Nov 182018
 

It’s been a busy few days for the CART team!

Our Press Officer Andrew Chatterton delivered a talk to the Newton Poppleford Local Historical Society. Also our Devon researcher, Nina Hannaford brought along a display with information on the local patrols and Special Duties Branch which went down really well.

We already have a couple of new leads for both the Aux Units and Special Duties Branch in East Devon as a result. Thanks to all who attended and for the generous donations!

Nov 132018
 

Well done to all the marchers representing the Auxiliary Units at the Cenotaph on Sunday. So poignant to have so many relatives of Aux Unit members present. 

A wreath was also laid at the replica Operational Base at Coleshill – many thanks to Bob Marchant to laying the wreath and the photos.

Nov 062018
 

On Sunday 11 November, the National Service of Remembrance will be held at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, London.

Starting at 11am, the service will commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women involved in the two World Wars and later conflicts.

This year, Remembrance Sunday falls on the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Many of the Auxiliary Unit Patrol Leaders were First World War veterans.

At the moment there will be 14 marching (watch out for D25), a mixture of relatives and CART researchers: David Hancock, Roger Green, Charlie Hancock, Polly Hancock, Paul Jarvis, Alan Jarvis, James Miners, Michael Miners, Philip Merricks, Robert Macaulay, David Macaulay, Jim Gascoyne, Wallace John Hewett and Anita Griggs.

“We will remember them”

 

Nov 042018
 

A nominal roll for Special Duties Operators has yet to be found. Could it still be “Top Secret”?

Thanks to Roger Parsons of Millfield School, CART has obtained a photograph of a Special Duties Operator in Somerset.

Code named “Chirnside 5” the wireless Out Station was in a chicken hut at Edgarley Manor Farm. Locally it is suggested a woman was the main operator. The couple are Kenneth and Dorothy Marsh. So was it Dorothy in charge of sending secret messages on the wireless?

Having married in Kuala Lumpur the couple lived in Federated Malay States (today Malaysia). During the 1910s and 20s they often travelled backward and forward from the UK, his occupation recorded as “Planter”.

On May 14th 1942 The Wells Journal ran an article on Kenneth Marsh and his farming methods which was broadcast by the BBC. The article records the Farm is predominantly rearing and selling poultry rather than selling the eggs. It also notes the feed is produced in vast sums from local food waste and army swill from military camps. This shows the Marshes would have frequently and freely travelled the area collecting waste and be able to monitor local situations if necessary.

www.staybehinds.com/station/edgarley-outstation

Aug 082018
 

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.

Jul 272018
 

Jim Gascoyne is the son of an Auxilier & an ATS “secret sweetie” Special Duties operator. Jim has marched with Auxiliary veterans at the Cenotaph in memory of the Auxiliary Units.

The talk is at Willesborough Windmill TN24 0QG, 18.45 for 19.30 start. Guaranteed to be an excellent evening!

Read about Golding Zero Station

Jun 192018
 

Thanks to all those who stopped by the CART display at the excellent Haselbury Mill WW2 event near Crewkerne on Father’s Day. It was a great day with lots of interest and lots of leads in the South West and also Worcestershire.

From our Devon researcher, Nina: “Though the weather could have been warmer it was a busy show and well attended. We talked to a lot of people about Auxiliary Units, many hearing about them for the first time. We were also given an amazing 10 leads on OB sites in Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Worcestershire. Going to be a busy rest of year hunting for those ! Many thanks gents. Chips were great too !”

Jun 052018
 

Paddy White was playing the part of a 202 Bn Auxilier, leaving his ‘calling card’ on the occupying forces. Not only that, but he managed to pass on a plenty of CART flyers before he was ‘arrested’…

The G.C.R. is the Great Central Railway in Loughborough, Leicestershire. Check out the website here: http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wartime/