Harford Auxiliary Unit and OB By Nina Hannaford

A report by Nina Hannaford - CART CIO for Devon. If you can help with any info please contact Nina by emailing cartdevon@gmail.com

This page was last updated at 11:00am on 13/12/11

Harford is a small scattered village in the valley of the river Erme, 2 ½ miles north of Ivybridge and consists mainly of outlying farms.

In “Characters and Events of a Bygone Ivybridge” by Alec Rogers (2003) page 30 states: “Because we were wearing Home guard uniform none of the Ivybridge people we passed gave us a second glance as we came from the London Hotel car park and walked into the Kings Arms. It was in fact a rare assembly of men in Churchill underground force and the patrols in the Kings Arms that evening were from Cornwood, Diptford, Flete, Harford and Ugborough........."

Follow on research from the above extract by Alec Rogers points towards a Unit at Harford.

Two Auxiliers lived at Lukesland Farm in Harford, Howard Howell and Ferris Loveridge. Lukesland Gardens are now open to the public at certain times during the year (see www.lukesland.co.uk) and through the “contact us” feature I have been put in touch with John Howell ( Howard's grandson) and he has been able to do most of the research for me through local knowledge. His help has been invaluable.  

Research of Auxiliers addresses prove that Harford Unit consisted of :

Capt Alwyn Philip Roberton,   Harford Ash Farm
Howard Howell,    Lukesland
R Howell (Son of Howard Howell)
Ferris Loveridge,   Lukesland Farm
James Snell         Lukesland House
Clifford Andrew     Wisdom Farm
A John Andrew     Wisdom Farm

John Howell, through his Uncle Roy Howell has been able to pin point the possible location of the OB as being in a rough field on the edge of open moor (Dartmoor) called “Sentries” not far across the “Butterbrook” from “Torr Rocks”.

Jimmy Darling, a gardener at Lukesland, claimed once (according to Brian Howell) to have been in the  area when he heard someone say “Alright men, the coast is clear”. He looked over the rocks and saw some men coming out of a hole in the ground.

Roy Howell confirmed the general location of the bunker. He said it was very well made, completely buried and camouflaged on the surface. You entered it through a trap door and climbed down a ladder. There were bunk beds, food, weapons, ammunitions and explosives, and it would have been possible to live there for some time.

I have searched for any remains of the Operational Base but the area is very rough and covered in gorse and bracken so any evidence on the ground will be almost impossible to find. You can see the suggested location of the OB on Google earth using this marker.

In a letter from the sister of Clifford and John Andrew, she reports that the OB was blown up after they disbanded, but she also says they had a observational point at Harford Moor by Western Beacon which has a wonderful view over the area and down as far as Plymouth.

The main target in the area would have been the Ivybridge railway viaduct, the main link between Plymouth and the rest of the country and the A38 the main road link.

Howard Howell was a Canadian who served as a officer in WW1. He settled in Exeter and moved to Lukesland in 1931.

James Snell had their house in Plymouth bombed, so they went to stay at Lukesland as evacuees.

Ferris Loveridge was a nephew of Howard Howell's wife and he was a farm manager at Lukesland.

The Andrew's brothers were farmers at the nearby Wisdome Farm. Their sister says they spent a lot of time up at the observational  point at  Western Beacon where they had a “good” view of the Blitz of Plymouth. They also, at times, went away by lorry at weekends for training.
Clifford Andrew had a “certificate from the King” which states he served from 8th August 1940 to 31st December 1944. 

This is the view from the observational post on Harford Moor at Western Beacon. Nothing remains in the area. It’s looking South West to Plymouth.

(Report made by CART member Nina Hannaford)