Northwood is a village south of the town of Cowes.
| Name | Occupation | Posted from | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergeant Henry Gladdis | Dairy farmer |
02 Jul 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Walter Charles Bradley | Dairy farmer |
07 Apr 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Bertram Clarence Brown | Slaughterman |
06 Jan 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Frank Leonard Caws | Farm worker |
1940 | 1941 |
| Private Henry James Caws | Farm worker |
22 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private William Clifford Downer | Shipyard worker |
03 Mar 1941 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private John William Gladdis | Farm worker |
22 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Leslie Charles Priddle | Farmer |
02 Jul 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private James George Rowe | Aircraft toolmaker |
28 Oct 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private John Archibald Thompson | Motor fitter |
07 May 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Leslie Robert Thompson | Factory worker |
02 May 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
The Operational Base was in a small copse above Skinner's Farm, the home of Auxilier Leslie Priddle. It was built by the Royal Engineers after the Patrol had been formed about a year and was remembered as being a large OB, 24 foot long, with two compartments with a dividing tunnel between the two. It was in a small coppice near the brickyard. The camouflaged entrance hatch, with branches and moss, left up and back. At the other end was an escape tunnel. There were bunk beds and tins of food stored there, along with a gallon of rum. Explosives were kept in the OB, but the weapons were taken home.
The Patrol spent a 24 hour period underground on at least on occasion.
It was remembered that the OB was once discovered by a local 'drifter' and he stole some food stored there. Priddle recalled he was arrested by the Army and never seen again. Jim Caws recalled this was also discovered by a group a children and a report appeared in the local paper saying children had raided a Home Guard store.
Reportedly the OB was blown up after the war by the Army.
Northwood Patrol
Most likely the main road from Cowes to Newport.
Jim Caws recalled training in chalk pits in various locations. The Patrol were taught unarmed combat and knife training. It became second nature. One of those training was a Russian chap, who was able to get the better of Sergeant Crawley, who came across from the mainland. There was training in explosives, including how to cut through rails.
They were instructed in observation of enemy forces and had to leave messages about this in a dead letter drop. One of these was in a tree by a house in Brighstone. An old lady lived there and would close a cold frame cover to indicate when it was too dangerous to leave a message. This may have been a link to the Special Duties side of Auxiliary Units.
Later their role changed to testing the security of Army based on the Island. They would try to break in and observe and often succeeded. Brook House and the Town Hall at Newport were among the sites they attacked.
The Patrol attended a camp under canvas. They practised stripping a Bren gun. They had a moving target with a bucket on a rope that could be pulled across a chalk pit. They fired at it using 1 in 5 rounds as tracer to see where it went.
Auxiliers Priddle and Downer could recall being issued with a Thompson sub machine gun, 38 calibre revolvers and explosives. They also had a snipers rifle with a silencer and telescopic sight and fighting knives. They also remembered being told that if one of the group were injured they would have to kill them to prevent them being captured and giving information to the enemy.
Jim Caws recalled training with Sticky bombs, but didn’t like them, not least as the handles tended to fall off, meaning the glass globes needed to be blown up separately. He carried the Tommy Gun as nobody else wanted to. As he was taught to fire this from the hip, his eyesight issue wasn’t a problem. They also had phosphorus and Mills bombs.
The Patrol were allowed to wear their uniform with a tie, something normally only permitted for officers. They also had webbing gaiters. The regular Home Guard resented this and let them know when they saw them.
On patrol they wore cap comforters and denim battledress. From 1942 they were issued with Sten guns, the Tommy Gun being withdrawn.
Jim Caws said that the others considered them the Special or Suicide Home Guard, with their extra training. They kept apart but couldn’t completely conceal their training.
TNA ref WO199/3391
Hancock data held at B.R.A
1939 Register
Auxiliers Priddle and Downer via David Moore