Page 47 - RADC 2016

Who broke my Chair! Decommission Fally Surgery
Lucy Falkenthal and Terry Coates Hohne – dismantling another chair
Engelke, Silke Jones and Sarah Bailey.
In preparation for the closure, we began
the process of archiving civilian dental records and removing all dental assets from surgeries. Cue the start of numerous journeys to Bielefeld for Cpl Fletcher and SSgt Kennedy where the dental equipment would be stored.
The closure of Dental Centre Fallingbostel began in earnest in Apr 15 with the removal of the rst two surgeries. Once the chairs had been dismantled by Terry Coates – our resident MDSS technician – we arranged for a works detail to move them from the surgeries which were located on the rst oor. From here they would be picked up by lorry and moved to Barn 7 (AKA Area 51) in Hohne for storage until they were collected by the disposal contractors.
This was the rst experience that Cpl Fletcher and I had of removing dental chairs from the surgery. The main problem that we encountered was shifting the chairs which were very heavy. We therefore set about making plans to move the chairs down several ights of stairs to the basement where they would be mounted onto pallets in preparation for getting them onto the lorry. Sadly, even the best laid plans don’t always survive contact with the enemy. Upon contacting our local infantry battalion requesting 6 of their nest for a works detail, we ended up with 6 skinny lads (not that I’m one to judge) who weren’t up to the task of lifting the chair.
We requested a second works detail and this time the Unit really did send their nest – six lads of the large rugby playing variety. Even then, it was a struggle to shift the chairs down to the basement.
For the nal closure of DC Fallingbostel,
2CS Bn REME in the farewell parade
we enlisted the help of the Garrison QM who came up with the novel idea of using a giant forklift truck borrowed from the REME unit to lift the remaining chairs from the rst oor re escape. The keys to Fallingbostel Dental Centre were handed back on 08 Aug 15.
Rebasing of troops from Bergen-
Höhne Garrison accelerated in May 15
and continued through until Sep 15 with
last clinical delivery days of 31 Jul for Fallingbostel and 18 Sep for Höhne. The bulk of these moves occurred during July with up to 30 families per day having their quarters packed and delivered back to
the UK. Other institutions supporting the Garrison, for example the schools, also closed at this time. By the end of July, the once thriving communities of Höhne and Fallingbostel had been reduced to little more than ghost towns.
With a rapidly dwindling PAR in the nal few months, the focus of dental provision was to complete existing treatment plans and provide emergency dental care.
I had a brief sojourn in Aug following
the closure of DC Fallingbostel where I got to move my own family back to the UK. After a couple of weeks of relocation leave it was back for round two of closures at Höhne DC. On my arrival, I was welcomed by the Höhne Dental team – RPM SSgt Kennedy and dental nurses Sandra Wilton, Sonia Binns and Lucy Falkenthal. I also
said farewell to the outgoing dentists Capt Glauch and Dr Smith (Maj Armstrong having left earlier in Jun).
Sadly when it came to removing the chairs at Hohne, there were no giant forklift trucks to help us out and all seven chairs had to
be removed using brute force – i.e. a works detail of Locally Employed Civilians removing
Team Fally in the park – left to right, Andrea Engelke, Silke Joans, Cpl Fletcher,Isabella Boatang, Alicia Gowans, Iram Usmani, Maj Usmani
the chairs over several visits. Höhne DC closed on 25 Sep 15.
So what impact did the closure of Bergen- Höhne Garrison have on the locals? The British Army had been a presence in the area for 70 years and had formed some strong links with the local community. A number of towns (in particular Bergen,
Bad Fallingbostel and Celle) bene ted economically from having British troops stationed close by. There was therefore a mixture of sadness and also some concern about the impact on local businesses once the British had departed.
Notwithstanding, the various events held to mark the closure were enthusiastically attended by the locals who got to tour the camps at Fallingbostel and Höhne and witness a nal farewell parade.
For me, it was a privilege to have been a part of the closure of Bergen-Höhne Garrison and to witness the sun setting
on the British Army’s involvement on the Luneburg Heath. With the closure of both dental centres complete it was time for me to return home.
RADC BULLETIN 2016 45