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US Base Pheasey Estate

Carolann Taylor said:
Hi Dave, did you ever post the slide of your old classroom you mentioned on the playground at Pheasey County Sec school on Collingwood Drive? I'm not that great at this but haven't been able to find it. Many thanks.
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Collingwood Drive School.

I attended 1959 to 1964. About 1962 the school developed a 5th Year GCE O Level form for the "elite". I, of course, was amongst the group in my years 59-64. (Don't shout it's a rare occasion I get to brag about something!! ). At one time my form class was in the huts room 11 and 12. Can't remember which room we were in. I think during my schooling they changed to room 13 and 14. With the new 5th year created space was a premium and the school built 2 class rooms behind the hall stage designated the form class room for the 5th years. The stage before the build was very deep and well able to deal with big productions put on by the community group and school. Who remembers The Pheasey Review an annual variety show put on by the pupils . Later we put on plays too. I played a drunk in a murder plot!. Still get drunk - but never involved in capital punishment crimes!
 
oldMohawk said:
The Commanding Officer of 322 Reinforcement Company used the house on the left. The house next door was used as the Orderly Room. The houses were on the corner of Chantrey Crescent and Romney Way.
View attachment 142624

The houses today ... the one on the right extended ...
View attachment 142625
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I wonder if this was the Commanding Officer of a tale I've mentioned here before?

The Home Guard (including my Dad) were asked to act out being enemy forces and protect Barr Beacon from invading allied forces aka the regiment based on Pheasey. This was organised to 1. give the US corps practice and 2. get used to snow and cold for the real European war. This was on a December week end. Remember most Home Guard troops were working on Saturdays (not sure if it was a full shift until 6pm). Barr Beacon was then and remains quite chilly in winter! The HG took up positions at about 8pm and waited and waited and eh waited for the invasion. At about 10:30pm the HG Commander (Mr Foster) made a field line call to the US Commander to request tentatively if the invasion is likely soon. Upon which the US Commander responded - "Gee, Commander it's much too cold to send my troops out in such weather"

I cannot confirm this incidents veracity but it's a good story. Almost a plot line from Dad's Army and I believed everything my Dad told me - did you? What's more I've enjoyed many drinks bought me over the years in reciting the story embellished, naturally, as all good stories.
 
Bill Groove said:
I wonder if this was the Commanding Officer of a tale I've mentioned here before?

The Home Guard (including my Dad) were asked to act out being enemy forces and protect Barr Beacon from invading allied forces aka the regiment based on Pheasey. This was organised to 1. give the US corps practice and 2. get used to snow and cold for the real European war. This was on a December week end. Remember most Home Guard troops were working on Saturdays (not sure if it was a full shift until 6pm). Barr Beacon was then and remains quite chilly in winter! The HG took up positions at about 8pm and waited and waited and eh waited for the invasion. At about 10:30pm the HG Commander (Mr Foster) made a field line call to the US Commander to request tentatively if the invasion is likely soon. Upon which the US Commander responded - "Gee, Commander it's much too cold to send my troops out in such weather"

I cannot confirm this incidents veracity but it's a good story. Almost a plot line from Dad's Army and I believed everything my Dad told me - did you? What's more I've enjoyed many drinks bought me over the years in reciting the story embellished, naturally, as all good stories.
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Dave M said:
Looking beyond the Curtains View attachment 153069
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Good photo looking onto the stage
Dave M said:
Looking beyond the Curtains View attachment 153069
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Good photo looking onto the stage. As far as I recall the back wall and doors in the picture of the stage were added to a accommodate construction of the two classrooms behind the artificial wall. The original stage went back much further. Nice to see that the proscenium surrounding the stage space is still in tact. Art Deco ? Nice One!
 
Hi, I’m currently researching family history, what I’d like to know is if anyone knows of any Canadian or American bases based around Erdington in early 1950’s if so let me know
Thanks Stella
 
Depends how near. There was an American base on Pheasey estate about 4 or 5 miles away

US Base Pheasey Estate

Are these the remains of the US Army Base that was here in the 2nd world war? North of Chantry Crescent was the place where the picture of the baseball game was being played. The HQ on Collingwood Drive may have been the building at the traffic circle S.E...
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk
 
chris wood said:
MY WIFE LIVED IN 31 RIPPINGILLE ROAD IN 1960S LYNDA BUXTON
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Hi Chris, Do you remember me, I helped you move your furniture to your new home in Tamworth, in a speedy commer van if I remember right, about the same time you were hit over the head with an ashtray in the Trees public house, small world,
 
I spent the first few years of my life at 51 Rippingille road. I have been looking back at the houses that I lived in as a child and remember my parents telling me that the US army lived in the houses on Rippingille road and after the war they were then sold off. I am sure that my mother told me that my father had to queue with £50 to buy one of the houses. Sadly my mother is no longer alive to ask more questions, does anyone have any more information about the houses on Rippingille Road and their history. I remember attending Barr Beacon infants school for a short time before we moved Harbourne.
 
Suzanne Steel said:
I spent the first few years of my life at 51 Rippingille road. I have been looking back at the houses that I lived in as a child and remember my parents telling me that the US army lived in the houses on Rippingille road and after the war they were then sold off. I am sure that my mother told me that my father had to queue with £50 to buy one of the houses. Sadly my mother is no longer alive to ask more questions, does anyone have any more information about the houses on Rippingille Road and their history. I remember attending Barr Beacon infants school for a short time before we moved Harbourne.
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Hi, some time ago, here on this site, we had a long run about the camp, and the houses and who lived where on the Estate, lots of pictures too ( this is one of many) so I would expect a lot of replies to your post. Thanks. Gerry.GIs_on_Pheasey_WW2.jpg
 
I have an excellent book by Fran and Martin Collins called 'They also serve who stand and wait'. A history of Pheasey Farms, US Army Replacement depot-sub depot of the 10th Replacement Depot 1942/1945. Lots of stories and photographs from people involved there. (Brewin Books).
 
When it became a junior school in the early 1970s I was in several classes there. At one time in the rooms that were built behind the stage.
During the coal strike the school had no fuel so we had to use the huts, attempting only for a few hours, for a few days every week.
 
Carolann Taylor said:
Thank you Dave this is great. I always wondered (my fascination with the farm!) when Pheasey farmhouse itself was demolished. Do you or anyone else remember it? It's mentioned that the farmhouse and outbuildings were used by the army as offices etc. I do know that the old barn was used as a community centre for some time after the war and that the barn was demolished in the 60's.
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The old barn you refer to was in fact located in what’s known as Park Farm Estate, Pheasey farm was located behind the community centre which was once Pheasey Secondary Modern School, in the early sixties there were still a few farm buildings standing which were used as a some what youth club playing 45 rpm singles, This is why the school was referred to as the “ Cow Sheds” I attended this school 1963 - 1967 .
 
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