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Braunstone At War

© Elizabeth Batt

Braunstone as a Military Camp - The Early Years

Braunstone Park's first use as a military camp began in 1940 when it became home to the Local Defence Volunteers - later to become known as the Home Guard.
The Home Guard companies were formed in towns or villages, or between a group of villages, or as a part of a factory work-force, such as the one formed during the war by Leicester City Transport.

Braunstone had their own Home Guard company, as Mr. D. C. Hamilton remembers. He writes, "Then came the War, the blackout, and in 1940 the fall of France. The Government set up a "Dad's Army," - the Home Guard. My father and I (aged 17) joined.….together and we were based at Braunstone Hall which was our Headquarters. I can remember well doing arms drill with wooden rifles as there were not enough real rifles to go around. A proud moment for me was when I was issued with a Canadian Ross rifle.
I can remember being on sentry duty at the Hall (in 1940) during an air-raid when a land-mine exploded on the park. The Park Keeper was in our Company and he volunteered to find out where the land-mine had dropped….as he knew every inch of the park. He did find the land-mine - he fell in the crater!"

With regard to casualties there is one war grave in St. Peter's church yard to Pte. R. S. Welsh, 50 years, 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Home Guard who died of an illness contracted whilst on duty.

Braunstone Gets "Airborne"

The American 82nd Airborne Division arrived in Leicester on 14th February 1944 with Major General Ridgeway as their Divisional Commander. On the 17th February an entry made, in the log book of Braunstone Hall School, by the Headmaster notes that "During the weekend the Artillery left the camp and it was filled with American coloured troops."

A local resident tells us that "the American Army was racially segregated during the War" and that black American troops "came to the park first" to establish the camps infrastructure.

During their stay at Braunstone, General Gavin was appointed Commander of the US 82nd Airborne Division, becoming the youngest General since the American Civil War. His Headquarters were in Braunstone Park. A group of Nissen huts became home for his troops for a few short months before the 'drop' into Holland in September 1944.

Despite the comings and goings of various military groups, Braunstone Hall continued as a primary school during the war. The school managed to function normally throughout the period despite many difficulties.