Chandler's Ford Patrol

Roy Budden remembered training 2 nights a week and at weekends. He recalled; “Mother didn't know what was going on. Good job really that she didn't look under my bed as when we had been out training over night my rucksack was full of explosives and weapons.”

One night the Chandler's Ford Patrol met with another Patrol in some sand pits at North Baddesley to try out some new shaped charges named “Beehive charges” which could punch a hole through armoured plate.

To test the charges they had a bomb case brought up from Portsmouth to practice on. They fitted two charges and backed away slowly to take cover. There was a tremendous explosion and Monty Dymott watched as it flew through the air, clean out of the quarry. When the dust had settled they decided to call it a night and climbed aboard their truck to return home.

They were flagged down by a couple in their night clothes about a mile down the road. As their bedroom ceiling had collapsed there had clearly been an air raid but they were worried as there had not been any warning sirens. The next day reports came in of 32 houses damaged by this “mystery air raid” on 22nd June 1941.

Sometimes night exercises took place travelling across country undetected. This would often involve fording rivers which the men would strip for, wrapping their clothes in waterproof sheets and pushing in front while swimming the river. One night two of the men emerged from a river to encounter a woman walking her dog.

The Patrol often trained with others in the area. One night exercise was conducted near Bishops Waltham under the command of Intelligence Officer Major Clive. At the end of the exercise Major Clive suggested the men may just catch a pint in the local pub if they were quick. The group trooped to the pub still carrying various explosives, detonators and time pencils.

The landlord was not very welcoming to the slightly dishevelled group and refused to serve them. The disgruntled men left a small device in the fireplace and were half way down the road when the pub windows blew out.