Cecil Lines was interviewed in 1968 after the publication of “The Last Ditch”. Asked about the risk of retaliation against civilian he said, “we couldn’t afford to think about this like that. Our job was to knock the living daylights out of Jerry before the counter-attack could come from the defensive line between the Medway and the Severn.” Reportedly when the Canterbury raid took place during the night of 31 May 1942, his bedroom held nearly two tons of explosives. Not surprisingly the stores were shifted soon after.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent Group 9 | Group Commander | 14 Jul 1941 | 03 Dec 1944 |
Car breaker & farmer
Group Commander of Group 9. Lieutenant from 4th June 1942. Cecil provided wrecked cars for the Patrols to practice explosives on.
Sam Osborne of Dellingore Patrol recalled; "Cecil Lines was explaining how to handle detonators and telling us not to squeeze them when he blew his thumb and finger off".
TNA ref WO199/3390 & 1,
Hancock data held at B.R.A,
1939 Register
Adrian Westwood
Kent Messenger 5 Apr 1968