CART Devon and Somerset researchers have recently managed to get a copy of a photo showing some of the Auxiliers in the Nether Stowey (nr Bridgwater, Somerset) Patrol. This is quite a rare find, as very few photos were taken of Auxiliers…
A patrol report for the Nether Stowey Patrol is on the new CART website.
To mark International Conscientious Objectors Day we thought we’d offer some food for thought (and a gentle walk):
Stuart Edmundson was a Quaker. He was also the first Intelligence Officer for Devon and Cornwall: www.staybehinds.com/joshua-william-stuart-edmundson.
Back row: all unknown
Front row: L-R: Major John Dingley, Captain JW Stuart Edmundson, Unknown (can you help identify any of these men?)
Born in 1911, Edmundson had a Quaker upbringing before becoming a Cambridge University graduate and Royal Engineer.
He was ordered to report to 7 Whitehall Place, London on 13th July 1940 at 1100 hours where he was to become the first Intelligence Officer for Devon and Cornwall. While he was away a large delivery of explosives and fuses arrived at his house. His wife Iris directed the driver to hide the load in the grounds of a blind hospital behind their house in Yelverton. Edmundson formed the Operational Patrols of Cornwall and then Devon.
The Devon Auxiliary Units HQ was at Langstone Manor, Dartmoor, and is just a few miles from a road that was built by Quaker conscientious objectors at Princetown (known as The Conchies Road or The Road to Nowhere).
On the 15th May, 2018, a free guided walk (with local historian Simon Dell) is available along this route https://moorlandguides.co.uk/history/#1521218918009-65981e1b-c9b2
CART’s Devon & Cornwall researcher Nina, will be going along (don’t forget your cake Nina !).
Edmundson left the Auxiliary Units in November 1943 and joined S.O.E. working in the Scientific Research Section. We don’t know how he reconciled his Quaker beliefs and his Auxiliary Units work. If you have any ideas – let us know !
Auxilier William “Austin” Whetham from East Coker Patrol.
Our team have made patrol report updates to the following reports recently in Lincolnshire and Hampshire:
South Kelsey, Lincolnshire
Hatcliffe Patrol, Lincolnshire
Butterwick Patrol, Lincolnshire
Friskney Patrol, Lincolnshire
Crowland Patrol, Lincolnshire
Langrish Patrol, Hampshire
Also three new patrols from Hampshire and
Somerset have been added:
Baddesley Patrol, Hampshire
Chandlers Ford Patrol, Hampshire
East Coker Patrol, Somerset
Farringdon is a small village 6 miles east of Exeter. This patrol report has been produced by our Devon CIO Nina Hannaford.
The patrol utilised the existing structure of Farringdon House Ice House for their Operational Base.
It is possible that the “entrance” has been created post war as the blocks appear damaged at the sides. If the block wall was complete, thus sealing off the original entrance passageway to the Ice House leaving only the tunnel, this would make escape more viable.
Read Nina’s full and fascinating patrol report.
We have added another four patrols in Caithness to the site.
John O’Groats Patrol
Wick Patrol
Thrumster and Berriedale Patrols.
See them all here.
Thanks to David Blair for preparing these for us.
Image by Shandchem
Today we have added three basic patrol reports by David Blair to the site for Camster, Thurso and Weydale Patrols in Caithness, Scotland.
You can see these here.
If you have any additional info on these patrols please tell us!
After some much needed help supplied by Aux researcher Chris Perry, we have now added the Butleigh Auxiliary Unit Patrol report on the site.
It is only a basic report at this stage but still gives the names of the men involved. Chris is working on a few more reports as we write this.
Our Scottish researchers have recently published basic reports on the following Scottish patrols.
We thank them again for all their hard work.
Today our Aberdeenshire CIO Alan Stewart has added another five patrol reports in Aberdeenshire to the site. They are basic reports that include names of the Auxiliers but we have found that this normally means that members of the public and their relatives help us fill in the gaps. So… please go ahead and tell us more!
Forres Patrol
Spynie Patrol
Banff Patrol
Lhanbryde Patrol
Gartly Patrol
Browse Aberdeenshire here.