Frank Dennis Blanchard

Sergeant Blanchard took Terry Rawson to the Bewholm OB in 1984 and an article appeared in Sproatley Life Magazine on his Auxiliary Units role.

Dennis Blanchard very clearly recalled his recruitment into Aux Units. Here is his account;

I arrived in the tent facing three officers across a trestle table. The officer in the middle was of some rank as he had scarlet tabs on his tunic and a scarlet band around his cap that was lying on the table with his cane. The person who took me in stood at one end of the table. The officer in the centre greeted me with a penetrating stare and after what seem like an hour he leaned forward and asked, “Will you do a little job for me?” I replied, “What kind of job?” His reply was, “Oh I cannot tell you that”.

He asked many questions about my private life but eventually I realised that he already knew a lot about me. He had done his homework well. His companion asked me, “Will you be prepared to do intensive training of a secret and dangerous nature?” I replied with another question, “What kind of training? He replied, “Oh, I can not tell you that!”

He immediately ordered the officer at the end of the table to take my name and address and to make the necessary arrangements. After a short and serious lecture on security and the fire and brimstone that would occur if I breached the security. With that Bewholme Patrol was born. I then realised that I had volunteered under the Army system of ‘You, You and You’, to lead the Patrol. I was then told that I would be contacted by a civilian standby. With that I left the tent.

I was born in an era when we were taught to speak the truth even if it shocked us. When it came to explain what had happened in the tent to my friends, against all teachings, I had to tell a lot of white lies and a few pink ones also.