking area, and a number of garages and workshops. At the south of the park was a POL point with 2 pumps and office. I didn’t know it was there originally, but there was a 2nd 25m rifle range behind the park.

As I left the site, looking back, as daft as it sounds, felt a little sadness.

Thanks for looking!