No. 1 Cdn Det & F. P. Barracks
 

This item popped up on the Canadian Road Signs thread and caught my eye.

It was apparently based in, or near, Vught, Netherlands, and based on the photo posted, with the white washed rail fences, gate and the forests, looks to be rather a tranquil location. That raises a number of questions.

- What sort of offences got you a vacation at this camp?
- Did it cover all ranks?
- What was the facility, if one existed, before the war?
- Does the location still exist, or has it been totally redeveloped?

David

David,

I haven't checked yet, but I think the location could be the former SS concentration camp at Vught. As far as I know most barracks were taken down in post-war years, but some of brick buildings still remain as part of Dutch army base and some as civvy prison.

Alex

What would get a man locked up? Almost anything equal to a criminal conviction. Assault but worse than fighting, serious theft, willful damage to property, crimes against civilians, and the other serious military disciplinary charges.

Generally, Canadian military prisons do not discriminate on the basis of rank. Guilty means busted in rank and time in cells or doing punishments. The only acknowledgement of rank would be segregated quarters.

Alex. Wow! I was not aware such camps had been built in The Netherlands. I thought any camps built had been more along the lines of 'clearing facilities' where people were sent short term, before being relocated to much bigger camps. I do seem to recall a camp being mentioned, I think, in that area where Dutch troops returning from the East Indies were located at the end of the war. A demobilization base perhaps.

Fairly serious offences would pay your way into one of these detention camps then. Along the lines of 'The Hill' with Sean Connery I guess.

David