Billingshurst, West Sussex

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

I received the following in email this morning, and was wondering off-hand whether any of you chaps can answer him? I can only presume that like most other establishments used by the Canadians, this one saw numerous formations pass through, but the fact that this was Armoured Corps might help.

Thanks.....

My name is John Xxxxx born in 1937. I live in Crawley, West Sussex.

During much of the war years I lived with an aunt in Five Oaks, near Billingshurst, West Sussex. Canadian troops were stationed just up the road and had tanks and bren gun carriers. My aunt, Rose Miller used to organise Sunday church services in a tin chapel opposite her cottage and supplied pens and paper for 'letters home'.

As a small boy I used to be fascinated by the armoury and the occasion 'gum' dispensed by the troops. My cousin Jose was a Land Army girls and my Uncle Jim tended to supply wild rabbits to the soldiers as a change of diet.

I am trying to identify the Canadian troops stationed in Nissen huts. The nearest big town with a cinema was Horsham.