Newlyn East Patrol

Locality

The parish of St Newlyn East (usually abbreviated to Newlyn East) is about 5 miles south of Newquay.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Sergeant James Ralph Rawling

Mason

13 Jul 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private Samuel Grigg Carpenter

Farmer

29 Jun 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private Sydney George Harris

Farm worker

05 Feb 1942 01 Mar 1944
Private Thomas Oliver Hoskins

Dealer and smallholder

05 Feb 1942 16 Apr 1943
Private Leonard George Juniper 13 Jul 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private Ronald J. Lucas

Civil engineer

12 Jan 1942 03 Dec 1944
Private Clarence George Vian

Farm hand

01 Apr 1944 03 Dec 1944
Private Kenneth Woolcock

Grocer

26 May 1940 16 Apr 1943
Operational Base (OB)

The OB was built in the vicinity of East Wheal Rose mine, about 150 yards to the south east of the surviving chimney stack. The underground bunker no longer survives and the site is beneath a golf course which is presently closed. An escape tunnel lead to the fields beyond to allow them to flee.

There are public rights of way over what was the golf course and the East Wheal Rose engine house and chimney stack can be explored by visiting the Lappa Valley Steam Railway.

The OB was excavated and built by the Patrol, a Nissen type hut was buried about 10 foot underground as both a headquarters and ammunition and explosives storage bunker.

Though different now, the land around the mine was always known to be soft ground and the area prone to flooding. This could have compromised the OB location.

Patrol & OB pictures
OB Image
Caption & credit
Looking to East Wheel Rose from OB site
OB Image
Caption & credit
East Wheel Rose looking towards OB site
OB Image
Caption & credit
East Wheel Rose
OB Status
Destroyed
OB accessibility
The OB site is publicly accessible
Location

Newlyn East Patrol

Patrol Targets

Currently unknown although the OB was right next to the Chacewater to Newquay rail line.

Training

It is known the Patrol went to Coleshill to train and at some stage came second in a national competition for efficiency.

Newlyn East met up with and trained with other local Patrols. They always met at night and at isolated locations. 

In an article in The West Britton, Sergeant "Gentleman Jim" Rawling is quoted; "If Britain had been invaded we would have been guerrillas. Our job was to harass the enemy. We were to fell trees to block roads and we were even taught how to kill a man without making any noise."

Weapons and Equipment

It is assumed they were issued with the standard kit, arms and explosives.

References

TNA ref WO199/3391

Hancock data held at B.R.A

Alwyn Harvey's research for Defence of Britain Database

The West Britton 16 Sept 1999