Known Locations
Ringwood, New Forest
Suspected OB's
Pitt House, Romsey Road, Winchester.
Brickfields, Chandlers Ford patrol.
Robin Hill, Isle of Wight.
Kemphill, near Ryde on the Isle of Wight
PORTSMOUTH RESEARCH
By David Seaton
The search for Portsmouth Aux Units is still progressing. Unfortunately no files about Portsmouth Aux units are held in either the City or County Records Offices. I have managed to find someone who recalls speaking to a relative of a Auxilier and the possible location of a OP on the Western end of Hilsea Lines. The chap is going through his diary to get the exact information, I'll pass it on once I have more.
In Hampshire records Office they hold Aux Unit Southwick Section record book/diary. (See left)
The diary was 'found in Birmingham' and was passed to the County Records office via Gosport Museum. I'm afraid I have no information about where or when it was found but it appears to be an official unit diary as each entry is counter-signed by the responsible Lieutenant and section leader.
Sadly the majority of the pages have been cut or torn out for a unknown reason leaving just a total of 32pages (diary entries from October 1942, 1-21 August 1943, 24 Oct '43-20 Jan '44, 18-28 Feb '44, the final entry is 12 March '44 with all subsequent pages removed) the document also lists equipment issued and sub-issue to each member of the patrol. The diary entries mention training, establishment of OPs (no exact locations), No.5 Group patrol competition in preparation for County and then national competitions, meetings of patrol leaders (no names or itineraries), day and night exercises.
Interestingly there was a stamp included for one of the entries (Hillcrest dated 8/2/44) unfortunately the surname isn't visible (I suspect it would have been Major Clive) and was worded (Photo attached):
Major G.S.HQ Auxiliary Units. Hampshire
The diary itself identifies a number of individuals, these are as follows;
Lord Glanusk (with the aid of Google I believe this to be Wilfred Russell Bailey the 3rd Baron of Glanusk, although what he was doing touring patrols in Hampshire I don't know. Thoughts?),
Colonel Commander,
Major Clive,
Lt (QMS) Peterson,
Lt Allan,
Lt Stokes,
Lt Marchant,
Lt Welsh (counter-signature in diary),
Sgt Ponton,
Sgt Watts,
Sgt Lee.
The diary identifies a number of patrols (shockingly poor security) all part of No.5 Group Hampshire. Patrols directly identified are;
Soberton,
Newtown,
St. Vincent (entry in speech marks therefore I suspect it's the patrol's codename not geographical location),
Barbados (entry in speech marks therefore I suspect it's the patrol's codename not geographical location),
Martinique (entry in speech marks therefore I suspect it's the patrol's codename not geographical location),
No. 1 Patrol,
No. 2 Patrol,
No. 5 Patrol.
Southwick Patrol also refer to themselves as St.George. The original members of this patrol were;
Sgt. Gatrall,
Cpl. Stubbington,
Pte H. Crook,
Pte P. Crook,
Pte Francis,
Pte Nince,
Pte Copping.
The latter (Pte Copping) was removed due to non-attendance in May 1943 and replaced with Pte.Fergusson (spelling not clear) from St.Vincent patrol.
The Patrol had a OP base, Ammo dump (large enough for all members to use 'comfortably' built by patrol in March 1943) and a Observation Post. The OP base was taken over on the 15th November 1942 from Hampshire Scout Section had a wooden floor, corked lined corrugated iron with a Paraffin stove.
The diary mentions a number of locations;
Hampshire Auxiliary Locations:
Bishops Waltham (initial kitting out of patrol members)
Hillcrest (No.5 Group HQ)
Southwick locations:
Baddesley (Bombing trg),
Chalkpit on Portsdown hills (preparation for No.5 Group patrol competition)
Hill forest (Newtown)
Hipley Copse (Explosives trg)
Hole Farm (Explosives trg)
Rookesbury Hall, Newton (Unarmed cbt)
Soberton Chalkpit (Weapons practice)
Exercise locations;
Ashlands Corner,
Broad Halfpenny Downs (Hambledon),
Chandlers ford
Dean Farm (county patrol competition)
GHQ Swindon (for Sgt’s course),
Glenville woods (Hambledon),
Goat House Hill (Newtown),
Hambledon (demo by Scout Section)
Hoe Gate,
Shoot hill (Newtown),
Southwick chalkpit,
Wallops wood,
Wickham.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFO ON PATROLS OR OB'S IN HAMPSHIRE PLEASE SHARE THEM WITH US.
