Northumberland

Northumberland flag
Researcher(s)
Overview

Lists recorded by Major Malcolm Hancock based at Coleshill House around September 1944 record Northumberland was Area 5. There were 21 Auxiliary Unit Patrols in Northumberland, within 5 groups.

In 1942, 15 Patrols had been formed with 5 more required. Only 1 OB was in the process of being built and 19 more were wanted.

The nominal roll is written in Patrol order.

Headquarters

Captain Torrance used Inverurie Camp near Aberdeen as his base while scouting, though he presumably stayed somewhere more local while recruiting Patrols. Captain Quayle used Shielow Castle, north of Belford as his Headquarters and Captain Gough used Belford Hall and Middleton Hall (near Belford, Northumberland) as well as an unknown house in Berwick. Captain Gough and Captain Thouron used a house in Alnwick and Doxford Hall.

Training was at Melville House, Ladybank, Cupar, Fife as well as locally. A small arms and assault course was set up near the Allerdean OB at Scremerston Hill Farm, to the south of Berwick on Tweed. The Patrols also did training with the regular army at Otterburn Ranges.

The stores for Northumberland and Durham were at Northallerton, North Yorkshire. Though the Quartermaster used the Northallerton Home Guard stores as cover. Fast communications with Northern Command based in York and the Home Guard stores based in Northallerton was done via the Post Office next to Chathill trail station. This meant that stores could be ordered by phone and then dropped at Chathill station in less than a couple of hours.

From 27 September 1944, the Headquarters was at 6 Queen Street, Perth, Scotland as part of Area 1. Commanding officers were Major G.R. McNichol and Captain A. Fiddes-Watt.

Intelligence Officers (IO)
Role Name Posted from Until
Intelligence Officer Captain James Hamish Watt Torrance MBE, MC, TD 15 Jul 1940 22 Apr 1941
Intelligence Officer Captain John Anthony Quayle 01 Mar 1941 01 Nov 1941
Intelligence Officer Captain Victor Albert Gough 22 Nov 1942 27 Sep 1943
Intelligence Officer Captain John Rupert Hunt Thouron 27 Sep 1943 22 Apr 1944
Intelligence Officer Captain Albert George Fiddes-Watt 27 Sep 1944 03 Dec 1944
Intelligence Officer Captain George Robertson McNicoll 27 Sep 1944 03 Dec 1944
Scout sections

There was only one Northumberland Scout Section.

The Scout Section were based at some buildings at Kyloe close to the Auxiliary Unit Intelligence Officer at Sheilow Castle. The military planners had a fear of an airborne attack with coastal support in the north Northumberland/Scottish Borders area that could quickly cut England and Scotland into two areas and having Scotland cut off and out of the war.

Map of Patrol locations

Acklington Patrol

Allerdean Patrol

Alnwick Patrol

Choppington Patrol

Duddo Patrol

East Hartford Patrol

Felton Patrol

Halidon Hill Patrol

Hebron Patrol

Kyloe Patrol

Milfield Patrol

Netherwhitton Patrol

Ogle Patrol

Paxtondene Patrol

Scremerston Patrol

Sionside Patrol

Stobswood Patrol

Swinhoe Patrol

Warenford Patrol

West Fallodon Patrol

Wooler Patrol