May 202018
 

France 1944 – Operation Bulbasket was largely an ex-Aux Units Operation, with some ex-desert SAS, and a few other new recruits.
Dorset, Norfolk and Scotland Aux Units provided the bulk of the men.

A small group from the local Royal British Legion  Poitou-Charentes branch in France are recreating the cycle ride undertaken by Lt Tomos Stephens as part of Op Bulbasket in 1944. Disguised as a Frenchman and riding a pre-war pushbike, he rode from Sazas near Montromillion to the railway marshalling yard at Chatellerault to gather information about fuel tankers stored there. It was a 120km (75 mile) round trip in a single day, an incredible feat. The intelligence was supplied to the RAF who bombed the fuel stored at the railway yard, significantly slowing the 2nd SS Das Reich Panzer Division who lacked enough fuel for their move north towards Normandy. Sadly Lt Stephens was shot after capture, having given himself up so a young maquisard could escape, hoping that his uniform would mean he would become a prisoner, whereas the Maquis were always executed. That young man witnessed Lt Stephens death from his hiding place (and recorded this a few years ago – the story differing from that given by the Bulbasket survivors who were told third hand he had been beaten to death). Lt Stephens was buried in a family vault in nearby Verriéres.

The ride is on Sunday June 10th 2018. You can help by sponsoring them through their JustGiving page. This branch funded the erection of memorials at the St Sauvant and Verriéres sites in recent years. They also provide the standard bearers for ceremonies at Rom and Verriéres each year.

See previous CART thread on Bulbasket: http://blog.coleshillhouse.com/remembering-the-auxiliers-lost-on-operation-bulbasket

Apr 032015
 
"Fyvie Castle, Geograph" by Mike and Kirsty Grundy.

“Fyvie Castle, Geograph” by Mike and Kirsty Grundy.

Today Alan Stewart, our CIO for Aberdeenshire, has published five new patrol reports.

Milltimber, Maryculter, Fyvie, Slains and Tarty.

These are very basic reports at this stage and mainly give the names of the Auxiliers involved.

We rely on the publics help to come forward and assist further.

If you can help please email cartaberdeenshire@gmail.com.

All the reports can be seen here

 

Mar 082015
 

Fraserburgh Auxiliary Unit 1Today our Scottish CIOS have added three new patrol reports to the site.

The reports give the names of the men involved and other important information.

Site visits are planned in the future.

If you can help with any of their research please contact us.

You can read the patrol reports in Fife here and in Aberdeenshire here

Feb 242015
 

Crail Auxiliary Unit PatrolWe have added another three patrol reports in Fife thanks to our Fife and Angus CIO David Blair.

These are Leven, St.Monans and Crail.

You can see them all here

Visits to the sites of the Operational Bases are planned.

If you can help add any additional information please do contact us.  

Feb 032015
 

Mountblairy Auxiliary Unit 1We have just added a patrol report by Alan Stewart on the Mountblairy Patrol to the site.

Their Operational Base can be seen in the black circle on the image above.

All members worked on the Forglen Estate near Turriff in Aberdeenshire and were approached by Sgt Jonathan Taylor.

Read the report here.

Jan 262015
 
Clochan Auxiliary Unit Patrol 2

Forest Quarry. © Copyright Anne Burgess

We have added two more of Alan Stewart’s Patrol reports to the site.

Spey Bay Patrol was situated on the coast next to the mouth of the River Spey and can be seen here.

The Clochan Patrol was slightly more inland with its Operational Base located in a Quarry, see that here. 

Jan 232015
 

Forgue Auxiliary Unit Patrol-4Today our CIO Alan Stewart added a patrol report to the site on the Forgue Auxiliary Unit Patrol in Aberdeenshire.
These kind people all helped with information and accounts:

  • Cryle Shand, Son of Cpl William Shand, Forgue
  • Bruce Bremner, Son of Joseph Bremner
  • Mary Scott, Daughter of Maurice Smith
  • Patrick Scott – Local Historian from Huntly

See the full report here.