Dinas Powys (the modern-day standardised spelling - it was previously also spelt 'Dinas Powis') is a large village in the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales which takes its name from the Dinas Powys hillfort that dates from the Iron Age. The village is 5.5 miles south-west of the centre of Cardiff and conveniently situated on the A4055 Cardiff to Barry main road.
| Name | Occupation | Posted from | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergeant H. Matthews | Unknown | Dec 1942 | |
| Second Lieutenant Norman Albert Richards | Carpenter |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Sergeant Cecil William John Williams | Mill assistant |
10 Dec 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Sydney Henry Britton | Unknown | 1943 | |
| Private William Trevor Hughes | Coal trimer |
10 Dec 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private W. James | 10 Dec 1942 | Unknown | |
| Private David Charles Jones | Estate agent and surveyor |
Unknown | Unknown |
| Private George Orchard | Architect and Chartered Engineer working for the War Department |
Unknown | Unknown |
| Private William Ernest Taylor | 07 Sep 1943 | Unknown |
Auxilier Sydney Britton recorded that his Operational Base was in the woods at Cwrt-yr-Ala.
The OB is in Parc Wood, Cwrt-yr-Ala and is in a dangerous condition. It looks to have been dug into a slope where some of the removed stone was then reused in the OB walls. The OB is slowly being crushed from one side. The vent pipe that was found was metal, and no ceramic vent pipe was found. The entrance appears to be through a concrete vertical shaft. There was evidence of a short escape tunnel / trench the other end of the bunker that was lined with metal.
Dinas Powys Patrol
Nothing substantiated, however it is highly likely that the Barry Railway that ran through nearby Wenvoe would have been a target. It had many tunnels and bridges. The railway brought coal from the South Wales valleys to the port of Barry (which unusually the railway company owned). In 1913 Barry Docks held the world record for the amount of coal exported (over 11 million Ton). Other close railway lines went in and out of nearby city of Cardiff and port.
The A48 E/W main trunk road is another possible target.
Wenvoe Commercial Aerodrome was nearby, and although it closed in 1939 could have been useful to the enemy.
The large house at Cwrt-yr-Ala could have been requisitioned by German officers, which would then have become a target.
Sydney Britton was aware of other Patrols in the area. The unit HQ was at Porthcawl, which was likely also a training centre.
The Patrol had a .22 rifle which was carried by Sydney Britton since he was familiar with the type. It is assumed that they had the standard weapons and explosives issued to all Patrols.
It seems possible that Lt Norman Albert Richards was the first Patrol Leader, before promotion to Assistant Group Commander. By 1944, Cecil Williams had been promoted to Sergeant and was Patrol Leader.
Sydney Britton was an early member of the Patrol, but by 1943 was serving with the Commandos at the Anzio landings in Italy. (No. 9 Army and No. 43 RM Commando were the units involved).
Sydney Britton recalled he was to stab anyone that was badly wounded in the neck to finish him off in case he would talk. He remembered that he had some deadly tablets to hand out if capture was inevitable.
TNA ref WO199/3389
Interview with Sydney Britton
Hancock data held at B.R.A
Tony Salter