Arthur Hoskins attended at least one Patrol Leaders course at Coleshill as he retained the papers from this course. The timetable includes Major Oxenden and Captain Delamere, dating this to at least 1942 as these officers were elsewhere prior to this.
David Hoskins recalled his father had weapons and ammunition in their larder and behind paint tins on the top shelf of the garden shed were boxes of grenades, time pencils and tripwires.
Local Historian John Hawkins has also spoken with David Hoskins, son of Arthur Hoskins about his time in Auxiliary Units. He has his father’s papers, which include identity cards showing him as both a member of the Observer Corps and also the ARP Rescue Party leader at different times. He is listed as joining in mid 1942, yet became Patrol Leader quite quickly. Arthur knew that their life expectancy was measured in weeks. He had copies of the usual stand down letters issued by Auxiliary Units in November 1944.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ringwood B Patrol | Patrol Leader | 19 May 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
Builder and market gardener
In 1939 he was a rescue and demolition worker for Ringwood and Fordingbridge Regional District Council.
TNA ref WO 199/3391
Hancock data held at B.R.A
1939 Register
David Hoskins
John Hawkins