Bassaleg Patrol

Group training courses with target practice were arranged every 4-5 weeks at the derelict Glen Court mansion, Llantrisant near Usk. Pertholey House near Newbridge on Usk and Belmont House near Langstone were also used as training sites and Bassaleg Patrol were also known to have trained at Merthyr Meawr near Bridgend.

An annual training camp with members from other Patrols was held at Southerndown. The men were billeted at Dunraven Castle which was also home to evacuees during the war. 

The men were taught how to use sticky bombs, a selection of guns, grenades, fuses and time pencil. Each Patrol was issued with Fairbairn Sykes which were particularly lethal instruments. The men were taught advanced ‘thuggery’ and became very highly skilled in how to kill silently using knives or the cheese cutter garrotte. The men were basically not meant to be a confrontational unit, but lone sentries would no doubt have been targets for silent execution.

As an exercise Sergeant Wally Wynn blew up an old boiler in Coed David with spectacular effect and created much speculation in the local pub.

In July 1943, the patrol took part in Exercise Jantzen at Tenby, providing guerilla attacks on trucks, supplies and troops training in operating a beach landing area. This was the first large scale exercise to test the techniques for D Day.

They also played the part of enemy paratroopers in an attack on American forces in Hereford. Reportedy real explosives were used, possibly "stun" grenades, and there were injuries sustained on both sides.