Jan 232014
 

Dillwyn

In November 2013 88 year old Dillwyn Thomas marched at the Cenotaph for the first time as an Auxilier.

Dillwyn was a member of the Margam Patrol near Port Talbot.

He had kept his time in the Aux Units a very closely guarded secret and even his family did not know. He has now spoken to us about his time in Aux units but this is only a tiny part of an amazing life.

He has now recorded his life in a fascinating new book called ‘A View From The Main Ring’ which is available to buy… UPDATE – sorry, out of print.

Dill

His time in Aux Units was still secret when the book was written and only a few paragraphs discuss his time as an Auxilier.

The blurb on the book reads.

‘Eighty eight year old farmer and horse breeder, Dillwyn Thomas, has broken his 70-year silence to reveal his orders to destroy his home town if the Germans had invaded during the Second World War. He was part of a top secret Army unit that was ready to blow Port Talbot and the surrounding area “to smithereens” to stop the Nazis getting their hands on key sites.

Dillwyn went on to become a prominent figure in UK farming and horse breeding circles and has recorded his life history in A View From The Main Ring. It involves his role centre stage at the UK’s premier farming show, the Royal Welsh, conversations with royalty, an infamous shipwreck, acting with Richard Burton and the dramas of World War 11.

His life and experience has spanned the extraordinary changes of the twentieth century, from the days when manual labour and horse power drove the production of food to today’s computer chips and satellite systems. But it’s his innate understanding of people and livestock that have underpinned his work with the Royal Welsh and proved useful in conversations with Royalty.’

Mar 102013
 

CoverWe are giving away 5 copies of the Aux novel ‘Gone to Ground’ by Bill Watson.

This gripping novel relates to the formation and training of the Auxiliary Units and also charts the revenge, sabotage and murder they delivered to the Nazis in occupied Britain. Set in the small town of Duns in Scotland, much of the information relates to the town and wider area, with references to real locations used by the Duns Patrol.

Enter here

T&C’s Apply. Comp not open to CART CIO’s.

Aug 302011
 

Yesterday saw the launch of Bill Watson’s book ‘Gone To Ground’ at Duns Library in Scotland.

David Blair, our Scottish County Information Officer, gave a talk on the Auxiliary Units and the Duns Patrol.

The talks were attended by about 40 people and some of the relatives of the Duns Patrol were guests of honour.

We had hoped to broadcast the talk live on the Internet but there was a technical problem at the library which meant we were unable to make it happen.

David also left some flowers on the grave of Andrew Fortune, an Auxilier with the Duns Patrol.

Please see some of the images of the day below. The book can be bought here.

Aug 082011
 

We are pleased to say that as of today you can order Bill Watson’s book ‘Gone To Ground’ both on Amazon and our website.

More info can be seen here

Bill completed the manuscript in April 2004 which included a dedication to his late wife, Betty. Bill’s dream was to have it published one day, sadly Bill died in November 2004, aged 80 and his work remained unpublished. In 2011 we obtained the rights to publish the book from Bill’s son. Now is the time to tell that story……………….

Jun 102011
 

An autobiographical novel set in Duns, Scotland. The Nazi’s have invaded Britain.

Bill Watson has brought this story alive and paints a vivid picture with a true depiction of life during those dark uncertain times under occupation, especially as he personally experienced a similar kind of harsh imprisonment as a prisoner of war in Germany.

This story is set in and around the Scottish Border town of Duns, where Bill was born and brought up, an area that had its fair share of Auxiliary Unit patrols all along the Scottish Borders which were located at strategic road and rail links. In the face of overwhelming odds and faced with a long brutal occupation they were prepared to give the ultimate sacrifice. Bill completed the manuscript in April 2004 which included a dedication to his late wife, Betty. Bill’s dream was to have it published one day, sadly Bill died in November 2004, aged 80 and his work remained unpublished.

In 2011 the Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team (CART) a national team of Auxiliary Unit researchers, learned that Bill Watson was in fact an Auxilier with Duns Patrol. They managed to obtained the rights to publish the book from Bill’s son.

Now is the time to tell that story……………….

Please see more on the book and how to order here