Baconsthorpe OB and Auxiliary Unit

by CART Member Jeremy Norman

The site is now used as a decorative pond area within the boundary of Baconsthorpe Castle, run by English Heritage.

Sited at the North East corner, there is little indication of the OB , originally formed within the confines of the castle dungeons by excavating an extra ‘room and erecting an Anderson Shelter in the resulting space.

It must be remembered that at the time of formation of the Auxilliary Units, Baconsthorpe Castle was unadopted and unkempt, brambles and thick vegetation covered the site.






There are occasional patches of whitewash, used in the walled part of the OB, sometimes visible when water levels fall.

There seems to be a trace of the  access / escape tunnel in one wall, confirming the description by Patrol leader, Mr J.Seaman, on whose land the castle stands.

Patrol Members.
J.Seaman
H.Smith
H.Allard
A.Smith
D.Dagless
A.Newstead

Proposed targets for the Patrol have been indicated as supply targets, had the nearby deep waters off Weybourne been used as a landing area; the Chain Home Radar station at West Beckham and possibly local large residences being used by enemy staff.

Training took place four nights per week, with extra weekend training at Syderstone, Holt and the ranges at Plumstead.

Grid Reference  TG 121 381


References;
Standing Up to Hitler.  Hoare.A. Countryside Books 2002.

Sincere thanks must go to Mr. J. Seaman and Mr H.Smith, who have given detailed accounts to help with this project.


More info can be seen here



 

Baconsthrope Castle, Coleshill House, Highworth, Auxiliary Units, Aux Units, Churchill's secret army, British Resistance Organisation, Underground Resistance, secret Guard, The Countryman's Diary 1939, Ian Fleming, guerrilla warfare, Operational bases, OB's, underground bunker, secret army, coleshill 

SEARCH OUR WEBSITE HERE