The West Fallodon Patrol was based to the south of Doxford Hall
| Name | Occupation | Posted from | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergeant Andrew Hall Moralee | Farmer |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Robert John Dixon | Shepherd |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private George Hedley Dixon | Horseman / farmer |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Robert Ord Manners | Farmer |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Corporal Thomas Fordyce Maxwell | Shepherd |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Archibald Douglas Turnbull | Farmer |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
The OB is in a narrow wood close to where two public footpaths cross. The OB is roughly half way between the main A1 England to Scotland road and the East coast main railway line.
The members were mainly from a farming background.
The OB was a standard "Elephant" shelter built by the 184th (S) Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers and built with an East to West orientation. The escape tunnel heads out to the Kittycarter Burn.
Unusual features of the OB are the galvanised pipe used for the escape tunnel and OB entrance. This was used because of the wet nature of the ground. The OB was in fact moved slightly closer to the edge of the wood due to flooding. The escape tunnel has a separate trap door between the end of the tunnel and the end wall of the OB, this area was used for storage.
West Fallodon Patrol
Patrol targets would have included RAF Brunton (heavy bombers and a long runway) and Doxford Hall used by the Army during WW2. The Hall also had some 'boffins' from Bletchley Park there working on codes and radar with the experimental radar site west of the OB.
The possible invasion beaches/harbours at Newton, Beadnell & Seahouses will have also been targeted as would have the East Coast main railway line and road and rail bridges nearby.
The Patrol did training with the Somerset Light Infantry at Middleton Hall, Kyloe Crags and Belford, they did the Commando training course at Cupar in Fife. Robert Charlton Hall and Tony Quayle did some of the training along with the Somerset Light Infantry based at Belford and Doxford Hall.
Some members also attended Coleshill House for specialist training.
More locally the Patrols trained on members farms and with the regular Army at Otterburn Ranges.
The Patrol is likely to have been equipped with the Auxiliary Units Mark 2 kit, a .22 silenced rifle with sights and Smith & Wesson pistols.
The Patrol did guard duty at Balmoral for the Royal Family and also formed part of the garrison on the Isle of Wight just before D-Day guarding the Pluto pipe line.
The Patrol won the 1942 Shield for Field Craft and Arms Skills at Colehill House.
They had a motto " Live to fight tomorrow and do as much damage to the enemy as possible".
The National Archives in Kew ref WO199/3388
Interview with Captain Anthony Quayle Intelligence Officer
Hancock data held at B.R.A
1939 Register
Hedley Dixon and Danny Moralee
Dave Constantine