Mintlyn Auxiliary Unit Patrol

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Thank you for selecting information on the Mintlyn 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 is sometimes also referred to as Gaywood Patrol.

The patrol formed part of Norfolk Group 8 which also included

Narford Patrol, Castle Rising Patrol, Middleton Patrol, Gayton Patrol and Ashill Patrol
 

Group CO TRT1072186 Capt Jocelyn Leslie Hardy DSO MC, Washpit Farm, Rougham, King’s Lynn
2nd YQE 379/4 Lt. Maurice Newnes  (The Orchard, Gayton Road, K-Lynn) Solicitor

It is unknown when this patrol was formed.

TQEM 386/1 Sgt Harold Charles Spreckley (Kings Lynn)
             TQEL 111/1 Cpl Fredrick William Walker 21 (Gladstone Road, Kings Lynn)
             TQEE 25/1 Ernest William Baker (Regent Street, Kings Lynn)
             TQEG 55/1 William James Ely (King George V Ave. Kings Lynn)
             TQEM 354/1 Aubrey (Erk?) Brown  (Holcombe Avenue, Kings Lynn)
             KMHG 147/1 Richard Pearse Libbey 
             TQEU 358/2 Edwin De Gray Seaman (Gayton Road, Gaywood)

The OB is located on the edge of Bawsey Country Park and open to the public.

 Only a depression in the ground remains of Mintlyn Patrol’s OB, with a short gully denoting the course of the emergency exit passage.  The emergency exit was found by a friend of Mr D Neville about 40 years ago when setting snares: the peg the snare was attached to would no go into the ground and on investigating a steel trapdoor was discovered. 

The size of thr depression is 5.50 x 3m and it is orientated N/S. The emergency escape passage was approx 8m long, exiting by a rhododendron bush.

The rhododendron bush growing beside it is still in place.  The OB has since been removed.  We failed to establish if any of the objects found in the depression are remains left when the OB was removed or if they were dumped here at a later date.

Other physical remains: Two sections of railway track, one bent; 12 x 3 mm straps made from spring steel; piece of black rubber; indeterminate length of wire rope.

Observation Post/s: Currently unknown.

Railway bridges and lines in the vicinity

Training was done by experts; explosives course; training at Leicester Square Farm, Syderstone

Currently unknown

Currently unknown

Desmond Neville; Stephen Lewins CART CIO Northumberland; A Hoare, Standing up to Hitler (2002)

If you can help with any info please contact us.