The Mission House - 1953

(CSM's/Mission House 1953)

 
[Submitted by Danny Williamson]

The first Mission House was actually a complex of four detached houses in a small close just off the main Geschwister-Scholl-Strasse near Potsdam Wildpark railway station [Map].  The houses included one for the Chief (51F) when he was in Potsdam, a Tour Officers' house (51C) and one for the Drivers (51).  The house shown on this page was the CSM's house (51B) which was permanently manned and acted as the HQ.  Note the radio aerial running from a downstairs window to a tree.

On 18 Jul 58 the East German authorities organised a riot which resulted in a tour car being overturned in the complex and covered in paint, and the ground floor of the drivers' house being ransacked.  GSFG later paid £1,200 in compensation and provided a  new Mission House which is shown on the Later Years page.

         Rioters outside the CSM's/Mission House - 18 Jul 58

Chris Hallett & riot damaged tour car alongside the CSM's/Msn Ho.

Opel Kapitan

[Submitted by Huw Madoc-Jones on the winch.

Geoff Smith at the helm]

The first operational BRIXMIS Tour was sent to Magdeburg via Route 1 through Brandenburg and Burg with instructions to return via the autobahn. The Tour was detained by the Soviets in Brandenburg and a British protest to CinC GSFG followed.

The first BRIXMIS vehicles were wartime Humber box body command vehicles painted dark maroon with Union Jack flags on the sides, rear and roof. By the early 1950s Opel Kapitans had replaced these and Humber Snipes were also in the fleet.

 George Flint with a 1951 series Opel Kapitan in Berlin 1952

Early 1953

[Submitted by Len Holman]

Early 1953

Back Row: Pte Kenyon (RASC Driver), L/Cpl Searle (RASC Driver), Cpl Jones (RAF Clerk), Cpl Hawkins (RASC Clerk), Cpl Brown NCO i/c MT (RASC), L/Cpl Collins (RASV Driver) ,Pte Wheeler (RASC Clerk)

Row 2: RSM Thompson (Scots Fusiliers), Maj Hallett (17/21st L), Flt Lt Bliss,  Maj Harmour, Capt Aurich, Plt Offr Aylin, Sgt Styles (RASC), Cpl Dye (RM)

Row 3: Maj Hall (RA), Sqn Ldr Davis, Fnu Snu (Secretary), Brig Dewhurst, Col Young, Col Spice, Maj Reynolds (RM)

Front Row: Pte Holman (RASC Driver), SAC Fnu Snu, Pte McClunnan (RASC Driver), Pte Godson (RASC Driver), Pte Lowe (RASC Driver), Pte Wright (RASC Driver)

1957

[Submitted by Peter Maylam]

1959

[Submitted by Huw Madoc-Jones]

1960/61

[Submitted by Bill Mitchinson]

1962/63

[Submitted by Gus Stevens]