The outbreak of World War II saw the departure of the St.John family from Lydiard Park after over 500 years of occupation. The War Department considered the old mansion house ‘unfit for human habitation’ but some 80 acres of parkland were requisitioned to construct a US military base.
Hundreds of trees were felled for their timber to support the war effort whilst exploding grenades and machine gun fire echoed through the park as the13th Battalion (Great Western Railway) Home Guard trained with live ammunition to ensure realistic battle conditions.
In May 1944 American officers, nurses and enlisted men of the 302nd Station Hospital arrived at Lydiard Park, converting the existing army buildings and facilities to suit the needs of a hospital camp in preparation for D Day casualties. By the end of July 438 patients were being treated there. The following summer the hospital was redesignated a German POW camp, finally closing in 1948 when the last prisoners were repatriated.
Discover personal stories of soldiering to wartime weddings, GI break-ins and ghostly encounters. The collection includes plans of the military hospital camp, medals, photographs, arts & craft by POW's and archaeological finds from dime coins to hospital equipment. The Friends of Lydiard Park are indebted to the many local people and organisations who have contributed to this collection.
