Great Limber Patrol

County Group
Lincolnshire Group 1
Locality

Great Limber is a village in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, 8 miles west from Grimsby and 8 miles east from Brigg.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Sergeant George Henry Blackburn

Farmer & blacksmith

 Unknown 1941
Sergeant Raymond Oates

Accountant

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Corporal Robert Brears Atkinson

Builders stockman

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Arnold Ashton

Steel furnace man

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Clifford Oates

Steel melter

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Oliver Raymond Theaker

Time keeper & cashier

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Operational Base (OB)

The OB is located on Cean Hill to the south of Great Limber and is largely intact.

Patrol & OB pictures
Hooks in the roof for hanging lights etc.
Hooks in the roof for hanging lights etc. (2016)
Remains of the bunk bed wall fixings.
Remains of the bunk bed wall fixings. (2016)
View from main chamber looking into the escape chamber.
View from main chamber looking into the escape chamber. (2016)
Escape chamber. Air vent to the left and bottom of the wooden exit hatch.
Escape chamber. Air vent to the left and bottom of the wooden exit hatch. (2016)
The inside edge on both sides have groves or running guides. Could the exit hatch have run down these?
The inside edge on both sides have groves or running guides. Could the exit hatch have run down these? (2016)
A drawing of the OB with sizes.
A drawing of the OB with sizes.
View as you approach the OB.
View as you approach the OB. (2016)
Concrete slab removed to show entrance shaft. No ladder in place.
Concrete slab removed to show entrance shaft. No ladder in place. (2016)
View looking into the chamber.
View looking into the chamber. (2016)
Hole leading through to the escape exit.
Hole leading through to the escape exit. (2016)
Great Limber OB
OB entrance 2022
Great Limber OB vent pipe remains
Vent pipe surface 2022
Great Limber OB
OB surface entrance 2022
Great Limber OB Entrance
OB Entrance 2022
Great Limber OB entrance shaft
Entrance shaft 2022
Great Limber OB Entrance
Entrance shaft 2022
Great Limber ON entrance
Main chamber towards entrance 2022
Great Limber OB roof
OB chamber and roof showing hooks 2022
Great Limber OB vent pipe remains
OB vent pipe remains 2022
Great Limber wooden form
Wooden form 2022
Great Limber OB wall
OB wall 2022
Great Limber OB wall
OB wall 2022
Great Limber OB roof
OB roof 2022
Great Limber OB
OB chamber 2022
Great Limber OB central vent pipe
Central vent pipe in roof 2022
Great Limber OB
Wood remains on side wall 2022
Great Limber OB roof
OB roof showing hooks 2022
Great Limber OB roof
OB roof showing hooks 2022
Great Limber OB side wall
OB side wall 2022
OB Status
Largely intact
OB accessibility
This OB is on private land. Please do not be tempted to trespass to see it
Location

Great Limber Patrol

Patrol Targets

The OB overlooked Humberside Airport. During the war this was RAF Kirmington and home to 166 Squadron Lancaster Bombers. It is very possible that this would have been a target for the Patrol.

References

TNA ref WO199/3389

Hancock data held at B.R.A

Colin Hayes and Stephen Ellis for images 2016

Dave Hunter 2022