Burlish Camp
Camp Burlish and Rifle Range
The area known locally as Burlish Camp gained the name “camp” from the era of the Second World War. In 1943 American troops began to arrive in Britain in large numbers often ferried across the Atlantic in the great ocean liners at high risk. Landing mainly in Glasgow or Liverpool they were transported to tented or hutted camps.
The camps here were known by the US Army as Camp Bewdley No.1 and No.2 they served as HQ (Headquarters) facilities for the 8th and 12th Corps. of the US Army. The Rifle Range area was used for training exercises.
When the army left for France after D-Day the sites were converted to Hospital Facilities Nos. 114 and 297 and served as such until June 1945, dealing with the wounded from the battles in Europe.
The Camp was maintained until 1950 when local families, many of Polish ex-servicemen, took over the site. The site was run as a housing estate by Stourport Town Council until sufficient post-war new housing was available. Camp No. 1 (Hospital 297) became the Burlish housing estate and Camp No. 2 (Hospital 114) was then cleared and became a nature reserve.
The camp at war
U.S. Army (Europe) Corps Headquarters (December 1943 – June 1944)
Camp Bewdley
105 acres of land owned by Kidderminster Corporation were requisitioned by the War Oce on 18th September 1942 for the construction of 2 dual purpose camps designed for hospital use, each capable of accommodating 2200 troops. Construction of the camps was completed by October 1943.
The installations were designated Bewdley Camp No. 1 and Bewdley Camp No.2 by the U.S Army.
The site of Camp No.1 near Burlish Crossing is now a housing estate.
The first occupants of Bewdley No.2 Camp were the 373rd Engineer G.S. Regiment consisting of 54 Officers and 1241 Enlisted Men arriving on 19th November 1943.
These troops were engaged in the construction of 8 camps in the South Shropshire area for the pending arrival of the U.S 90th Infantry Division.
With the arrival of the VIII Corps the camp became an important Command Post.
VIII Corps
Arrived: 20 December 1943
Departed: 12 April 1944
Commanding General: Major General Emil F. Reinhardt until 13 March 1944; Major General Troy H. Middleton from 13 March 1944
Corps Strength HQ Units: 107 Officers 357 Enlisted Men
The Corps were responsible for securing supplies, transportation and accommodation for units arriving in the Western Base Section of the United Kingdom and supervising their training. Direct telephone links were installed to U.S Headquarters in London, to 1st and 3rd Army Headquarters and other Base Sections.
XII Corps
Arrived: 5 April 1944
Departed: 15 June 1944
Commanding General: Major General Gilbert R. Cook
Corps Strength HQ units: 107 Officers 357 Enlisted Men
The occupants of Bewdley Camp No. 1 at this time:
3rd Auxiliary Group: 132 Officers, 70 Nurses and 176 Enlisted Men.
2nd Cavalry Group Squadrons: 92 Officers, 5 Warrant Officers and 1523 Enlisted Men.
93rd Signal Battalion: 31 Officers, 1 Warrant Officer, 897 Enlisted Men
Old Blood and Guts
General George S. Patton made a characteristic speech to the troops on 31st May 1944
