The Patrol were based near Ouston not far from Birtley to the south of the river Tyne.
Name | Occupation | Posted from | Until |
---|---|---|---|
Sergeant D.V. Wilson | Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 | |
Corporal Alfred Reeves Dowley | Engineer iron turner |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private Basil Henry Allen | Toolmaker |
27 Mar 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private Thomas Oliver Brown | Apprentice fitter |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private Richard Henry Louis Coleman | Foreman engineer at the Royal Ordnance factory at Birtley |
1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private Benjamin Norman Hughes | Lathe hand - shell cases |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private Alfred Charles Carlton Milner | Haulage Contractors Clerk |
unknown | Unknown |
Private John D. Stead | Fitter |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
The Patrol OB was a standard "Elephant" type shelter built by the 184th (S) Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers on the outskirts of Ouston in Walters Wood, there is supposed to be another OB in the area also used by the Patrol but as yet not found.
Birtley Patrol
Targets would have included the Royal Ordnance factory at Birtley, the large rail yards close to Birtley and the east coast main line, the bridges on the Tyne, vital factories along the banks of the Tyne and the Port of Tyne.
Training was done at Castleton with the Scout Section from The Green Howards. Some of the Patrol went to Coleshill House.
They would also have trained at Danby Lodge in North Yorkshire, the Intelligence Officer's HQ along with at Finchale near Durham and locally in the area.
There were two summer camps involving the Auxiliary Units, Home Guard and the Regular Army held at Guisborough.
The Patrol was issued with Mark 2 Auxiliary Unit Kit, .38 Smith & Wesson pistols and Fairbairn Sykes fighting knives.
The National Archives in Kew ref WO199/3389
Richard Coleman (Patrol members son)
1939 Register
Hancock data held at B.R.A