Nov 122020
 

Lance Corporal George Henry Bloomfield (www.staybehinds.com/george-henry-bloomfield) has been posthumously awarded the Defence Medal (October this year).

The Family is rightly very proud. George was part of the St. Keverne Operational Patrol (www.staybehinds.com/patrol/st-keverne-patrol) based on the Lizard Peninsular. CART pointed the family in the right direction for how to claim.

St. Keverne, Lizard Peninsular, Cornwall

www.staybehinds.com

Nov 032020
 

Pelynt village (near Looe) in Cornwall is the latest place to erect a memorial to Auxiliary Units. The memorial was unveiled in spring, but due to the virus there was not the turn-out hoped for. The memorial has been placed outside Pelynt village hall at a specially prepared seating area.

what3words: https://what3words.com/pelting.handfuls.finishers

CART was also planning to attend with our large multi-award winning display of Auxiliary Units equipment and information. We will do this when we are allowed our freedom back and it is safe to do so.

Thanks goes to John Jolliff for being such a force in bringing the history of these brave men and women to his community by way of his many informative talks. Thanks also to Mary Talbot for her organizational skills and this photograph of the memorial.

Find out more about the Pelynt Patrol: https://www.staybehinds.com/patrol/pelynt-patrol

Jul 052020
 

Official Launch date: 9th July

We have been working tirelessly for the past few years on a new website, and are now in a position to launch. The official date is the 9th of July, but as email subscribers you get a sneak preview from the 7th July: www.staybehinds.com

While it’s not quite the finished article, we have compiled more Auxiliers in one place than has ever been achieved anywhere before (we’re quite proud of that). We have over 6000 names, and if you know someone we’ve left off, please get in touch.

We’ll be adding information over the coming months, including photographs, info on the Special Duties Branch, Coleshill House & Estate and Auxiliary Unit links with the SAS and SOE. If you notice any errors on the new site please contact us.

A huge shout out of thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years, and continues to support us. It really is appreciated – CART is a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation run by just a handful of enthusiasts. Thank you one and all.

To whet your appetite, here’s a brand new video brought to you by CART highlighting some of the archaeological projects we have been involved with: https://youtu.be/WCJjan8CWLo

We’ve chosen our new website launch to coincide with the digital Festival Of Archaeology running from the 11th to the 19th July, hosted by the Council for British Archaeology (CBA): https://festival.archaeologyuk.org

Apr 262020
 

With the aid of local researchers during lock-down, we have a couple of photographs from Milford Haven of the Memorial to Hubert William ‘Stokey’ Lewis V.C. of the Milford Haven Patrol. https://www.staybehinds.com/patrol/milford-haven-patrol

Whilst there they also saw a memorial to his son. Vernon Lewis was a Flight Sergeant in the RAF. He was tragically killed in his Lancaster over Germany in August 1943 at the age of just 22.

We know of some Memorials around the country, but if you know of any to your local Auxiliers or Patrols, we’d love to hear from you and document them.

 Posted by CART HQ on April 26, 2020
Apr 202020
 

We are all going a bit stir-crazy at the moment not being able to get out and about properly. All summer events have been cancelled, but that’s not stopping us researching and working on the new website.

We are increasing our activity on Facebook. Lots of interesting people and places to check out. Do take a look. We are having a lot of great comments and interactions. Search for British Resistance Archive or click on the link below:

Get ‘click-happy’ here: https://www.facebook.com/staybehinds/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

The latest post is about a Welsh Auxilier who won the Victoria Cross. You can scroll back to view previous posts too.

 Posted by CART HQ on April 20, 2020
Mar 052020
 

We are delighted to inform you that a memorial will be unveiled in recognition of the Pelynt Patrol.

This will take place on Saturday 21st March at Pelynt Village Hall, (near Looe), PL13 2LP. We will have a display of Auxiliary Units equipment and local patrol information inside the village hall from 12:00pm. The unveiling of the memorial will take place by the Lord Lieutenant Edward Bolitho OBE, at 2.30-3.00pm.

The memorial will be sited in the garden area directly outside the village hall where a place for it has been specially prepared. All welcome.

Feb 122020
 

Sunday 1st March at 10 am

Meeting point:

Fitzpain Road, West Parley, Ferndown, Dorset. Between numbers 60 and 62.

Welcome speech, talk from CART, unveiling of memorial plaque and refreshments.

Please pass this on to anyone else who you may know who would like to attend.

The rediscovered Ferndown O.B. was excavated last year by CART. With support from the local council, part of the bunker will be permanently viewable.

Jan 252020
 

Some great coverage about the Ferndown bunker in Dorset. Many thanks to the Bournemouth Echo for their story (see here: https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/…/18184877.pictured-top-…/) and if any families of the members of the patrol are available for the official opening of the site, please get in touch.

The rediscovered Ferndown O.B. was excavated last year by CART. As is quite common, the local kids used to play in it, but perhaps were unaware of the significance of the structure – definitely not an air-raid shelter !

With support form the local council part of the bunker will be permanently viewable, complete with an information board.

Jul 232019
 

CART’s Somerset researcher recently laid a wreath for Major Ian Fenwick on the War Memorial and at the church in Bruton, Somerset.

Major Fenwick, a former Somerset Intelligence Officer who organised and trained Somerset Auxiliers (part of 203 Reserve Battalion GHQ), went on to join 1st SAS.

On 16th / 17th June 1944, he was dropped into Normandy a hundred miles behind enemy lines and successfully led sabotage missions against German communications. He was killed in an ambush on 7th August 1944 trying to assist his team who had been attacked. You can read a full account on the Para-Data website here: https://www.paradata.org.uk/people/ian-fenwick

Before the war Ian Fenwick was a professional cartoonist for magazines such as Punch. He had family connections and lived for a while in Bruton, Somerset.

Learn more about the Somerset Auxiliary Unit Patrols.

Apr 202019
 

Verdon Besley was 16 when he joined the Sandford Auxiliary Unit Patrol in Somerset. At 18 he joined the Queen’s Royal Regiment and went all the way to Berlin where his Auxiliary training came in handy.

The Patrol’s Operational Base was inside an old lead mine in the Mendip hills. Learn more about the Sandford Patrol here:

Our sympathies to his family and friends. R.I.P. Verdon Besley.