Cultybraggan Camp

Cultybraggan lies close to the village of Comrie, in west Perthshire. It was first used as a Prisoner of War (PoW) camp during World War II, and then became an Army training area. It later housed a Royal Observer Corps (ROC) nuclear monitoring post, and a Regional Government Headquarters (RGH).^[1]

The camp ceased to be used by the military in 2004, and now belongs to the Comrie Development Trust, bought through a community right-to-buy option for £350,000 in 2007^[2].

Some of the original 100 Nissen Huts on the Western side of the camp were demolished in the 1970s to make way for a firing range, but the majority remain, with an assault course, and modern Officer’s Mess facility being added to the site making this one of the finest remaining example of a World War Two PoW camp in the UK. Huts 1-3, 21, 29-39, 47-57 (all Nos Inclusive) are Category B Listed Buildings.^[3]

World War II

Named PoW camp No 21, built in 1941 to house 4,000 Category A prisoners, Cultybraggan was a 'black camp', holding those considered the most committed and fanatical Nazi PoWs, mainly young Waffen-SS, Fallschirmjäger and U-boat crew^[4]. Army, Navy, Air Force and SS prisoners were held in separate compounds, as were the officers. An additional camp was located at Cowden, two miles distant.^[1]

Ringleaders of the Devizes plot — to break as many as 250,000 PoWs out of camps across the country in 1944 and attack Britain from within — were sent to Camp 21 at Comrie. These included Feldwebel Wolfgang Rosterg, a known anti-Nazi who was sent by mistake. He was lynched, and five of the prisoners were hanged at Pentonville Prison for his murder, the largest multiple execution in 20th century Britain.^[4]

Post war

Following the war, in 1949, Cultybraggan was opened as a training camp. It was used by the Regular Army, the Territorial Army and was popular with Cadet units for their annual camps. The camp covered some 8 acres (3 hectares) and could accommodate 600 personnel in a mixture of huts and tents. Units rotating through the camp enabled 80,000 'man training days' of military exercising, including adventure training, cross-country driving, and helicopter operations, using the 12,000 acre Tighnablair Training Area, leased from the Drummond Estate.^[1]

Cold War

As part of the 'Cold War' defence of the nation, an underground Royal Observer Corps (ROC) monitoring post was installed in 1960. Although it closed in September 1991, when the ROC was stood down, it is still accessible.^[5]

In 1990, an underground Regional Government Headquarters bunker was completed in the north east corner of the camp site to replace the Scottish North Zone Headquarters bunker at Troywood (Anstruther). In the event of war, the Secretary of State for Scotland, the BBC, BT and other important organisations would have operated from here. However, the Cold War threat receded almost as soon as the bunker was completed, and the £3.6 million, two storey, underground structure was declared obsolete, and closed. Sold to the Army, the bunker was added to the military training facilities.

Comrie Development Trust

Since taking ownership of the 90 acre site on 20th September 2007, the Comrie Development Trust’s Cultybraggan Working Group have been working towards the sustainable development of this community asset. Major infrastructure works (drainage, electricity, water and telecoms), the conversion of nine nissen huts to make 12 units for local businesses and the refurbishment of the central mess are included in the first phase.

Future development plans for Cultybraggan include: Sports and recreation facilities, A ‘Back to the Futures’ Centre highlighting our local history and plans for a low carbon future, Biomass Heat plant – Solar PV farm – Anaerobic digestion plant, Green Tourism, Renewable energy sources for the site and village, Footpath and cycle ways to the site and Biodiversity areas and Woodland planting

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Secret Scotland". http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/Cultybraggan. Retrieved 14 June 2011. 
2. ^ "History of Cultybraggan". STV. http://news.stv.tv/scotland/170079-new-history-of-cultybraggan-pow-camp-produced. Retrieved 14 June 2011. /
3. ^ "British Listed Buildings". http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-50472-comrie-cultybraggan-former-cadet-camp-hut/comments. Retrieved 14 June 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Devizes Heritage". http://www.devizesheritage.org.uk/prisoner_of_war_camps_in_devizes_in_ww_ii.html. Retrieved 14 June 2011. 
5. ^ "28 Days Later". http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=26329. Retrieved 14 June 2011. 

Coordinates: 56°21′20″N 3°59′39″W / 56.35555°N 3.99430°W / 56.35555; -3.99430