Nijmegan August 1945

[Brewins girl]

I am trying to understand why my uncle, a soldier with REME, would have been in Hijmegan for several days after returning to Holland from leave in the UK in August 1945. Was there a British/Allied military camp there, where soldiers would either return from leave or depart for leave or even demob? If so, was there a name for the camp?

[MaxD]

Could be as simple as the fact that his unit was in a location there when he left for leave and still there when he returned.  The army advancing through Holland into Germany was self-contained, most units only needed a field, unload the stores from the trucks (or their backs) and there they are, like snails carrying their homes with them.  Some units (perhaps a REME workshop) may have needed buildings to operate more easily so a likely looking house/factory/school would suffice.  The war diary of his unit would perhaps be more accurate.

MaxD