Most unusual accommodation?

• by LancashireLass

  So far I've found the KRRC sleeping in a lunatic asylum (still used) and a public house as well as the usual fields. Any other unexpected locations found?

  Posted January 25, 2014 10:52 PM

• by charcinders

  I saw a reference to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders billeted in an orphanage.

  Posted January 26, 2014 1:33 PM

• by lewisbeels

  Skating Rink!

  Posted January 26, 2014 3:33 PM

• by LancashireLass

  Tobacco Factory

  Posted January 31, 2014 10:05 PM

• by HeatherC moderator

  Here's a good one http://talk.operationwardiary.org/#/subjects/AWD000052q - bleaching factory!

  Posted March 5, 2014 9:15 AM

• by brecon_beacons

  January 2nd 1916: the 6th Dragoon Guards billeted in a girl's school - imagine those big hairy soldiers in bunks made for little girls! But I suppose any bed better than none:
  http://talk.operationwardiary.org/#/subjects/AWD0000hup

  Posted March 7, 2014 9:07 PM

• by bootnecksbs

  Racecourse in the middle of winter (no overhead cover nor protection on the ground) and the next day the poor chaps couldn't stand up let alone mount-up. (Dragoons)

  Posted April 14, 2014 1:59 PM

• by Poodle

  3rd Mobile Veterinary Section in a beetroot factory

  Posted April 15, 2014 10:37 PM

• by David_Underdown moderator

  More likely to be sugar beet than beetroot I suspect, Sucrerie's (sugar factories) were a fairly common industrial feature.

  Posted April 16, 2014 9:48 AM

• by SarahtheEntwife

  I have also seen a listed a trench named "Beetroot Factory" (decidedly disturbing implications for why they might have nicknamed it that...).

  Posted April 20, 2014 10:38 AM

• by atozvet

  I too saw the entry of Beetroot Factory but I assumed they were billeted in an abandoned factory, perhaps where sugar beet used to be processed. I assume the British 'Tommy' would have only been familiar with imported cane sugar so their nearest guess about the building's use was that the French were using 'beetroot' to extract sugar from. The colour of the root used would not necessarily been red?

  Posted April 22, 2014 6:37 PM

• by SarahPowell

  1st Berkshire Regiment billeted near Ypres in a diamond cutting factory: http://talk.operationwardiary.org/#/subjects/AWD00013ur

  Posted May 6, 2014 1:25 PM

• by SarahPowell

  Tobacco factory and orphanage in Bethune for 1st Bn Berkshire Regt: http://talk.operationwardiary.org/#/subjects/AWD00013pf

  Posted May 18, 2014 9:05 PM

• by cyngast moderator

  In October 1918, the 1st Bn. Loyal North Lancashires ended up at least resting in a canal tunnel near, and southeast of, Lehaucourt. The tunnel is still there today apparently as it shows up on the Google maps.

  Posted June 13, 2014 8:11 PM

• by Poodle

  Officers of 1st East Surrey in a hen house on December 23rd 1915. "Fowls of which are absent, but the smell remains."

  Posted August 26, 2014 9:29 PM

• by SarahPowell

  Part of 14th Battalion Durham Light Infantry at Loos Brewery (which appeared to be in the front line) in Aug 1917: http://talk.operationwardiary.org/#/subjects/AWD0001ldi

  Posted September 30, 2014 11:49 AM

• by josiepegg

  convent - unoccupied!

  Posted October 7, 2014 4:42 PM

• by SarahPowell

  Vaults beneath museum in Arras (15th Royal Warwickshire Regt, April 1916)

  Posted October 17, 2014 12:53 PM

• by cyngast moderator

  Ypres Prison! Also in the Ramparts wall at Ypres!

  Posted October 17, 2014 1:51 PM

• by ral104 moderator, scientist

  I bet that was cold!

  Posted October 20, 2014 9:27 AM

• by cyngast moderator

  I've been reading a book titled 1915 by Lyn Macdonald and there is a photograph in it of an entrance into the catacombs in the ramparts. The photo credit says it is from the Imperial War Museum. Maybe you would be able to find it?

  The book is about that year on the Western Front and includes many personal diary entries of men from a variety of units and ranks regarding their experiences.

  Posted October 26, 2014 9:48 PM

• by 141Dial34

  Brewery!

  Posted October 27, 2014 2:45 AM

• by ral104 moderator, scientist in response to cgastwein@aol.com's comment.

  Might not be the same image, but here's an interesting one: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205284236

  Posted October 27, 2014 10:13 AM

• by HeatherC moderator in response to ral104's comment.

  It is the same one Rob 😃

  Great pic!

  Posted October 27, 2014 10:39 AM

• by ral104 moderator, scientist

  Ah, great! Here's another, more clearly showing the accommodations...

  http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205271940

  Posted October 27, 2014 11:30 AM

• by DZM admin in response to ral104's comment.

  @ral104... It looks like the Shire! Does anyone else get that feeling?

  Posted October 28, 2014 10:16 AM

• by HeatherC moderator in response to DZM's comment.

  It does rather doesn't it!

  Posted October 28, 2014 12:46 PM

• by ral104 moderator, scientist

  😄 I never thought of that, but now you mention it...

  Posted October 28, 2014 1:14 PM

• by cyngast moderator

  Perhaps his experiences in dugouts were an inspiration of sorts?

  Thanks for looking up these photos, Rob. I love it when things come together, like my reading this book at the same time as I was tagging my way through a diary where the unit was billeted in the ramparts.

  Posted October 31, 2014 4:17 PM

• by SarahPowell

  Fantastic photos! The Wipers Times makes several ironic references to the 'Hotel des Ramparts', which I have always assumed referred to an actual ruined hotel - I didn't realise the men lived in the ramparts. It's great to make this connection.

  Posted November 7, 2014 8:06 AM

• by ral104 moderator, scientist

  It is, isn't it? This is the first I'd heard of it too, but it's really fantastic when you have one of those 'oh! So that's what they meant!' moments.

  Posted November 7, 2014 9:16 AM

• by cyngast moderator

  As I've continued reading "1915" I've learned that after Ypres was evacuated the soldiers furnished their accommodations in the Ramparts with items taken from shelled houses and stores: furniture, rugs, etc.

  Posted November 7, 2014 9:25 PM

• by marie.eklidvirginmedia.com

  These Lyn Macdonald books about WW1 are so informative. Apart from '1915' , I read her other books with interest , particularly, Passchendaele and Somme. Books containing Letters/Diaries of the men who endured this war, are so evocative and contain amazing stories. The stories, photographs and maps bring the War Diaries to life.

  Posted November 8, 2014 2:18 PM

• by josiepegg

  http://talk.operationwardiary.org/#/subjects/AWD0002wdk

  Field Ambulance in the monastery of Trappist Monks

  Posted November 19, 2014 6:23 PM

• by ral104 moderator, scientist

  I wonder if they left any of their famous beer behind!

  Posted November 20, 2014 10:31 AM

• by SarahPowell

  Secunderabad Field Ambulance set up the divisional hospital in a billiard saloon in Meaulte: http://talk.operationwardiary.org/#/subjects/AWD0002vnc

  Posted November 30, 2014 2:59 PM

• by ral104 moderator, scientist

  Wow. I wonder if they made any use of the billiard tables. I suppose they could have done duty as makeshift beds or even operating tables.

  Posted December 2, 2014 10:21 AM

• by SarahPowell

  Part of the 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers billeted in a train on a railway line near Bethune: http://talk.operationwardiary.org/#/subjects/AWD0001p07

  Posted January 23, 2015 7:24 PM

• by ral104 moderator, scientist

  I wonder if the officers got the first class carriages.

  Posted January 27, 2015 10:54 AM