Summary

Buildings and trackways associated with a WWII military encampment (and later residence for polish displaced personel) shown on 1947 aerial photography. Petworth Park was home to three army camps during the war, accommodating up to 3,700 troops. In April 1944 the 27th Armoured Brigade moved into Petworth Park with the 'swimming' Shermans. After the war the camp was reused (perhaps until as late as 1957) as a resettlement camp for diaplced Polish personnel.

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Description

Buildings and trackways associated with a WWII military encampment (and later residence for polish displaced personel) shown on 1947 aerial photography. Petworth Park was home to three army camps during the war, accommodating up to 3,700 troops (2, p.11). In April 1944 the 27th Armoured Brigade moved into Petworth Park with the 'swimming' Shermans - they were inspected by the King, at Petworth, on 22 May 1944 (2, p.15). After the war the camp was reused as a resettlement camp for displace Polish personnel, possibly until as late as 1957 - it had a school and library (3).

During field survey (18/01/2013) several sections of exposed brick wall, most likely relating to the camp, were identified

Bob Johnson recalled living at the camp in 1951 (4):

I was eight in 1951 and my memories of this time are few but vivid as an eight year old would recall. My mother Vera Johnson had remarried to a polish man a Mr John Niewczasinski who lived at the Polish Camp in Petworth Park. It was quite a large camp; we were in number 27 as the address and year were recorded in my National Registration Identity Card.

What a glorious location backed by the undulating expanses of Petworth Park where deer roamed freely. The camp was adjacent to the northern edge of Lower Pond that was very close to a 2nd gate [with no lodge] which was the entrance along the London Road leading from Petworth. The pond was abundant with fish including Pike. My stepfather and I fished there a lot and as a family we spent many pleasant hours relaxing and fishing with rods and handlines.

It was the first, and only, time I lived in a Nissen hut. I believe they were also used by the Canadian Regiments who were based there during the war. Unusual as they were with their semi circlular shape in corrugated metal, they seemed quite roomy with a large area containing kitchen with butler sink plus dining - living room and maybe a couple of bedrooms and bathroom.
The one striking thing I remember is that when it rained the curved metal huts leaked like a sieve and many recepticals were laid out to catch the water. The interior panels were discoloured and distorted due to the frequent ingress of rain. The winters were icy cold and we made good use of the free standing coal fuelled stove in the large area. We also had a paraffin heater to warm the bedrooms prior to bedtime.

There were box shapes for the windows jutting out either side of the hut and ordinary flat windows in the front and rear walls.

I think that once a month the air raid siren was tested. It was an ingenious device that was hand operated by a handle which operated gearing inside to rotate a vaned wheel very fast to produce the wailing sound. I used to play with it, just rotating it enough to create a bit of a murmering. Quite often someone shouted at me to leave it alone.

My Mother, Stepfather and I used to go to Leconfield Hall for the local hop. There were usually plenty of other kids there to play with while the parents jived and jitterbugged. I believe I also attended the primary school located off Pound Street for a short while. We moved on to Sutton after about a year and I went to Sutton primary briefly before going to Duncton primary where I had commenced my schooling.

I do not know how many huts were still in use when we left. But I do know that huts were dismantled fairly quickly as occupants moved out and on to pastures new.
Bob Johnson, Cyprus

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