Langton Matravers Auxiliary Unit Patrol

This page was last updated on 21/11/11

Thank you for selecting information on the Langton Matravers Auxiliary Unit Patrol and Operational Base.

The patrol consisted of,

Sgt Fred White - Baker
Cpl Charles Coleman - Quarryman
Pte Hedley Lander - Farmer
Pte Charlie Haysom - Baker
Pte Ernie Norman - Quarryman
Pte Nelson Burt - Quarryman

Pte Morris Dallenger a Shop Keeper replaced Charlie Hayman in 1943.

The Operational Base was located at the Wilderness Valley Road. It is still thought to be there.

Mr Peter White a baker from Langton Matravers and son on Sgt Fred White recently spoke to CART;

His father was in the Langton Matravers patrol. Their OB was in woods. One of the villagers lived no more than 50m away during the war but didn’t know where it was. His family kept pigs and they collected acorns in the wood but still didn’t find it and he still doesn’t know where it is now, though it is still there.
The explosives were delivered to his house. He was 11 at the time. The explosives were delivered at night by Army vehicles.

The patrol was armed with Thompson submachine guns. They arrived in packing cases covered in thick industrial grease, wrapped in waxed brown paper. He remembers cleaning this off and at the end they poured boiling water over to strip the last of it off. They also had Smith & Wesson .32 revolvers, commando daggers and one .22 Winchester rifle with Winchester telescopic site and a silencer. It was very popular and was used for shooting rabbits. Mr Peter White also used it.

They had plastic explosive before the regulars had it and also ammonal. The patrol used to practice in an old quarry that had shut down just before the war having gone bankrupt. They practiced cutting RSJs with explosive charges and blowing open the storage tanks with chains of charges.

They launched practice attacks on Warmwell airfield, breaking through the perimeter wire and also the TRE at Worth Matravers. They prised apart the railings with a car jack and got in, closing the gap with a Spanish windlass after they escaped, so nobody would know how they got in. They also broke into the Cordite Factory at Holton Heath, laving a message on a desk to show they had been there. The troops guarding these installations were all carrying live ammunition in their guns.

Mr Peter White is looking to erect a memorial stone, made of Purbeck stone from a local quarry, in memory of the patrol. Planning permission has been submitted for this. CART member Will Ward has offered to arrange some publicity through CART. 

These are notes from a phone call on 30/7/11 between Will Ward and Peter White.

Langton Matravers