VE DAY 2020

 General, Press  No Responses »
May 082020
 

Throughout the day we will be posting a few stories from Auxiliary Unit Patrol members and their memories on Facebook.

Search for: British Resistance Archive – Churchill’s Auxiliary Units or click on this picture-link below:

Obviously by May 1945 the Patrols had been stood down; however, many still had possession of a large amount of explosives, which created memorable firework celebrations!

Others were returning from fighting in Europe with Special Forces, or finding themselves in European countries having helped liberate them, or in hospital recovering from wounds received in the course of victory. We hope you all have a safe and peaceful VE Day and weekend!

#VEDay#AuxUnits#WW2#May1945#WeWillRemember

Pelynt (Cornwall) Patrol Memorial unveiling 21st March

 Aux Patrol News, Events, General, Press  2 Responses »
Mar 052020
 

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

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.

Link to the Pelynt Patrol report on the CART website here: https://www.coleshillhouse.com/pelynt-auxiliary-unit-patrol.php

Operational Patrol – Bunker Memorial Plaque unveiling – Ferndown, Dorset

 Aux Patrol News, Events, General, OB's  No Responses »
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.

Ferndown O.B. Bunker, Dorset

 Aux Patrol News, Events, General, OB's, Research  No Responses »
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.

Well attended CART talk in Sidmouth, Devon …

 Events, General  No Responses »
Jan 172020
 

We had the great pleasure of talking to the Sid Vale Association yesterday afternoon, in one of the more glamorous venues we get to talk in!

Many thanks to the people of Sidmouth who turned out to listen. We picked up a few leads of patrols in and around the area, so we’ll make sure that we keep you updated on anything that comes from them.

Just as a reminder we have another talk for the Colyton History Society coming up in February. Wednesday 26th February 7.30pm at Colyford Village Hall. It would be great to see you there!

Sheila Trevaskis (nee Harrington)

 Obituaries, Special Duties Branch (SDB)  No Responses »
Jan 072020
 

We were very sad to hear about the passing of Sheila Trevaskis (nee Harrington), very likely to be the final member of the Aux Units ATS and maybe the final member of the Special Duties group as a whole.

See obit here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/…/sheila-trevaskis-intrepid-wi…/

It appears that we have a remaining operational Aux Unit member still alive in Wales and possibly one in Dorset – if anyone knows of any other remaining veterans do let us know!

RIP Sheila

A date for your diaries…

 Events, General  No Responses »
Dec 202019
 

A date for your diaries in January.

Wednesday 15th January at 2.30pm we will be talking at the Sidmouth Manor Pavilion Theatre with the Sid Vale Association. Manor Road, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8RP

All are welcome (£3 on the door), it would be great to see you there to learn more about the Auxiliary Units and the patrols in and around East Devon.

CART is saddened to announce the passing of Auxilier Jack Richardson of Child Okeford Patrol

 General, Obituaries  No Responses »
Nov 142019
 

Jack was enrolled into Aux Units in 1942 at 16 years of age. Later he became a Bevin Boy in the South Wales coal mines.

CART was delighted to receive a visit from Jack when we attended the Broadmayne WW2 event in 2016. (Broadmayne was marshalling area D5 in south Dorset prior to D-Day).

The Child Okeford Operational Patrol was based in north Dorset near the military town of Blandford Forum. https://www.coleshillhouse.com/child-okeford-auxiliary-unit-patrol.php

His service will be at Poole Crematorium on Monday 25th November at 2pm. Rest in peace Jack.

CART attends memorial services

 General  No Responses »
Nov 112019
 

This years Cenotaph memorial march in London was attended by Jim Gascoyne, John Hewett and Stewart Bates. Our thanks to them for Auxiliary Units representation.

Here’s what Jim had to say: “We were sandwiched between WRVS ladies (charming) and RSPCA officers (funny) with RAF Police alongside and Royal Military Police a few yards behind us. The Duke of York took the salute before we dispersed from Horseguards Parade. A personal Thank You from me for ensuring that the CART slot was maintained at the RBL Cenotaph Remembrance Parade. Best regards, Jim Gasgoyne.”

CART’s Roger Green and Bill Ashby attended the memorial service at Coleshill, remembering all those from the village that gave their lives. They also laid a wreath in memory of Aux Units.

In Somerset CART’s Chris Perry laid 2 wreaths at Somerton war memorial: One to all the men and women that served in the Aux Units in Somerset, and one to Major Ian Fenwick, the late John ‘Tiny’ Kidner of Somerton & all the men that served in the SAS.

We will remember them

Remembrance Sunday, November 2019

 General, Press  No Responses »
Nov 092019
 

Auxiliary Units were not only the Spirit of Resistance. Their contributions enabled regular soldiers to fight away from home soil, tested defences at home, and led to many joining the SAS. The secret radio network (Special Duties Branch) broadcast huge amounts of ‘radio noise’ in the coastal areas of the south east of England that helped build a misleading picture of a D-Day invasion coming from Kent to Calais. All this and not a word to anyone, and with little or no recognition.

We will remember them.

These excerpts from Auxilier Geoff Ratcliff of East Bergholt Patrol, Suffolk paint a vivid picture of what it was like to have been a Patrol member. Reading his full account will take 2 minutes: https://www.coleshillhouse.com/east-bergholt-auxiliary-unit-patrol.php

” In June 1940 I became a member of the Home Guard, L.D.V. (Local Defence Volunteer) as it was first called. Soon after I was selected for what was said to be a very special job… “

“… one was left with the impression that we were really rather special, I was seventeen and cynicism was not in my vocabulary.”

” The ground sloped away to a free flowing stream some fifty yards away. This would be our water provider, in 1940 this water could be safely drunk.”

” … if they went off when you were priming plastic explosive or a hand grenade or a sticky bomb then of course the whole lot went including you. ”

” All in all we were well equipped but no mention how stocks would be replenished if it ever happened. I suppose it was assumed one would not last longer than the supplies.”

Read Geoff’s full account here: https://www.coleshillhouse.com/east-bergholt-auxiliary-unit-patrol.php

We will remember them

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