Earlham Auxiliary Unit Patrol

This page was last updated at 6:58pm on 16/2/12

Thank you for selecting information on the Earlham Auxiliary Unit Patrol and their Operational Base in Norfolk. The info and images below have been supplied by CART's Norfolk CIO, Evelyn Simak and CART's Suffolk CIO Adrian Pye.

The patrol formed part of Norfolk Group 1 (Norwich) which also included

Eaton Patrol, Thorpe St Andrew/Sprowston Patrol and possibly Cringleford and Hellesdon patrols

CO Lt. Cecil H. Buxton 
2nd Sgt. J. Page

It is currently unknown when the patrol was formed.

Sgt. C.G. Haines, 8 Finklegate, Norwich - Engineer
                       Cpl. S.A. Haines, Norwich
                       Pte. R.G. Bailey, Norwich
                       Pte. F. Brown
                       Pte. B.C. Claxton, Bottom Farm, Heacham or Snettisham
                       Pte. J.G. Fish
                       Pte. J.E. Walker          
                       Pte. John Fielding, Norwich
                      ? Pte. Sid Littlewood ,Norwich
                      ? Pte George Gibbs

[According to CG Haines in: A Hoare, Standing up to Hitler (2002), his unit consisted of a sergeant, a corporal, a lance corporal and three privates]

Image drawn by R.Drake

The area where the OB was located is now part of the campus of the University of East Anglia and open to the public

Earlham golf course was situated in Earlham Park, south of Earlham Hall and immediately to the west of Bluebell Road.   

In the 1950s Earlham golf course was built over by the Sainsbury Centre of Visual Arts and the University of East Anglia, with the land to the south, bordering onto the River Yare, now forming part of the university campus. 

The positional reference given by patrol member John Fielding (lodged at DOB) puts the patrol’s OB on the north-eastern edge of the golf course, in an area situated near the south-eastern edge of the present-day university campus, to the north of the UEA Broad – a lake created by gravel quarrying – and to the west of Bluebell Road.

After several decades of construction work and landscaping it would be unrealistic to expect finding a stone unturned or the OB intact and hidden away in some unexplored corner.  According to John Fielding’s account the OB has long since been filled in and in all probability it was either destroyed or lies buried beneath layers of soil or concrete.  All that remained for us to do was to take a photograph of the approximate location (below)

John Fielding’s oral account, lodged at DOB, describes a chamber of 3.70 x 2.50m in size with an entrance passage, a central area for bunks, and an explosives store. The structure was buried 3.70m deep. According to patrol member Sgt CG Haines (in: A Hoare) the patrol members built the OB themselves.

Observation Post/s: Currently unknown.

Currently unknown

Currently unknown

Trained in weaponry, night work, map reading, explosives, and unarmed combat.
Weapons: .22 rifle with telescopic lens, .38 revolver, dagger, knife, knuckle-duster, Sten machine gun, rubber truncheons.

Currently unknown

A Hoare, Standing up to Hitler (2002); J Warwicker, Churchill’s Secret Army (2008); Stephen Lewins CART CIO Northumberland; Dr William Ward, Defence of Britain Database.

If you can help with any info please contact us.