Iden Patrol

The Patrol's OB was sited in Norland Wood, 500 yards east of Peasmarsh Church. It was built by the Royal Engineers. Construction would have been difficult as it was positioned near the bottom of a steep slope, next to a stream. The problem of transporting materials to the site must have been formidable, let alone the actual building work. The hideout had a similar design to the Ditchling and Staplefield Patrol's OBs and was basically an underground Nissen hut.

Entrance was gained by pulling a concealed cable release. This let an earth-covered wooden hatch lift up slightly, so someone could get their fingers underneath it. The hatch had about four inches of soil on top of it, and a counterbalance weight was required to assist in lifting it. Once opened a brick built shaft with a ladder led down into the hideout.

At the other end of the hideout was an emergency exit in the form of a two foot eight inch concrete tunnel. It was thirty feet in length and terminated in the bank of the stream. This too had an earth-covered wooden hatch but had no cable release. If used it would have been pushed open from the inside.

The hideout contained bunk beds, ammunition, explosives, food, water, a cooking stove and an Elsan chemical toilet.

After the war the earth cover and corrugated metal roof was removed but the brick end walls, main entrance shaft and the concrete emergency escape tunnel can still be seen set into the steep bank in Norland Wood. The chamber is now partially filled with soil.

The Patrol visited the hideout every weekend but, unlike other Patrols, they never stayed overnight as part of their training.