Bushy Park and its role in WW2

Wed 8th Aug 2018

Walk Details:

Event Type
Group Walk
Region
Southern England
Local Group
London
Distance
7.5ml.
Start Time
18.11
Route
Start and finish at Kingston Railway Station

A walk around Bushy Park is always interesting with its variety of landscape, ponds and of course the deer. Its history is also fascinating, not least for the park locations from where the DD landings were planned. These we will view and then return to Kingston via Home Park

General Notes
A welcome drink at the end in the much visited (by the LDWA) Wetherspoon in Kingston
Start and Finish

Entry Details:

Cost

Walk Report

Bushy Park and its Role in WW2, Wednesday 8th August 2018
11 walkers, 7.5 miles - leaders Gail & John Elrick
On a perfect evening Gail and John led nine other walkers into Bushy Park. In a shady grove Gail explained to the group and some assembled deer the history of the large WW2 military camp (mainly American) which became General Eisenhower's HQ in 1944 to plan the D-Day invasion. The camp was later used to co-ordinate the Berlin Airlift in 1948 and was finally demolished in 1962. Gail displayed a photo of the impressive sleeve insignia worn by the troops and we then visited the memorials and heritage plaques which mark the site of the camp. In a reminder of the Cold War we crossed to the Hampton side of the Park to look at the information board on the work of the various research establishments. Leaving the Park at the Lion Gate we returned to Kingston along the Long Walk in Home Park.

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