The Patrol was based at the Straloch Estate near the village of Newmachar situated 10 miles to the north-west of Aberdeen.
| Name | Occupation | Posted from | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergeant John Skene | Gamekeeper |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Corporal Alexander Imlah | Tractorman |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private James Barclay | Farmer |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Alfred Barclay | Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 | |
| Private Alexander Cran | Farmer |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private John Lobban | Farmer |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private L. Rose | Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 | |
| Private William Silver | Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
The OB was in a wooded area where the wood is narrow strip basically as wind break for fields. The OB is in a slightly wider part of the wood. The closest houses to the OB are all occupied by Patrol members (Woodend, East Lodge and Torryleith) and all within half a mile of the OB which all had narrow tree strips with paths through them to the OB.
The roof is basically intact, however mostly filled with hardcore. There is slight damage to one side due to growing trees. It is suspected the end of OB has eroded down slope. A visit in 2022 showed that a tree had fallen across the OB and access is restricted and hardly visible
The OB was used by children after the war as a den to play in which they recalled as being fairly clean, they used to play in the den and even had a record player. It was mentioned that they used to access it through a trapdoor.
A possible Observation Post located nearby is a small earth covered corrugated iron “hide” that can be used to cover most of the access roads into the estate.
Newmachar Patrol
The Patrol were in close proximity to RAF Dyce. Surrounding targets were road and rail bridges over the River Don, main railways to Inverness, branch lines to Peterhead and Fraserburgh, also Newmachar on main road to Banff / Turriff.
Eoin Lobban, as a child recalled his mother talking about his father (Auxilier Lobban) going to see his “friends” in the woods. He recalls he was told not to go into the loft.
Eoin recalls the names of the Patrol and where they stayed. He does not recall the names of Auxiliers Rose or Silver, which are generally unusual names for this part of the world. A farmer from the area does not recall anybody with the surnames Rose or Silver also.
Eoin Lobban, Son of Auxilier John Lobban
Jacqui McDonald
Donald Ingram
TNA ref WO199/3388 201 Bn rolls.
Hancock files held by B.R.A.