My experiences at Bircham Newton by A. Bramer

In 1952, I was stationed at Bircham as an M.T. driver mechanic, early in the new year of 53, we were billeted in the waiting room of Heacham railway station and were helping with the flood releif when the East coast was flooded.

After a week of working 2hrs.on and 4hrs.off,spending our rest time on the benches and floor of the waiting room,it was decided that we would be split into groups and take turns at returning to Bircham for 24hrs.,inorder to"freshen up",and get a cooked meal. It was about 23.45hrs. when I drove into Bircham and stopped at the guardroom ,my passengers went off to the cookhouse and I went into the guardroom to book my vehicle onto camp.When this was done, the Cpl.policeman offered me a mug of tea and 'ciggy',and Igave him an uppdate on what was going on at Heacham. During the conversation,we heard footsteps in the passage leading to the cells,I looked at the steel door leading to the passage and watched the handle turn and we heard the footsteps retreat down the passage.I asked him who the prisoner was,and he replied, 'Nobody'.

He then went on to tell me that it happened on a regular pattern. Apparently as he told me,at one time there had been a monestry or priory at Bircham and running from this,was a walk the monks used for recreation and apparently ended at this door.I wished him a "GOODNIGHT",and drove off!!.

Later that year I was on duty ambulance driver and sat in the kitchen of station sick quarters together with aCpl. medic and two W.A.A. F.,orderly nurses.It was after duty and early eavening and everyone was chatting about the comming coranation.When we heard someone enter the treatment room ,Betty,the duty nurse went to see to them,thinking it was someone for treatment.Suddenly, we heard a scream,and fearing she had been attacked we ran from the kitchen and found her on the floor of the M.O.'s,room.At thesame time we heard the heavy plastic doors of the de-contam centre slapp together as they swung closed. That was his mistake,there was no other way out.Slowly,the male medic and I went down the passage into the de-contam area but despite a thorough search ,found no-one.

We went back into the main sickquarters and found June looking after Betty,who apparently feinted.When she was sat behind the inevitable cup that cheers,she told us that finding no-one in the treatment room she had gone to check the drug cabinet in the M.O.'s room.On entering the room,all she saw was a pair of pilots flying boots standing infront of the M.O.'s,desk still dripping blood.

Later after relating this to the M.O.,we checked around again,and found a stain in the carpet infront of the desk that despite reguler cleaning , had never been noticed before.Further checks revealed that during the WW11,a pilot had crashed,and his body had been taken to the de-contam centre used as a temporary morgue.His lower legs were amputated while still being trapped in the cockpit,and taken to sickquarters later!!!!

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