Redcar Patrol

Locality

Redcar is a seaside town to the south of Middlesbrough on the North Yorkshire coast.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Sergeant Raymond Holmes

Sales clerk

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Corporal Harold Beadnall

Motor driver

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private S. C. Bower Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Charles Foster Dodsworth

Chief cashier of brickworks

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Alan Rayfield Feaver Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Harwood Unknown Unknown
Private Douglas Spence Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Operational Base (OB)

The Patrol's OB was built at the east end of Yearby Woods to the south of Redcar. 

It consisted of two chambers built into the side of a slope linked by an 84 foot long tunnel. The first chamber was near the beginning of the tunnel and was 25 foot by 12 foot. There was an access hatch in the corner of this chamber which was most likely the entrance. The second chamber was around 40 foot along the tunnel on the east side and measured 10 foot by 9 foot. The tunnel then continues for a further 42 foot. The entrance to the tunnel was a concrete block shaft 2 foot 6 inches square which extended for about 6 foot. This was concealed by a hatch which was hinged, opened outwards and was camouflaged with a tree stump attached.The escape tunnel opened out on the top of a bank hidden within some trees.

The whole of the construction was timber framed by 9 inch timber frames held together with clamps and covered with corrugated iron. There are remains of two 4 inch ventilation pipes

All that remains are depressions in the ground with some ventilation pipes in-situ and some of the tunnel concrete blocks. An Observational Post has been discovered 80 yards due west.

Patrol & OB pictures
OB Image
Caption & credit
Plan of OB by Dennis Walker
OB Image
Caption & credit
Plan of entrances by Dennis Walker
OB Status
Collapsed with few visible remains
OB accessibility
The OB site is publicly accessible
Location

Redcar Patrol

Patrol Targets

Targets for the Patrol would have included RAF Redcar (grass landing strip), the railway from Middlesbrough to Whitby, the possible invasion beaches to the east of the town down to Marske and the coastal defences from Redcar up to Greatham.

Both Wilton Castle and Kirkleatham Hall were possible German HQs.

Training

Some members went to Coleshill House for specialist training courses. Regionally they trained at Danby Lodge, the Auxiliary Units HQ for the Intelligence Officer in the area and at Castleton with the Scout Section from The Green Howards.

Locally the Patrol trained at the OB in Yearby Woods.

Weapons and Equipment

The Patrol were issued with the standard kit which included a Sten Machine Gun, pistols and a sniper rifle with sights.

References

The National Archives in Kew ref WO199/3389

Hancock data held at B.R.A

1939 Register

Dennis Walker