Tony Salter’s ‘Scallywags’ Auxiliary Units display was at Caldicot Castle over the scorching bank holiday weekend. A very well supported event in a unique location. As always, he put on a first class display and along with Tony’s wealth of information, plenty of CART fliers were also taken away.
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.
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.’
Image by Wales Online
After 70 years of silence Auxilier Dillwyn Thomas decided it’s now time to reveal what he did whilst serving with the Margam Auxiliary Unit.
Earlier this year Dillwyn took part in the very first march past the Cenotaph on Whitehall and was one of only two Auxiliers representing the whole organisation.
He spoke exclusively and in-depth to Jason Grey about his time in the Aux Units and his training.
You can see Jason’s full report and watch the interview here
Today we have added a report on the Margam Auxiliary Unit by new Aux researcher Jason Grey (left).
Jason’s grandfather Aubrey Groom was the patrol leader and as far as we are aware this location has never been published before.
You can read Jason’s excellent report here
Five budding Aux historians from Fitzalan High School in Cardiff have won the Welsh Heritage Initiative Competition for their display on the Coed-y-Caerau Auxiliary Unit Operational Base used by Jonah Patrol in Monmouthshire.
Their teacher Mr Smith sent us in this picture of the proud team with their model Operational Base.
The year 7 students used this website as their primary source of info and produced a power point display to show their research. You can download this here
Two of the boys are off to the Millennium Stadium this Friday, to collect their prize.
CART is so impressed with their work that they have posted them an Aux badge each.
Today we have appointed Dr Stephen Day BA, PhD as our resident Archaeologist.
Steve started his working life as an electrical engineer but after re qualified with the Open University and has now worked in archaeology for over 20 years, largely in Wales and England (although recent projects have taken him as far afield as Greece and America) and now owns a specialist Environmental-Archaeological Company based in Swansea.
Steve has directed many excavations, including those on the new museum site in the city of York and the excavation, recording and removal of a Roman mosaic found there Steve has specialist knowledge of Industrial Archaeology with publications including a book based on his PhD research on the lead mines of Wales and a volume on recent discoveries in the gold mines of Wales.
Steve has a particular expertise in Geophysics, GIS systems including analysis and use of Lidar data in topographic mapping including implementation and management of geophysical surveys.
Steve has always had a love of all things military, and even has a couple of vehicles, (big boys toys, as seen in the image above)
Abergavenny Museum have produced a 16 page booklet to accompany their exhibition on ‘The British Resistance In Wales’.
Reading the booklet is a good way to learn the basics about the Auxiliary units and understand more about the Welsh resistance.
A PDF (electronic version) of the booklet can now be purchased for £2 here. £1 of this goes directly back to the museum which is a charity.
Once you have bought the booklet using Paypal or any credit or debit card, you will automatically be re-directed to a page where the PDF can be downloaded.
Robert Hardman writes a great article about the British Resistance in today’s Daily Mail.
He interviewed our Welsh researcher, Sallie Mogford at the Langstone Patrol’s OB and also went to the reconstructed OB at Usk castle for the images in the piece.He also talks about the film ‘Resistance‘ which was released in selected cinemas yesterday.
You can read his full article in the paper today or an online version here
Photo Credit: www.sebsolberg.wordpress.com
CART Founder Tom Sykes has written a review of the film adaptation of Owen Sheer’s novel ‘Resistance’.
It can be seen here
Tom and other CART member’s were advisers on the film and spent many hours trying to ensure the production team obtained the right look of the Auxiliary Units.
Read more about the movie here
Today Sallie Mogford, our Welsh CIO researcher, spoke to Roy Noble on BBC Radio Wales.