Bewholme Auxiliary Unit Patrol

A report by CART CIO for Yorkshire Andy Gwynne. If you can help with any info please contact us.

This page last updated at 11:30am on 11/1/12

The Bewholme Patrol was part of the Southern Area of the East Riding, which consisted of 17 Patrols forming five groups 5-9. Bewholme belonging to Group No 5, which consisted of Catwick, Skirlaugh, Aldbrough, Hornsea and Bewholme.

It is unknown when the patrol was formed.

The Area Group Commander was Capt Walter Kitching (07/08/1897), The Assistant Group Commander was Captain Carrington (b.Dec1899) Group Sgt Clerk was Sgt Robert G Hugill.

The following are the entries found in the Nominal Roll. Exact addresses have been removed by CART.

Other Original Members had been: Sgt. Frank Denis Blanchard a tractor driver and Leslie Ulliott - No Address.
 
The Haras are a bit of a mystery. It looks like father, son and uncle. There are 3 different National Registration Numbers so there must have been 3 Hara's.

Both the OB and OP lie South West of the village of Bewholme on Private Farm land. The owner kindly took us to the exact location of the OB.

The OB and Op lie on arable field boundary ditches. The banks and ditches are well maintained. Although trees and brambles are growing up through the OB it is easy to see the whole layout.

Size of OB and entrance/exit etc: 5.9m x 3m

Condition of OB: Very Bad. Full collapse of the OB main chamber is imminent.

Orientation of OB: East West

Collapsed entrance area of the OB

Doorway to the entrance tunnel

Looking into the main chamber

View down the escape tunnel into the ditch

Observation Post/s: The observation Post lies 200m to the east of the OB. The entrance was through a concrete culvert under a bridge. The bridge crossing had been extended to form a one man chamber with the water cleverly diverted to keep the OP dry. It was linked to the OB by a field telephone. The concrete culvert still exists but the chamber has gone. (See the view from the OP above - Click image for larger view)

Entrance to the OP by the concrete culvert.

The WW2 airfield of RAF Catfoss is under one mile away.

The Unit regularly carried out exercises against Catfoss Airfield that was easily reached by travelling along the many ditches that gave cover. It is known they would place items on the planes during the night then in the morning would go to the airfield and demand to see the CO and would show him how lax his sentries were.  Information also was gained that as soon as the invasion started the local police officer would have been assassinated, as he knew too much.

.38 Revolvers, FS Knives, Thompson MG, Sten Guns. .22 Calibre Sniper Rifle.

None Currently

East Ridings Secret Resistance by Alan Williamson 2004, Mr Stuart Elliot, Landowner, Stephen Lewins (CART CIO for Northumberland)

If you can help with any info please contactus.