North Uist (Uibhist A Tuathis) Patrol

County Group
Caithness Group 5 - Outer Hebrides
Locality

North Uist (Uibhist A Tuathis) is an Island in the centre of the Outer Hebrides and is connected to Benbecula via a causeway.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Sergeant R. McCuish Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Lance Corporal L. MacDonald Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Corporal R. A. MacLallen Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private M. MacDonald Unknown Unknown
Private N. MacDonald Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private D. MacInnes Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private A. J. MacLean Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private D. MacPhail Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Operational Base (OB)

The OB is located within a vast wide open area with little natural cover. Located within the machair, (fertile, low lying grassy plain and a former beach although above sea level now) north of the straggling village of Sollas in North Uist.

The access road is located ¼ mile west of the Co-op at Sollas, and leads north into the machair / farmland towards the dunes. There is a tiny turning place at the cemetery gate. The OB is situated near to the cemetery.

It is unknown at this stage why it was sited here, but there must have been sufficient reason to construct it here. One theory is the vast open views out to sea which could have witnessed a seaborne landing and reported this by a network of spies and runners passing on the word and the close proximity to the road, which could have been used a main supply route. Close by was a grass strip airfield opened in March 1936, which was more than capable of taking larger aircraft such as JU-52.

Patrol & OB pictures
North Uist Auxiliary Unit 1
Located within the machair, (fertile, low lying grassy plain)
North Uist Auxiliary Unit 2
The OB is located within a vast wide open area with little natural cover.
North Uist Auxiliary Unit 4
Looking down into entrance shaft
North Uist Auxiliary Unit 3
Hand and foot rails in corner of shaft
OB Status
Collapsed with some visible remains
Location

North Uist (Uibhist A Tuathis) Patrol

Patrol Targets

Most likely targets would include the main road (A865) and the grass strip airfield nearby.

Training

Visiting Scout sections from Seaforths and Lovat Scouts conducted a ‘round robin’ type of training package for Patrols on the Outer Hebrides.

They also trained locally on a rifle range within the dunes around Sollas area and at Lochmaddy.

References

TNA ref WO199/3388

Hancock data held at B.R.A

John MacDonald (North Uist)

David Blair

Stephen Lewins (supplied images of OB from his own source)