Forestry Memories

Cairnbaan Camp Argyllshire – after POW camp phase

Cairnbaan Camp Argyllshire – after POW camp phase

Date Added: 07 April 2020 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1946 Picture No: 4617

The images are sourced with help from Janet Quarton (a one time resident in the camp during its forestry phase) and also other contributors.

This image most likely taken by the RAF when its aerial photographic expertise was diverted from missions over Europe to carrying out a photographic survey of the whole of the home nations resulting in an invaluable database.

This image must have been taken very shortly after the area ceased to function as a prisoner of war camp. The added numbers refer to the buildings in place during its labour training camp phase and the letters to additional buildings, huts and constructions probably added during the war. Note that some Nissen huts around areas P and R appear to be in process of being demolished. No obvious signs of vehicles or people.

Any stories from the war time phase of the camp would be very welcome.

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Groups: Buildings in Forests, Forestry Areas

1 Comment

Some of the Nissen Huts were still there in the mid fifties, as I remember learning to ride a bike between them. They were knocked down to build the sawmill. I remember the hut labelled 3 was the wartime cookhouse because it still had the kitchen intact until they removed the equipment to turn it into a garage. To the right of hut 5 was apparently where the prisoners would play football. They would kick the ball into the bushes, two would go to look for it, only one returning, while the other would continue digging a tunnel through the bank. The tunnel was still there, but covered with bars, when I was living there. The fence ran along the top of the bank where the road is. Comment left on 22 April 2021 at 12:27 by Ian Stark
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