Irrespective of capbadge, rank, or Regiment we need your memories of Catterick. If you worked for NAAFI, SKC, SSVC, Sandes, YMCA or the Salvation Army tell us your story, post your pics. 2014 sees 100 years of Catterick Camp. A group of volunteers are currently trawling through newspaper archives, and other historical information to collate an accurate picture of life at Catterick. Did your Regiment serve here? If so when? What barracks/lines were you accommodated in? The intention is to create an independent website in the near future and produce from that a Centenary Book. All proceeds will go to service charities. Contact can be made via Catterickcamphistory@hotmail.co.uk or

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003364020730

Alternatively, post your pics and memories here.

The arrsehole of the British Army (or does that honour fall to Aldershot)? Sorry, but all I want to do with Catterick is forget it. Richmond's pleasant enough, though.

Learnt to swim in Sandes pool as a schooboy. Both my school & scout troop used it.

Must agree Democritus, there are those who are more than happy to leave Catterick behind. By the same token the bulk of the local population is made up of former service personnel. So, what was it that turned you against the place?

The weather, mostly! And the shortage of local available birds and civilized boozers (myself excluded). Then there were the courses, the bullshit and the general atmosphere of the place (all true of most garrison towns, to be fair). As I said, Aldershot runs it a close second IMO, and Catterick certainly has the edge in beautiful open country within spitting distance. Plus all that excellent Yorkshire grub and ale when you managed to get away from the cookhouse. Mmmm, perhaps, in retrospect, I might modify my views ...

Easy pleased if you can be bought with a pint of Black Sheep and a Yorkshire pud.

I enjoyed my time at Catterick, but then I suppose that was down to being at two brilliant units (24 (Airmobile) Field Ambulance at Gaza Bks (now demolished) and Duchess of Kent Military Hospital - both of which no longer exist) with great mates.

My mother also served in the RMP at Catterick during and after WWII, and had nothing good to say about the place. Her abiding memory was of being on traffic control at the main junction (I'm assuming this was the roundabout at the junction of Catterick Road and Richmond Road) and squaddies trying to run her over! Unfortunately I can't pass on any more memories as mother is now residing in a box in the bottom of my wardrobe...

More likely to be what we now know as St Oswalds roundabout. I have a photo from 1942 to be placed on the FB page in the near future that shows the crossroads Hipswell Rd East and West bisected by Richmond Rd. Pity about your mother being in the wardrobe, she would have been a great help.

Went there twice; once to be needlessly shouted-at for a few months, then, years later to get a vasectomy. Even this Blacksheep-drinking, Yorkshire-pudding-eating native has only crap memories of the place. Seems to suit Dale, though.

I hated the Dump and still do, although Mrs Arters liked the place.
Due to attending a long Trade Course and just having been married, we were lucky
to get Quarters.
1. Mobile home on the old Aisne Lines
2. House on Hambleton Rd.

Returned(under duress) to Schemes Gp and had a decent Qtr on Aisne Rd.
Couldn't wait to get out of the place, though, an Adv. Trg. Pal(SSM 1 SQN) wangled
a way out for me.

Best bloody move we ever made, escaping that hole.

If any place deserves a delivery of 'Instant Sunshine' it's this piece of 'Unreal Estate'