Wool is large village in south east Dorset.
This Patrol was formed in 1943, under the command of Sergeant Edgar Cooper, who had previously been a member of the Winfrith Patrol, which was stood down that month. The Barnes brothers and Richard Barter were both from Broadmayne, but Cooper and Cox were both from the west of Winfrith.
| Name | Occupation | Posted from | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergeant Edgar Cooper | Labourer aiding father diary farmer |
05 Jul 1943 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Edward Andrew | Electrician |
19 Dec 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Albert James Bishop | House painter |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private George Charles Cox | Lorry driver |
15 Aug 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Albert Edward Lionel Hemmings | Clerk in Military Hospital |
19 Jun 1943 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Henry John Nichols | Dairy farmer |
31 Oct 1943 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Raymond Heath Rogers | Motor vehicle fitter |
20 Jan 1943 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Frederick Harry White | Fish monger |
09 Jun 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Cecil Francis Whitefield | Lorry driver Royal Engineers |
31 Oct 1943 | 03 Dec 1944 |
The location of the OB is unknown but the late William Barnes recalled that it was on the Heath, presumably Winfrith Heath.
Wool Patrol
The Patrol was formed quite late in the war compared to most. By July 1943 the risk of invasion was much lower and the role of Auxiliary Units had changed to providing defence against possible spoiler raids by the Germans. Thus it is likely that rather than having targets to attack, the Patrol may have had targets to defend, or at least targets where they would aim to disrupt the enemy attackers by disruption in their rear, while conventional forces dealt with them head on. The main tank school at Bovington might have been one such target.
National Archives WO199/3390, 199/3391
1939 Register
Hancock data held at B.R.A
Information supplied by John Pidgeon