Christchurch council from december 1946 to 1961 used the old accommodation sites including. The new forest at war is a very interesting read for anyone interested in the history of the new forest or just wartime history. During the late 1930s, the suitability of the land near holmsley, west of the a35, had been noted, but it was not until 1941 that construction of a major ww2 airfield commenced. A 1946 raf aerial image of holmsley south airfield and 1946 asset plan of the site compiled by the air ministry works directorate in preparation for closing and returning the site to original landowners provide a good overview of the scale of activity at one of the main new forest wwii airfields. The holmsley story a history of a new forest airfield in. Old station tea rooms, station road, holmsley, burley. This article incorporates public domain material from the air force historical research. Raf transport command then took control of the airfield in october of the same year and aircraft such as vickers warwicks, consolidated b24 liberators and avro yorks. Christchurch history society the porch room, priory.
By the start of july 1944 the airfield had been handed over to the usaaf as station 455 and the americans flew martin b26 marauder medium bombers from holmsley for a month. During the late 1930s, the suitability of the land near holmsley, west of the a35 had been noted, but it was not until 1942 that construction of an airfield to class a standards commenced. The story of aviation at christchurch is told in this book, the first of two in a series. A new forest walk around holmsley south airfield fonfa. The stations finest hour was undoubtedly when it played an instrumental part of troop and freight deployment to the aerodrome at holmsley south during ww2. The airfield is located approximately 5 miles northeast of christchurch, dorset. Raf holmsley south is a former world war ii airfield in hampshire, england. On several occasions during the following years, aircraft landed at holmsley in error,thinking they were at hurn.
Today, the taxiways and aircraft hard standings have been transformed into roads and parking spots, keeping the landscapes working history very much alive. Christchurch history society the porch room, priory house quay road, christchurch dorset, england, bh23 1bx. Today some forty years later, i am now astonished to find that in its day it was a major raf aerodrome in late 1944 with, although having only temporary accommodation, some 2625 raf personnel on. In 1933, beatty hangs out at the airport where her pilot father flies mail.
John brooks, honorary treasurer and former chairman of fonfa has written a tribute below. A war diary of the 394th bomb group at holmsley during wwii. We will display it with photographs of how the fittings were used. Holmsley campsite and caravan park is one of the larger campsites that lies in the stunningly beautiful new forest. Holmsley campsite occupies part of what used to be holmsley airfield in wwii one of 12 new.
The stations name was changed to holmsley on november 1862. The airfield is located approximately 5 miles 8 km northeast of christchurch. May 02, 2020 ron eden fonfa member and standard bearer for highcliffe branch royal british legion, born 1st may 1937, died 2nd april 2020, age 82yrs. Michael jones book, fairoaks airport, an illustrated history, was a real labour of love and he continues to share his passion about the chobham airfield, currently under threat of closure to. Wartime airfields of the new forest this 6 minute trailer shows a selection of shots taken from this 90 minute documentary film. It is also one of 12 new forest wartime airfields and advanced landing grounds that were in use at that time. It was opened in 1942 and was first used by raf coastal command and usaf for maritime patrol and antisubmarine operations. During the war it was used primarily as a bomber and later as a transport airfield. The content covers the airspeed aircraft factory, vickers at hurn airfield and. Holmsley south was not winktons parent unit but was much closer and was a large new permanent airfield with excellent facilities and moreover it also hosted a number of military and civilian. The station was opened in 1847 as christchurch road by the southampton and dorchester railway. Holmsley campsite occupies part of what used to be holmsley airfield in wwii one of 12 new forest wartime airfields and advanced learning grounds. The station building on the opposite side of station road has been extended and converted into a tea room. A 586th bomb squadron, 394th bomb group b26 marauder h9c, serial number 42962 is bombed up at south holmsley airfield on the 31st of august 1944.
Occupying part of what used to be holmsley airfield in the second world war, it is one of 12 wartime airfields and advanced landing grounds in the new forest. Holmsley campsite, new forest national park hampshire. It is an interesting commentary on what remains around the area today, 75 years after the busiest period of the airfields history. The os grid reference for the memorial is su212989. Holmsley south bomb loading the real new forest guide. In those days we used part of a runway and i never gave the history a single thought it was just a very convenient place with loads of space. In 1907, holmsley was the arrival point of kaiser willhelm of germany and his cabinet, to attend a conference with major stewart. History of the old station tea rooms download our history as a. Coaches served these places until the construction of direct lines, from firstly ringwood and then brockenhurst. The new forest made a major contribution to the second world war effort and was home to a number of substantial airfields including beaulieu world war two airfield a, holmsley south b and stoney cross c other smaller, but nonetheless important, airfields were. The airfield consisted of three runways of 5,910 ft 0725, 4,200 ft 1230, and 4,110 ft 1836. Raf andover project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
It was completed in 1942 as a class a airfield and first used by raf coastal command until december 1943. In october 1944 transport command took over and continued as the main user untill the airfield closed in october 1946. The memorial is located on black lane, holmsley south off the a35 between christchurch and new milton. The first users were raf coastal commanduntil 1243 after which control of the airfield passed to 2 taf. Holmsley south airfield overview new forest knowledge. Ron pictured at the new forest airfields memorial in 2012 ron eden fonfa member and standard bearer for highcliffe branch royal british legion, born 1st may 1937, died 2nd. Airfield by jeanette ingold meet your next favorite book. The holmsley story a history of a new forest airfield in war and peace by white, leslie r.
Plus thousands of other campsites and caravan parks in uk and europe. Its on the old holmsley south airfield and as such good use is made of the aircraft stands for caravans. During may and june 1943 the long range glider towing trial with halifaxes and horsas was conducted. Holmsley campsite new forest camping in the forest. It might interest you to know that this particular site is situated on what used to be holmsley airfield in world war 2. You can still see evidence of this and it means that it is an ideal place for long, flat walks and safe cycles for all the family. Fonfa members and visitors to our website may be interested in a video made by dave ford, about the wartime holmsley south airfield site. Based on an old world war ii airfield, holmsley is a site steeped in fascinating history and is on the edge of the new forest national park, giving you the perfect opportunity to see ponies, deer and other wildlife. May 04, 2017 michael jones book, fairoaks airport, an illustrated history, was a real labour of love and he continues to share his passion about the chobham airfield, currently under threat of closure to. Beaulieu airfield has a strong link to the very first days of flying in the new forest the new forest flying club was established in 1910 on the other side of the beaulieulymington road adjacent to the village of east boldre.
A history of a new forest airfield in war and peace. From the beginning of 1944 it was used for raids over france and. It might interest you to know that this particular site is situated on what used to be holmsley airfield in world war 2 it is also one of 12 new forest wartime airfields and advanced landing grounds that were in use at that time. A brief history of the old station tearooms at holmsley. Raf holmsley south was one of the 12 airfields built in the new forest area. Holmsley campsite and caravan park life in the new forest. Other smaller, but nonetheless important, airfields were located in and around the edge of the area. Nov 06, 2019 fonfa members and visitors to our website may be interested in a video made by dave ford, about the wartime holmsley south airfield site. The site is on a second world war airfield and theres an interesting book in.
For a detailed history of christchurch aerodrome see the book wings over dorset. In 1907, holmsley was the arrival point of kaiser willhelm of germany and his cabinet, to attend a conference with major stewart wortley at highcliffe castle. Raf holmsley south was built over the winter of 1941 and 1942 to provide accommodation for units required for operation torch in north africa. Holmsley south airfield christchurch history society. The twelve airfields of the new forest area played an important part in. Holmsley campsite, new forest national park hampshire, hampshire. Unfortunately the forestry commision have been digging up a lot of the aviation history within the new forest. White book condition used publisher privately printed, date published 1995 keywords topography, hampshire, hants, new forest, holmsley, aviation, ww2, l. And yes it is lots of tarmac but thats because it was a ww2 airfield its a bit of history that just adds to the atmosphere and not a problem in a campervan with no awning. This memorial is to be found at the western end of holmsley south airfield, now holmsley campsite, just off the main a35 lyndhurstchristchurch road. Ibsley was known as usaaf station aaf347 for security reasons by the usaaf during the war, and by which it was referred to instead of location. Fonfa the friends of the new forest airfields charity. A history of holmsley station and tea rooms with many photographs.
Holmsley southplain heath was built during the summer of 1942,opening for flying in september whilst unfinished. When raf holmsley south airfield was built on the land what is now the east end of lyndhurst road, holmsley south was known to all as plains heath and winkton common plantation. Collected memories around the wartime airfield at winkton. To enjoy a forest holiday at holmsley campsite, book online now.
Holmsley caravan park, like many others was once a ww11 airfield. May 21, 2017 the platform is still extant, a public footpath follows the course of the line west towards ringwood through holmsley station. The station closed in 1964, a casualty of the programme of closures advocated by the beeching report. The heathland at the eastern end of the site provides a chance to relax and enjoy the serenity of nature. New forest facts james ii 16851688 was the last monarch to hunt in the new forest. Now with a slightly different role, the site accommodates thousands of campers every year, offering them a beautiful and unique forest base for camping holidays and outdoor activities. The old station tea rooms holmsley, burley history. It is with sadness that we have to record the death of one of our long serving members and a former trustee, ron eden. Books and booklets publications christchurch history society. The domestic sites or raf camp as it was known stretched westerly along the lyndhurst road for some three quarters of a mile and into harrow road. It is an interesting commentary on what remains around the area today, 75 years after the busiest period of the airfield s history.
Like nearby raf beaulieu, holmsley was originally chosen as one of a number of airbases for coastal command in order to combat the german u boat threat, mainly in the english channel. Ron was a former trustee and helped over the years especially when we took over the standby generator building in 2015. Sited next to a bridge carrying the a35 road over the line, it was initially the nearest station for the towns of christchurch and bournemouth. Holmsey south uk airfield guide a guide to the history. New forest airfields beaulieu, holmsley, stoney cross. A tribute to the various airfield sites and other important locations, towns and villages in the new forest and surrounding countryside. The holmsley story a history of a new forest airfield in war. Holmsley station was also used as a fictional station named browndean in the 1899 novel the wrong box by a local resident named louis stephenson. Fairoaks airport book reveals history of airfield earmarked. Holmsley occupies what used to be holmsley airfield, one of 12 wartime advanced landing grounds and airfields that scatter the new forest.
Unusual find at wwii holmsley south airfield donated to fonfa. Article from action stations about the history of holmsley south airfield. Many antisubmarine operations were flown from beaulieu, an important role in the airfields history. The station fell under the control of the london and south western railway before becoming part of the southern railway in the 1923 railway grouping. Holmsley south airfields of britain conservation trust uk. Indeed, the aircraft hard standings and taxiways are now the campsite roads and parking spots. Egwa is a former royal flying corps and royal air force station located 2 miles 3. Its history is reflected in its landscape large open fields dotted with trees. History of holmsley south airfield in hampshire uk. Packed with photos, some previously unpublished, and information on life in and the role of the new forest during the war. Although that site was used during wwi, the need for a larger airfield for wwii meant that that site was no longer. The new forest made a major contribution to the second world war effort and was home to a number of substantial airfields including beaulieu world war two airfield a, holmsley south b and stoney cross c.
55 1453 290 427 478 258 5 1133 1300 1599 566 1410 1299 110 482 414 168 468 145 146 254 1299 45 302 933 1359 1389 1609 1388 593 1127 41 667 311 357 1409 411 597 1044 1308