Tarty Patrol

County Group

Locality

Tarty is a small farming area to the south east of Ellon and on the south side of the River Ythan.

Patrol members

Name	Occupation	Posted from	until
Sergeant William Mitchell	Headmaster	Unknown	03 Dec 1944
Sergeant Andrew Findlay Willox	Farmer	Unknown	03 Dec 1944
Private Charles Catto	Farmer	Unknown	03 Dec 1944
Private John Stewart		Unknown	03 Dec 1944
Private William Wood	Stonemason / Builder	Unknown	03 Dec 1944

Operational Base (OB)

The main OB is likely to be in the wooded hillside of Tarty area

OB Status

Location not known

Location

Patrol Targets

Suspected targets were bridges over the River Ythan, also the Patrol is close to invasion beaches at Forvie Sands and Newburgh and the main road to Aberdeen from Cruden Bay passing through Newburgh. Newburgh had a small port.

Training

The Patrol possibly made use of an area of WW2 training at Forvie Sands.

Other information

There seems to be several Patrols together in close proximity, so this report should consider that the names are a “best guess” but names on Slains and Ellon Patrols should be considered.

Charles Catto (jnr) recalls his father having a Gordon Highlanders uniform, and pointing out the rough area of an Operational Base near Tipperty decades ago, possibly one at Cross Stones Wood or Target Wood.

References

Norman Fraser, Ellon. Son of Lt Alexander Fraser (Ellon)
Charles Catto (jnr) son of Auxilier Charles Chatto
TNA ref WO199/3388 201 Bn rolls.
Valuation roll 1925
Hancock report held at B.R.A