Norton, or Norton-On-Derwent is a town on the east side of the River Derwent, opposite the town of Malton. In Ryedale, Norton is now in the North Riding of Yorkshire but during WW2 it was in the East Riding.
| Name | Occupation | Posted from | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergeant John Byass Boggett | Farm foreman |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Corporal William Ernest Williams | Lorry driver |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Arthur Balderson Barker | Bacon factory apprentice. |
Unknown | Unknown |
| Private James Balderson Barker | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Private John Henry Foord | General labourer |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Kenneth Weatherill | Unknown | Unknown |
The Patrol's OB was a square dug out built into the side of a quarry at Gallows Hill on the south west side of the main road to Beverley. It was destroyed when the quarry was filled in.
Norton Patrol
The Military wanted the Patrols to be able to cause disruption to the road network so slowing down any German advance. This included the main road, now A64, from the coast in the east. This was important as an invading army using this road would make fast progress towards York avoiding having to fight over the North Yorkshire Moors or through the Wolds.
The towns of Norton and Malton form a major transport hub in the flatter land between the North Yorkshire Moors to it's north and the Yorkshire Wolds to the south.
Local targets also included the railway station and line at Malton (though it is in Norton) and the line to Driffield from Malton. This was a main supply route for several RAF bases to the south east including RAF Cottam and RAF Driffield. Crossing points over the River Derwent were also targeted.
Castle Howard to the west was almost certainly to be used as a German HQ if the invasion happened.
Local training took place at the OB in the quarry. Group training would also of taken place at Middleton on the Wolds, the Intelligence Officers Headquarters.
Sergeant Boggett may have gone to Coleshill house for specialist courses.
Weapons issued to the Patrol included; .22 rifle with sights either Remington or Winchester rifles, .45 Colt or .38 Smith and Wesson pistols, Thompson then later Sten Machine Guns and Fairbairn Sykes fighting knives.
There were also a number of captured Lugars issued to the Patrols in Yorkshire. These were popular as they used 9mm ammunition the same as the Sten Machine Guns
TNA ref WO199/3389
Hancock data held at B.R.A
1939 Register
Andy Gwynne