Mautby Patrol

County Group
Locality

Mautby lies 3 miles north-west of Great Yarmouth.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Second Lieutenant Gilbert Vere Bowles

Publican

Unknown Unknown
Sergeant George Henry Wain

Master butcher

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Stephen Charles Locke

Agricultural labourer

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Herbert Harold Nichols

Farm labourer

Unknown Unknown
Private Eddie John Nichols

Cowman

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Leslie James Tungate

Agricultural labourer

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Arthur John Kitchener Wooltorton

Agricultural labourer

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Operational Base (OB)

The OB is located near the edge of small private woodland, roughly in the middle between the parish churches of Filby and Mautby. The woodland is surrounded by fields on all sides. A public footpath leads past the woodland a short distance to the north. The collapsed remains are located in a deep depression in the ground that at the time of our visit (June 2011) was heavily overgrown with nettles.

The OB consisted of curved corrugated iron sheets that appear to have been set directly onto the ground, built into a small area of ground adjoining two disused marl pits. Corrugated iron sheeting was used to construct the end walls.

The corrugated sheets have corroded from the bottom upwards, resulting in the curved roof section having fallen down, with the north-facing end almost resting on the ground, leaving only a small gap to crawl under. There is a break in the adjoining section, which is resting higher off the ground, creating a gap and a somewhat larger space underneath. All sections of roof are still covered with soil.

The south-facing end is adjoined by a passage constructed from curved corrugated sheets. A piece of corrugated sheet immediately adjoining the passage ‘wall’ in the west appears to have been part of another small chamber that has long since collapsed. Sections of corrugated iron that still adhere to the earthen wall, as well as broken pieces of corrugated iron that litter the ground indicate that this passage originally used to be about twice as long as it is now.

The edge of a corrugated sheet covered with soil can be seen above. Its location and the way it has been placed indicate that it extended horizontally across and was used for covering and concealing the passage underneath it. The remains of two weathered wooden posts, about 1 metre apart and 0.50 metres high, stand by the south-facing end wall.

The OB measures;

Length of depression from rim to rim: 7.50m
Chamber interior: 3.90m (L) x 2.95m (W) x 1.45m (highest point)
Passage interior: 1.80m (L) x 1.20m (W) x 1.50m (highest point)
Passage exterior: 3.35m (L) x 1.20m (W). Approximately half of the passageway is still in situ, rest is collapsed

It is orientated, North - South

We failed to find the exit opening which we believe is situated somewhere on the slope of the adjoining disused marl pit. We cannot agree on which end would have been the entrance and which the exit.Other physical remains are 3 weathered wooden posts still in the ground by south end; broken pieces of corrugated iron on ground and adhering to earthen walls; approx. 0.80m of ceramic pipe lying in the pit to the east.

Patrol & OB pictures
OB Image
Caption & credit
The collapsed remains are located in a deep depression in the ground that at the time of our visit (June 2011) was heavily overgrown with nettles
OB Image
Caption & credit
Corrugated iron sheeting was used to construct the end walls.
OB Image
Caption & credit
Broken pieces of corrugated iron that litter the ground indicate that this passage originally used to be about twice as long
OB Image
Caption & credit
OB corrugation remains
OB Image
Caption & credit
The edge of a corrugated sheet covered with soil can be seen above.
OB Image
Caption & credit
Other remains - corrugated iron pieces and wooden posts
OB Image
Caption & credit
Ceramic glazed pipe (commonly used for ventilation)
OB Status
Collapsed with some visible remains
OB accessibility
This OB is on private land. Please do not be tempted to trespass to see it
Location

Mautby Patrol

Other information

We visited Ed Wharton at Filby. Commanding Officer Lieutenant Harry Wharton was his grandfather’s brother. Ed Wharton showed us several of his Great Uncle's possessions including a tin containing 8 of tubes of Anti-Gas Ointment No. 2 and a copy of The Company Commander’s Training and Administration Pocket Book. We examined the latter for handwritten notes but found nothing.

We visited Mr Gay from Thrigby, who owns the woodland, in order to obtain permission to access and record. He knew of the presence of the OB in his woodland and told us that it had collapsed ‘many years ago’. Pictures taken about 25 years ago by Jack Grice, Gorleston, show it in better condition although it had started to collapse around that time.

References

TNA ref WO199/3389

Hancock data held at B.R.A

Evelyn Simak and Adrian Pye

J. Grice, Tony Tungate, Ed Wharton, Mr Gay