Checkendon Polish resettlement camp. WW2 stuff. Local church on intro and at the end. Drone as well

Описание: Camera photos at 26:24.
Drone stuff over my start piece to camera. Checkendon church drone as well.
Church at 24:45

Sunday 15th August 2021.

In 1948 Checkendon Camp was acquired from the MOD by the National Assistance Board and turned into a hostel housing displaced Polish families arriving from the Middle East and Africa. As with all the camps/hostels accommodation was very basic, corrugated Nissen huts and strategically placed ablution blocks but after nearly 8 years in exile and crossing 3 continents, Polish people soon adapted to their new conditions.

Checkendon became one of many bustling Polish enclaves with its own church and priest , school and entertainments, a hall were culture and traditions were strictly observed. Many of the residents were actively involved in the camp's social life, there was a lively amateur dramatics group putting on plays, a choir that sung both Polish and English songs and a traditional Polish dance group. A 6 person dance band played regularly at dances held in the camp's entertainment hall and weekly film shows were held there too.

There was a well stocked library with both Polish and English books, a youth club, and a table tennis and chess group. Life in Checkendon was similar to all the other Camps/Hostels throughout the UK. The camp finally closed in the early 60s.

The Hostel was surrounded by woodland and, since its closure, the woodland has reclaimed a large part of the former camp.

During the 2nd World War it would appear that the camp formed part of RAF Woodcote where 70MU (Maintenance Unit) was based. The site was also used to house Italian Prisoners of War and was described as being situated at Scots Common, Checkendon, just before Garsons Lane. The site was later used by American soldiers and finally as a camp for ex Polish Service men before being given permission for light industrial use. Rentokil had a wood treatment plant there. It is now a Timber Yard and supplier of wooden sheds etc., - Norman Cox and Partners.

Between November 1943 and January 1944, one American unit, the 320th Coast Artillery Barrage Balloon Battalion was stationed at Checkendon which was used as a staging area.

There is a beautiful church in Checkendon. In the churchyard there is a cemetery which contains a number of graves of Polish displaced persons.

Grave area.
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