Tribute to corrugated iron

When I used to make models, badly, I think someone sold some cogged rollers to make your own scale corrugated iron. Much later there was a way of rusting it and creating rust holes. Having seen scale corrugated iron painted up to look old it was really convincing.

Well I always thought Peter Nissen was Canadian, but actually its a mystery where he was born, definately though in the USA but it could either have been North Carolina or New York, the year of birth was 1871. He did live at one time in Nova Scotia and Ontario. He got his degree in the School of Mining at Kingston Ontario and did not get to Britain until c.1910. Joined up on 19 Jan 1915 in the 12th Battalion, Sherwood Forresters then re-mustered to the 103rd Field Co, Royal Engineers. Went to Belgium as a Major and designed the 'Nissen hut' c.March 1916. Interestingly his boss was no other than the famous Lt Col BH Armstrong, the inventor of the general service aeroplane shed and the Armstrong hut. Nissen's offices were established at Hesdin, Pas de Calais France for a while.

There should be a memorial somewhere to Peter Nissen, perhaps at Rye House, Hoddesdon where the factory used to be. His Nissen huts helped us win both world wars and many dating from WW2 are still used on Army camps today. Not even sure where he is buried, I only know he died in 1930.

Ah, he had a house called 'Deepdale' on Westerham Hill in Kent, it was there he died, aged 58 on 2 March 1930. Source: Nissen of the Huts by Fred McCosh