Lieutenant W.Ashby – Scout Section Officer

Lieutenant W. Ashby was posted to Head Quarters Auxiliary Units at Coleshill House on 9.11.1940.  Next day he was appointed Scout Section Officer and sent to Sussex. There were two Scout Sections in Sussex. He was to head the East Sussex Scout Section of 12 men from the Queens Royal Regiment.

The West Scout Section had men from the R. Sussex Regiment.  Both Sections were used to train the Patrols, select sites for Operational Bases and also construct them.  Royal Engineers were at Tottington Manor (Regional HQ) to construct O.B’s and for demolition training. 

Organisation Chart

AUXILIARY UNITS – SUSSEX

REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS
at
Tottington Manor
Small Dole, West Sussex

Commanding Officers (Intelligence Officers)

Captain J N W Gwynn 1940-41
Captain C F G Bond 1941-42
Captain I J Benson July 1942+

SUSSEX PATROLS

Chart information from ‘The Secret Sussex Resistance’ by Stewart Angell

Lt Ashby front row 2nd from left thought to be taken at Coleshill House with other Aux Officers. Can anyone name them?

Lt Ashby, centre, taken in Sussex

The East Sussex Scout Section (Click on each image to enlarge)

     

Around The Billet

     

Some more of his men

     

DIVISIONAL SIGN

Was this part of the deception – not very good photos but it appears that
Lt. Ashby is wearing the insignia of 4 Corps – can it be?

Peter Antill found this link with regards to the insignia.

Lt. Ashby checking over a Heinkel bomber brought down over the Southdowns.

The End of the Scout Sections

As recorded in the diary of Bill Webber……   the last entry.

With the danger of invasion past. The Scouts with Lieutenant Ashby returned to their Regiments, training will not be the same.

The danger and excitement which has kept us going this last three or four years will fade.

Bill Webber

Leader of the Firle Patrol, Sussex 1943

NB.  Lt Ashby returned to the Queens R.Regt. holding battalion and then on to become Adjutant to the Hallamshire Battalion of the York & Lancaster Regiment.  The Hallam’s were part of 49 (WR) Infantry Division which landed in Normandy and fought tough battles against 12 SS ‘Hitler Jugen’ and other Panzer Divisions.  During one battle Major Ashby as he now was, left an ‘O’ Group and received a sniper bullet which hit his spine.  His Army career had ended with him a paraplegic.....  but thankfully he was alive and able to return to the UK.

 
For Services rendered......

Full Service Record

Our thanks to Bill Ashby for providing this detailed information.