Bordon and the Conford Range.

[Chris Abraham]

I live in Bordon Hampshire UK. As well as being into armour and ordnance i am also a local historian of the area. Bordon and the surrounding area during WW1 and WW2 stationed many Canadian units etc including the big Canadian base workshop in the camp that repaired all the tanks vehicles and weapons. Eventually the workshops were taken over by REME in post war years when the Canadians moved out in about 1948. As for vehicles the whole area in Pre war and WW2 was tank land, tanks everywhere of all types, including the rare ones and early war types. Most early tank photos shown on common land was taken locally.
The area still has many historical features that can be seen including the Atlantic wall which was built for testing to see if Hobart funnies and other weapons could breech the wall, its still there today. As well as the camps the Canadians were stationed at such as Bramshott, Headley, Whitley and Bordon, the Australians and New Zealand troops also occupied a camp near the Longmoor military railway known as Park camp on the Blackmoor estate. All the camps have long gone only the derelict footings remain for all to visit.
The area still has many hidden secrets from both wars including the latest one i found about 4 years ago, The Conford Range, a large Z shaped moving target range, with target trolleys on rails with cable winch house and a 30 yard range. This range was used mainly by the Canadian tank crews for gunnery practice for 30 yard training and coaxial machinegun practice before they went to bigger full sizes gunnery ranges in Wales or Lulworth in Dorset. The range is still on MOD land and those officials at Longmoor didn't know it existed. Much of the structure of Conford range is still there but hidden under a jungle of undergrowth and is now on a preservation list by the MOD under Operation Nightingale. The Book by John Owen Smith 'All tanked Up' gives an account of the Canadians in the area, which is worth a read, stating the use of the Conford range in extracts from Canadian Diary's. The Curtis Museum in Alton up the road has photos of Australian troops in the town most probably from Park camp.
It would be interesting to find if there are any Canadian or Australian or New Zealand Veterans still alive who were stationed in the area especial anyone who was at Park camp or used the Conford range.