Norfolk Auxiliary Units And Operational Bases

This page was last updated at 7:29pm on 25/1/12

This is the overview page for the Norfolk Auxiliary Units.

In 1940, Intelligence Officer Captain Andrew Croft set up AU patrols in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. The first patrols were created in the areas deemed most likely for a German invasion force to land first and hence being the most vulnerable: Essex, and the area of Suffolk south of Woodbridge. In the following year each of the three Counties was appointed its own own Intelligence Officer.

In 1941, Capt (Major) Nigel Oxenden MC (succeeded by Capt Woodward) served as I/O for Norfolk, with the administrative centre being at Beeston Hall near Neatishead, and the control station and radio communications centre at Rackheath Hall, to the north-east of Norwich. 201 men had been recruited, forming 11 groups, divided into 35 patrols. 40 OBs had been built and 8 more were planned. By 1942, the number of recruited men had risen to 276 and the number of patrols amounted to 45.

Confirmed Norfolk Patrols CART has substantial archived documentation etc.   Click a patrol below to see its evidence.
Norfolk Group 1 (Norwich)
Lead by Capt RW Eades with CH Buxton and his 2nd Lt and J Page as his 2nd Sgt.	Earlham Patrol - Updated 8/9/11
	Eaton Patrol - Added 19/7/11
	Thorpe St. Andrew/Sprowston Patrol - Added 7/8/11
Norfolk Group 2
Lead by Capt. H.W.R. Mitchell	Fundenhall Patrol - Added 24/7/11
	Kirby Bedon Patrol - Added 22/9/11
	Stoke Holy Cross Patrol - Added 22/11/11
Norfolk Group 3
Lead by CO Capt Duncan with PN Neave as his 2nd Lt and AG Abel as his 3rd Lt.	Aylsham Patrol - Added 5/10/11
	Baconsthorpe Patrol Updated 21/9/11
	Calthorpe Patrol - Updated 8/9/11
	Matlaske Patrol
	North Walsham Patrol - Added 22/8/11
	Stody Patrol - Added 2/9/11
Norfolk Group 4
Lead by Lt LS Harris (1940 – 1943) & Capt RW Eades • Capt Reginald William Eades started as Lt and was later promoted to Capt. He was Group 1 and 4 A & Q (Adjutant and Quartermaster). When Lt LS Harris was called up in 1943, Eades was promoted to Capt and Group 4 area CO.	Happisburgh Patrol - Added 17/8/11
	Hoveton Patrol - Updated 11/8/11
	Neatishead Patrol - Added 17/8/11
Norfolk Group 5
Lead by Lt. Harry Wharton	Mautby Patrol
	South Walsham Patrol - Added 14/8/11
	Wroxham Patrol - Updated 7/9/11
	Wroxham Aux Unit Scout Section - Updated 9/1/12
Norfolk Group 6
Lead by Lt G F Rutterford	Holkham Park Patrol - Added 5/8/11
Norfolk Group 7
Lead by Lt RR Stanton with J Young as his 2nd Lt and W Newstead as his Lt.	Dersingham Patrol - Added 7/9/11
	Snettisham Patrol - Updated 22/12/11
	Ringstead Patrol - Added 7/9/11
	Bircham OB - Added 22/12/11
Norfolk Group 8
Lead by Lt LN Brock	Ashill Patrol - Added 25/9/11
	Castle Rising Patrol - Added 5/10/11
	Gayton Patrol - Added 20/9/11
	Mintlyn Patrol - Added 20/9/11
Norfolk Group 9
Lead by Lt Wm W Ward with EW Longfield as his Sgt.	Fritton St Olaves Patrol - Added 21/8/11
	Somerleyton / Fritton Lake Patrol - Added 21/8/11
Norfolk Group 10
Lead by Capt Walter G Gentle (Brandon) - Local butcher. His 2nd  Lts were Eric G Field, R.F.St.B Wayne, DC Kerry/Carey and possibly GR Holmes as his 2nd Sgt.	Hockwold Patrol - Added 22/12/11 Brandon Patrol - NEW - Added 30/12/11
Norfolk Group 11
Lead by Lt LN Brook with JE Taylor as his 2nd Sgt.	Alethorpe Patrol - Added 7/8/11
	Thursford Patrol - Added 7/8/11
	Blakeney Patrol - Added 22/8/11
	Cley Patrol - Added 2/9/11
	Walsingham Patrol - Added 7/8/11

This list was compiled from various sources including the concentrations of names/addresses as found in the Auxiliary Units Nominal Roll (held at Kew, National Records), and the very welcome help of Evelyn Simak, Adrian Pye, Jeremy Norman and others.

Unconfirmed Norfolk Patrols
CART is awaiting further documentation etc.

You can contact our Norfolk County Information Officer here cartnorfolk@gmail.com

If you would like to write an overview of the Norfolk Auxiliary Units or you have researched them please get in touch with us.