History of the 30th Corps District
June 1945 to September 1946
May 45 – 30th Corps – HQ Eystrop near Verden renamed 30th Corps District Jun 45 – HQ Neinburg later Lüneburg responsible for the states of Hannover/Braunschweig/Oldenburg known as Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) from 1 Nov 46 disbanded Sep 46
General Officer Commanding: Lieutenant General BG Horrocks KBE CB DSO MC
CRA:
147 (Essex Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA to 8th Corps District Jun 45
32 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA – Rutenbrock
10 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA
86 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt RA
4 (Durham) Survey Regiment RA to 8th Armoured Brigade May 45
CRE:
11 Field Company RE
207 Field Park Company RE – Uelzen
22 Transport Coloum RASC
265 Forward Delivery Squadron disbanded Feb 46
168 (City of London) Light Field Ambulance RAMC disbanded Jul 45
May 45 – 86 (East Anglian) (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA from 2nd Army
113 (Durham Light Infantry) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA from 8th Corps
10 Survey Regiment RA from 8th Corps
Jun 45 – 147 Regiment RAC (Canadian) from 34th Armoured Brigade – Eastern border area disbanded Oct 45
Jul 45 – 9 Royal Tank Regiment from 34th Armoured Brigade – Luthe to 5th Infantry Division Aug 45
Jul 45 – 11 Royal Tank Regiment from 33rd Armoured Brigade – Konigslutter to 5th Infantry Division Nov 45
Jan 46 – 2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders from 227th (Highland) Infantry Brigade – Stade later Buxtehude Naval Barracks to Hamburg Sub Area Dec 46
Feb 46 – 1 Battalion Border Regiment from 5th Infantry Division – Northumbrian Barracks Wilhelmshaven to 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division Apr 46
1945 – 41 Company Pioneer Corps – Achim
1945 – 44 Company Pioneer Corps – Estorf
May 45 – 4th Army Group Royal Artillery from 2nd Canadian Infantry Division – HQ Oldenburg to 3rd Canadian Infantry Division CAOF Jul 45
3 Medium Regiment RA – Wehren
13 Medium Regiment RA
65 Medium Regiment RA
68 Medium Regiment RA – Oldenburg
79 (Scottish Horse) Medium Regiment RA – Oldenburg
May 45 – 5th Army Group Royal Artillery from 30th Corps – HQ Bremen to Dannenburg disbanded Apr 46
4 Royal Horse Artillery to 8th Corps Jul 45
10 Medium Regiment RA
7 Medium Regiment RA
64 Medium Regiment RA – Zeven to Salzgitter Jun 45 to Dannenburg Jul 45 disbanded Apr 46
84 (Sussex) Medium Regiment RA
121 (West Riding) Medium Regiment RA
52 (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Heavy Regiment RA
May 45 – 4th Armoured Brigade from 12th Corps – HQ unknown to 8th Corps District Jun 45
Commander: Brigadier RMP Carver CBE DSO MC
44 Royal Tank Regiment – Uetersen
3/4 County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) – Elmshorn to Lehmkuhlen (RHQ+HQ Sqn) Raisdorf (A Sqn) Salzau (B+C Sqn) Jun 45
CO: Lieutenant Colonel WAC Anderson DSO
2 Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps to 1st Parachute Brigade Denmark – May 45
Jun 45 – 1 East Riding Yeomanry from 33rd Armoured Brigade
May 45 – 8th Armoured Brigade from 30th Corps – HQ Hannover disbanded Mar 46
Commander: Brigadier GE Prior-Palmer
4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards – Grosserhain to Buxtehude to UK Jun 45
1 Battalion Nottinghamshire (Sherwood Rangers) Yeomanry – Hannover to Magdeburg Jun 45 to Einbeck Jul 45 disbanded Feb 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel S Christopherson later Lieutenant Colonel RH Ogden MC later Lt Col HHB Clegg
12 Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps disbanded Jan 46
May 45 – 4 (Durham) Survey Regiment RA from 30th Corps – Gehrden near Hannover disbanded 1946
Jun 45 – 1 Battalion Lothians and Border Horse Yeomanry from 30th Armoured Brigade – Warendorf to Hankensbuttel disbanded 1946
Jun 45 – 1 Battalion Staffordshire Yeomanry from 33rd Armoured Brigade – Buxtehude to Hannover Oct 45 disbanded Feb 46
Jun 45 – 13/18 Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own) from 79th Armoured Division – Hannover to 5th Infantry Division Oct 45
552 Company RASC disbanded 1946 later than the Brigade HQ
8 Armoured Brigade Workshops REME disbanded 1946 later than the Brigade HQ
8 Armoured Brigade Ordnance Field Park disbanded 1946 later than the Brigade HQ
May 45 – 4th Commando Brigade Royal Marines from 2nd Canadian Corps – HQ Minden later Warburg Jul 45 to UK late 45
47 Commando RM
48 Commando RM
Jun 45 – 60 Reinforcement Unit disbanded Jul 45
May 45 – 116th Infantry Brigade from 2nd Canadian Corps – HQ Wilhelmshaven detachments in Emden to UK Jun 45
Commander: Brigadier CF Phillips
27 Battalion RM
CO: Lieutenant Colonel Tailyour
28 Battalion RM
CO: Lieutenant Colonel J Taplin
30 Battalion RM – HQ Wilhelmshaven detachments in Emden to UK Jun 45
Commander: Brigadier CF Phillips
27 Battalion RM
CO: Lieutenant Colonel Tailyour
28 Battalion RM
CO: Lieutenant Colonel J Taplin only 23!
30 Battalion RM
May 45 – 305th Infantry Brigade from 2nd Army – HQ Dissen near Osnabrück to 3rd Canadian Infantry Division CAOF Jul 45
Brigade HQ from 49th Anti-Aircraft Brigade RA
622 Infantry Regiment RA disbanded Jun 45
624 Infantry Regiment RA disbanded May 45
639 (Essex Regiment) Infantry Regiment RA – Osnabrück area
Jun 45 – 7 Fuselier Battalion Belgium Army – Osnabrück area
Jun 45 – 9 Fuselier Battalion Belgium Army – Georgmarienshutte near Osnabrück
Jun 45 – 301st Infantry Brigade from 2nd Canadian Infantry Division – HQ unknown to 3rd Canadian Infantry Division CAOF Jul 45
616 Infantry Regiment RA
617 Infantry Regiment RA
619 Infantry Regiment RA
Jun 45 – 31st Anti-Aircraft Brigade RA from 2nd Canadian Infantry Division – HQ Weddigen Jugenherberge (YMCA) Wilhelmshaven to 3rd Canadian Infantry Division CAOF Jul 45
64 (Northumbrian) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA
98 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA
174 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA
Jun 45 – 75th Anti-Aircraft Brigade RA – Osnabrück area
Jun 45 – 107th Anti-Aircraft Brigade – HQ Bentheim
Jun 45 – 1st Armoured Engineer Brigade from 79th Armoured Division – HQ unknown disbanded Jul 45
Commander: Brigadier P St B Sydenham
149 Armoured Engineer Park Squadron RE (Brigade HQ)
5 Armoured Engineer Regiment RE
6 Armoured Engineer Regiment RE
42 Armoured Engineer Regiment RE to 7th Armoured Division Jul 45
Mar 46 – 4th Armoured Brigade from 8th Corps District – HQ Rotenburg to 1st Corps District Sep 46
Commander: Brigadier RMP Carver CBE DSO MC
3/4 County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) from 31st Armoured Brigade – Newcastle Barracks Hamm to Wyvern Barracks Lüneburg Jun 46 disbanded Sep 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel TC Williamson DSO
7 Royal Tank Regiment from 31st Armoured Brigade to UK Sep 46
Jun 46 – 7 Queen’s Own Hussars – Bournemouth Barracks Soltau to UK Dec 47
Jun 46 – 2 Battalion Devonshire Regiment from 131st Infantry Brigade Bristol Barracks Lüneburg
Jul 46 – Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons) – Wyvern Barracks Lüneburg
May 45 – Guards Armoured Division from 30th Corps – HQ unknown converted to infantry Rotenburg Airfield renamed Guards Division to 1st Corps District Jun 45
5th Guards Brigade – HQ Cuxhaven area
32nd Infantry Brigade (Guards) – HQ unknown
May 45 – 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division from 30th Corps – HQ unknown to 30th Corps District Jun 45 – HQ Celle disbanded Aug 46
130th Infantry Brigade – HQ unknown to Berlin Jun 46 then 5th Infantry Division as 30th Infantry Brigade Aug 46
129th Infantry Brigade – HQ unknown disbanded Aug 46
Jun 45 – 214th Infantry Brigade from 12th Corps – HQ unknown disbanded Aug 46
Jun 45 – 100th Anti-Aircraft Brigade – HQ Harburg
May 45 – 51st (Highland) Infantry Division from 30th Corps – HQ Schiffdorf near Bremen to 30th Corps District Jun 45 – HQ Syke disbanded Aug 46
152nd Infantry Brigade – HQ Shiel Barracks Verden disbanded Aug 46
153rd Infantry Brigade – HQ unknown to 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division Aug 46
154th Infantry Brigade – HQ Bremerhaven later Cuxhaven area disbanded Aug 46
Jun 45 – 306th Infantry Brigade from 21st Army Group – HQ unknown disbanded Aug 46
Jun 45 – 50th Anti-Aircraft Brigade – HQ Hinzel Forest Camp Bremervorde
May 45 – 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division from 30th Corps – HQ Bremen area to 21st Army Group Jun 45
155th Infantry Brigade – HQ unknown
156th Infantry Brigade – HQ unknown
157th Infantry Brigade – HQ unknown
306th Infantry Brigade from 21st Army Group – HQ unknown to 51st (Highland) Infantry Division Jun 45
May 45 – 2nd Canadian Infantry Division from 2nd Canadian Corps – HQ Aurich to Bad Zwischenahn Jun 45 replaced by 3rd Canadian Infantry Division CAOF Jul 45
4th Canadian Infantry Brigade – HQ unknown
5th Canadian Infantry Brigade – HQ unknown
May 45 – 1st Polish Armoured Division from 2nd Canadian Corps – HQ Wilhelmshaven to 30th Corps District Jun 45 – HQ Meppen disbanded Apr 47
General Officer Commanding: Major General S Maczex
10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade – HQ Wilhelmshaven
3rd Polish Infantry Brigade – HQ Wilhelmshaven
May 45 – 1st Polish Parachute Brigade from UK – HQ Osnabrück disbanded Apr 47
Jun 45 – 5th Infantry Division from 8th Corps – HQ unknown to 30th Corps District Jun 45 – HQ Yorkshire Barracks Braunschweig to 1st Corps District Sep 46
13th Infantry Brigade – HQ unknown attached 7th Armoured Division Jul 45 return unknown to Italy Aug 46 return May 47
15th Infantry Brigade – HQ unknown
17th Infantry Brigade – HQ unknown
Aug 46 – 30th Infantry Brigade from 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division – HQ unknown
Jul 45 – 3rd Canadian Infantry Division CAOF – HQ Bad Zwischenahn replaced by 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division May 46
2nd/7th Canadian Infantry Brigade CAOF – Maple Leaf Barracks Aurich
2nd/8th Canadian Infantry Brigade CAOF
2nd/9th Canadian Infantry Brigade CAOF
British Units under command
4th Army Group RA from 30th Corps – HQ Oldenburg to Hamburg District Apr 46
31st Anti-Aircraft Brigade RA – HQ Weddigen Jugenherberge (YMCA) Wilhelmshaven disbanded Mar 46
301st Infantry Brigade – HQ Emden area disbanded May 46
305th Infantry Brigade – HQ Dissen near Osnabrück to Emden Oct 45 disbanded Dec 45 – 30th Corps District for admin
Mar 46 – 15th Anti-Aircraft Brigade RA – HQ Weddigen Jugenherberge (YMCA) Wilhelmshaven to 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division Jun 46
Apr 46 – 7th Armoured Division from 8th Corps District – HQ unknown to Shiel Barracks Verden Aug 46 to 1st Corps District Sep 46
22nd Armoured Brigade – HQ Warendorf
131st Infantry Brigade – HQ Bristol Barracks Lüneburg
13th Infantry Brigade – HQ unknown attached from 5th Infantry Division to Aug 46
May 46 – 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division from 1st Corps District – HQ Crerar Barracks Oldenburg disbanded Aug 46
15th Anti-Aircraft Brigade Royal Artillery – HQ Wilhelmshaven to 1st Corps District Aug 46
155th Infantry Brigade – HQ unknown disbanded Jul 46
156th Infantry Brigade – HQ unknown disbanded Jul 46
157th Infantry Brigade from 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division – HQ unknown to 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division Aug 46
Schools
30 Corps District Tradesman School – Schessinghausen near Nienburg
1 Wing RE – 2 Wing RE – 3 Wing REME
43 Div Wyvern College – Bomlitz
43 Div Training School – 207 Field Park Company RE – Uelzen
51 Div School – Syke
8 Armd Bde School – Hannover
50 AA Bde School – Bremervorde
100 AA Bde School – Harburg
105 AA Bde School – 15 Katzure Hildesheim
107 AA Bde School – Bentheim
44 Coy Pioneer Corps Bricklayer School – Estorf
Pioneer Carpentry School – Achim
32 LAA Regt School – Rutenbrock
Forces Centre – The Schloss Neinburg
Forces Study Centre – Lüneburg
30 Corps District Church House – Delligsen near Alfeld
RC Retreat – Mardorf on Steinhunder Meer
Recreation locations
BAOR Leave Centre – Nordeney Island
30 Corps Leave Centre – Bad Harzburg Harz Mountains
Other ranks Kurhaus – Officers Harzburger Hof Hotel with Thirty Club in town
30 Corps Leave Centre – Mardorf Holiday Camp on Steinhunder Meer – Officers The Boar at Anchor (Strand Hotel) Steinhude
Yacht Clubs – Steinhunder Meer – Stadersand on the River Elbe
Cyclist Camps – Hameln – Holzminden – Dassel – Einbeck – Bad Gandersheim – Bockenem – Hildesheim – Elze – Koppenbrugge
14 towns in 30 Corps District had clubs and canteens
Studio Thirty Cinema – Nienburg
Belli’s Monster Circus – Osnabrück and Hannover
more research to follow...additions and amendments most welcome...steve@baor-locations.co.uk
Information sources
British Army Units 1945 on
30th Corps in Germany published in 1946
The History of the Corps of Royal Engineers volume X + XI by the institution of Royal Engineers
Sapper Magazine
The Royal Corps of Signals a History of its Antecedents and Development (circa 1800-1955) by Major General RFH Nalder CB OBE
The Royal Corps of Signals Unit Histories (1920-2001) by Cliff Lord and Graham E Watson
Wire Magazine
The British Army in Germany an Organizational History 1947-2004 by Graham E Watson and Richard A Rinald