Lt Colonel Norman J L Field OBE
Written by his son Richard Field (C) Copyright 2010

Page last updated: 18/11/11

Some of this information below is exclusive to this website.

EARLY YEARS

Norman Field was born in March 1917, the son of Capt. H D Field, RAMC who was a front line Doctor and killed at Ypres in September 1917.The young Field was sent to prep school at Burnham- on-Sea and in 1931-35 went to Shrewsbury. Here he rose to become Oldham’s Head of House was vice Captain of Boats and rowed at Henley.He grew up in the country in Somerset and became a good fisherman,excellent shot and Horseman. A naturalist with keen observation of the countryside. It would stand him in good stead during his later undercover operations with Auxiliary Units.

A military career beckoned and in 1935 he attended Sandhurst where he excelled. A "Rowing Blue", Captain of Boats at Henley and a “Company” Coach. He was promoted to a Senior under Officer and was on duty on the processional route at the Coronation of George V1 - shouting orders to the lines of cadets.

In 1937 he was commissioned into 2nd Battalion The Royal Fusiliers,  Second Lieutenant Field was based at  Balisha Barracks, Shorncliffe, Kent.  It was after many exercises and route marches that it all took off. War was imminent and on 1st September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. Sensing action was needed, Second Lieutenant Norman Field, with a brother officer Harley Archer, lunched with his CO, rather well and gained his permission to break Regimental rules on marriage age limits! He married Geraldine Gridley, that afternoon at 5.00 pm at Holy Trinity, Dover. She was the youngest daughter of Sir Arnold Gridley MP, Chairman of 1922 Committee (later Lord Gridley).

He was interviewed by researchers and a military historian in November 2008 and gave a vivid account of experiences, in his own words, during the period of 1939-41. An insight into the man, his military progression and like so many, an unflinching commitment to serve.

THE 2ND BATTALION ROYAL FUSILIERS  FIGHT REARGUARD ACTION BACK TO DUNKIRK

In October 1939 the Battalion was sent to France near Arras  before being moved up to an outpost of the French Maginot line, West of Metz over Christmas 1939. Field was Signals officer and in March 1940 selected to become Adjutant following James Hill's departure to GHQ Whilst fighting a rearguard action.

In his own words

"We were having a pretty tough time facing the Germans at Nieuport- they knew where we were and they were giving us hell with the shelling and night patrols with their scmeitzers using tracer bullets.  We were positioned in a strip of wood  running from Nieuport down this way. We were in a first World war small Belgian block house as Battalion HQ. Outside there were soldiers in a slit trench either side of it. some, including our Regimental Sergeant Major were sitting with their backs to this block house as though sheltering from the rain but shell bursts are omnidirectional and they were caught by the shell blast still sitting there but dead. I'd been sent out to an alternative HQ and then came back and was in a ditch a few hundred yards away because the shelling. while I'd been away the block house took a direct hit.  I saw couple of officers and they were grey; they'd been through hell. They were talking to a fellow officer, Malcolm Blair, a wonderful and brave officer who had returned to find us from the Dunkirk beach and give support. A large shell had hit the top of the block house. Malcolm was killed and they were shaken up by that and not least the hell they had gone through!"

When asked about his CO, Norman Field said

"he was very conscientious. He was in this block house when I was in there. We were all short of sleep and the CO suddenly, in a dream, jumped up and yelled' Follow me! We've got to see these bloody Germans off! There was a dead straight road between us and Nieuport and we were in a little spinney alongside it.He rushed out on to the road and a pretty efficient sniper lost no time at all in getting him straight through his helmet. He fell flat on his face on the road. We got hold of his legs and pulled him in."

Commenting on this dangerous thing for him to have done with the snipers about. Field commented

"Not if you were quick enough. I used to cross the road if I wanted the lavatory! They had to be bloody quick to get you! He wasn't killed outright, he survived for 24 hours or so. He was Lt Colonel Allen. Brother of a chap called Gubby Allen, the England Cricketer"

Gubby Allen rang later to ascertain what had happened when Norman Field was himself in hospital back in England.

Lt Col Norman JL  Field OBE flanked by Resistance fighters in Copenhagen VE Day 1945.
(Image Copyright 2010 to Richard Field.)

The Battalion came back to the new HQ in this ditch, This HQ consisted merely of Field with a signaler equipped with vital telephone. Dribs and drabs of survivors came back and sought shelter in neighbouring ditches for 24 hours until we got 5 vehicles or so and everyone climbed on board and we went to La Panne.

Norman Field recalls

"I was under a bandstand at the front with Jack Lotinga who became CO after Allen was killed. Jack was a very jolly man... the story goes that he was walking down that dead straight road at night with his bedroom slippers on and German patrols started firing on either side and he just kept going!

Kit Bowring was the only Company Commander who hadn't turned up with the remainder of his Company and I knew the way they should have come into the place and so I said to Jack I better go and catch them as they get to the cross roads to show them where we are It became quite dark and it was wasn't long before the cross roads came under pretty heavy shell fire. It was all a bit frightening and I was in a sort of cellar window to a house taking shelter. It's fascinating stuff to see what happens when these shells burst on the road; like white tadpoles whizzing around  because they are bits of white hot metal. I was crouched in the cavity may be 6 inches deep and I felt my left hand move. I lifted it up and my fingers wouldn't work. I realised I'd been clobbered but I didn't feel a thing,not then. only my thumb and forefinger are fully functional. When I realised that I had lost the back of my hand and it wouldn't work I thought I'd better see who I could find on the beach. I started calling "Royal Fusiliers!" and a voice called out"Come and lie down over here!" so I did and found myself next to Jock Cleghorn,  a Fusilier Captain who was with Brigade HQ 12th Infantry Brigade  . He dressed my wounds. We were lying flat on our faces because these bloody shells were coming in all the while on to the beach. There was a small plane going in circles overhead chucking out flares that hung in the air and made it like daylight,directing the artillery fire on to us. We couldn't stand up , it wasn't safe. It was dark all this was at night. We hadn't got any weapons everything had been abandoned on orders, weapons, transport. We hadn't. even got spades!

The firing was so intense and people were being hit all over the place and crying out; awful! a nightmare. We were worn out and hadn't had any proper sleep for ages. Lack of sleep had been very debilitating for some time. We were told we were going to be taken off by ship. We spent the night, when it was safe to raise our heads looking for lights. As daybreak approached someone saw a light and then another and then these ships turned up and everyone was on their feet running down to the water, ready to get on board. Everyone arrived at once and it was chaos. The Brigadier got hold of two MP'S with bren guns one firing that way and one firing this way and anybody who went into the sea was deterred by the threat of being shot!I don't think anyone was shot because they weren't fool enough to try it! The only gateway was between these two policemen and so the Brigadier had control."

ESCAPE AND UNDER ATTACK

"The ships were small Minesweepers. To the shore were sent rowing boats of canvass, collapsible, river crossing type boats holding only 5 men. no seats, one of these saved me!

Anyone who'd been wounded was given priority and that's where I was lucky. I was hauled on board a Minesweeper. When I got on board I found one of my signalers, he had been shot in the stomach, a nice man. He was saying "I'm going to die!" I said " of course you're not, I'll go and get a Doctor. I found one and told where this chap was and then I lay under the table in a galley and went sound asleep in a flash. When I came to, the boat was on its beam ends. We were being dive bombed by 8 Stukas. 3 went for the Destroyer behind us and sank it and God knows how many were drowned! The other 5 came for us! I didn't hear these bloody things coming down. Fortunately, the Captain was on deck. He had his hand on the wheel and he judged, because they came in very low down to about 200 feet before letting go of the things. He'd whiz the wheel round at the right time and all the bottles where falling off the shelves in the galley. They missed us!  All I could see out of the corner of my eye were the spikes of water going up, as some landed in the sea only 10 to 15 yards away, very scary!

The signaler had died and had to be disposed of overboard and there was a priest who'd been in my house at Shrewsbury- Sam Woodhouse,he became Dean at St Pauls,I think.  The Minesweeper was loaded with Frenchmen and I couldn't understand this. Apparently, we'd been into Dunkirk and taken on these Frenchmen on top of all the British and I'd slept through the lot! On arrival at Sheerness there was all this rubbish in the water and I looked  and there were men  drowning,spewing up water, Nobody doing anything about it. It was horrible. We came down the gang plank and I gave an MP the papers of the signaler who had died.I hope he put them through the right channels. My one objective was to phone my young wife. I found a telephone in the Commandant's house and he let me use it. I told her that as far as I knew the wounded were being taken by Ambulance to Dartford where a hospital was being manned by the Canadians! Shortly after the phone call my wife received a frightening telegram saying that I was wounded and missing and presumed dead!  She knew I was safe!"

Norman demonstrating the PIAT's capabilities to General 'Boy' Browning.

RECOVERY AND A VERY SECRET ASSIGNMENT

Frustrated by events and on sick leave in Somerset he was visited by Peter Wilkinson, A Royal Fusilier, a brother officer. In Field’s own words.

"He'd heard that I'd been wounded and came to see how I was getting on: I had plenty of time to consider what I might do next. I decided that an undercover job might allow me to use my wits for a change! Believing that Peter might be so employed,which he was. Just before I shut his car door, I asked him to ‘please bear me in mind!’ Peter made no reply and his face remained blank".

Two days later Field was summoned by telegram to Coleshill House, Oxfordshire.

Clip from 'Britains Secret Army". Supplied courtesy of Peter Williams Television

"It (Coleshill) was a huge empty place.There were two officers wandering around. I told them who I was and I was asked to wait in this vast servants hall. Eventually,a smallish chap in civilian clothes came in and interviewed me, He told me his name was Colonel Colin Gubbins which meant nothing to me whatsoever. He said he'd been given the job of setting up this underground operation in this country to deal with the invasion when it happened. Was I prepared to do it he asked? Yes, I replied without hesitation and it was lucky I did, there is enormous scope for using one's wits. I said to him that I am still a medical category, Sir, even if you want me! He said, leave that to me! Two days after that, I received a telegram telling me to go to Taunton for a special medical. I went, a got a certificate saying I was fit for duty in the UK and then a few days later I got another one asking me to report as a Captain; an intelligence officer, so I skipped a rank and became a Captain overnight, still in the Royal Fusiliers. There were various young  'Intelligence Officers' at Coleshill and they asked me who I was and when I told them they said ".You must be the lucky chap who is going to the Garth, Peter Fleming is moving on" I said, "who,what and where is the Garth?It was the place set up by Peter Fleming in Kent. Officially Briefed and taken by his CO,  Colonel 'Bill' Major to The Garth at Bilting, Kent."

(Now Bilting Court, in recent years,it was the home and studio of the late John Ward RA.)     

UNDERCOVER - SECRET PATROLS ARE FORMED AND TRAINED

The Garth - Now called Bilting Court. Photo provided by Phil Evans.

On arrival at the Garth, Colonel Major introduced Field to Peter Fleming (brother to Ian of 007 Bond' fame) and they were surprised to find a Luftwaffe pilot who had just been shot down lying on the kitchen table! He had arrived by parachute,wounded in the arm and not in a very good state covered in yellow dye.It had burst over his head! They turned on the one o'clock news and someone said" listen carefully! you'll hear the truth!" He probably didn't speak a word of English as he didn't respond anyway! The ambulance turned up and took him off. The table was cleaned up and lunch produced for the assembled company at the same table! After lunch we were to go and see General Horrocks in Canterbury.

The same table at The Garth in 2009. Photo provided by Phil Evans.

At the hand-over briefing, Fleming gave good advice to Field: “Only deal with Generals if you want anything!” Captain Field took over command as OC.X11th Corps Observation Unit ('Intelligence Officer' of Auxiliary Units in Kent) and established some formal control. Complete nominal rolls did not exist in 1940/41. Due to the speed at which he had to act,there was still much to be done to provide adequate underground accommodation for men and supplies.He had assistance at The Garth which included a sergeant explosives expert, two NCO's from the Lovat Scouts, several drivers, a clerk, a cook and two officers each in charge of a section of 20 soldiers. Field was well provided with transport, both military and requisitioned vehicles. He used the latter when in civilian clothes. When he took over, no military uniforms were provided for the civilian Auxiliaries. It was later decided to enrol everyone into the Home Guard(for special duties). This enabled them to receive the protection of uniform if they so wished. It also gave them a credible explanation to give their families as to what they were up to during their frequent absences.

Increasing  numbers of Auxiliary units were to be established along the South and East Coasts. X11th Corps Observation Unit was the example on which others would be based.

Field's role was to recruit, train and operate undercover saboteurs should the Germans invade. This secret army was the inspiration of Winston Churchill. In these early days of Auxiliary Units many hideouts and the establishment of patrols in Kent were to be devised by Captain Field. He operated in civilian clothes except at official military meetings.The patrols consisted of 6- 8 good local men, some from the Home Guard who were recruited and knew the terrain and could 'melt' into the environment. They signed the Official Secrets Act for this special assignment. On recruitment, great care was taken in choosing key leaders.

Once they had been found and let in on the secret,It was not difficult to build up a team as the patrol leader's life depended on reliable supporters. He took great care to select those who could be trusted in extreme conditions. Field experienced problems with the Chief Constable whenever one of his men had been inadvertently enrolled for "special duties'. Likewise, Home Guard commanders resented losing what were probably their best men.

Regular training with key personnel took place at Coleshill, The Garth in Bilting and in the patrol's district. One observer would be out looking for targets during the day. It was unlikely that more than two or three members would operate against one specific target at night. Stealth being of prime importance.  During the week these brave men would return to where ever and do their Home Guard duties carrying on being farmers,garage proprietors,foresters and gamekeepers etc. During Field's eight months at the Garth (November 1940-July 1941) there were 33 patrols between North Foreland and Rye. He established 3 OB's on Romney Marsh. The civilian contractors came in daily by coach from Maidstone to build these underground bases. Two operational bases(OB's) 'Big Kate' and "Little Kate' were established for his HQ squad. Much of the Auxiliary Units structure, OB's and operational methods are described in great detail in the excellent and highly recommended book written by John Warwicker, 'Churchill's Underground Army'.

Their training was top secret. If close to capture, the option open to the patrols, including Field, was suicide rather than be taken prisoner. Had it come to it, he had vowed to shoot himself rather than be taken by the Germans simply because he knew too much of the patrols, operational plans and hideouts.He had always said that they would have made a nuisance of themselves. Top priority was given with weapons and enough hidden explosives to blow up a town the size of Ashford! His expertise was with the construction of the hideouts and explosives.  Whilst experimenting, he famously blew up a car which took off in one piece and landed several fields away,much to the alarm of his men!  It was clear that had the invasion taken place he was to 'stay behind' undercover as an Intelligence Officer and lead his men from the front rather than be withdrawn for other duties.

He soon came to the notice of General Alan Brooke, C-in-C Home Forces, who made a visit to Kent and was impressed by the “set up” as reported in his war time diaries (see entry 29th August 1941) Alan Brooke also visited the Special Duties Section operating in Field's area. This section of Auxiliary Units was unknown to Field and he was not party to their role which was to gather and disseminate information from behind enemy's lines through a network of trained spies and radio operators.Whilst traveling with Alan Brooke he had been asked to wait as he entered in to an area where they were operational! Just before arrival a Major appeared who told Field that he had Coleshill's authority to take charge for a short while, so would he follow. The small cortege stopped at the top of White Hill where the Major took the General into "Hilltop" They were met by two young ladies in FANY uniforms who, it would  appear were the sole occupants, Business was concluded and Field took over to escort the General to meet a patrol in an OB. As a result Field only became aware of Coleshill running the Special Duties Section by accident. A surprising revelation! Such was the security that he knew nothing about it! They were saboteurs and not in the intelligence gathering business so risks would be reduced if they were kept in the dark.

THE MEETING WITH MONTGOMERY

There were meetings with General Montgomery based at Tunbridge Wells  in '41. At the outset, he knew little of Field and what he was doing in his sector. Field had been advised by Peter Fleming to telephone the Corps Commander and just tell him you want some leave. "Don't forget, you'll get highly involved in this. It's a good thing to to have some leave. I suggest you ring up the Corps Commander.You will find the Corps Commander takes a close interest in our progress". Field remembered this good advice and telephoned. A young ADC answered and the boss was out and he seemed clueless. I said, "Don't worry- you will find your General knows all about me" He didn't seem to know about me at all!.

I said " when the boss gets back just tell him Captain Field has phoned to say he'd like to go on leave and he hopes he has no objection" At Coleshill, Field had met Eustace Maxwell who had some salmon fishing on the Tweed and he asked if I wanted to go and have a week's fishing and I couldn't pass that up and I'd have a week's leave and that's what caused me to make this phone call. That evening I had a call back from a Chief of Staff called Brigadier Simpson . He said" General Montgomery has had your message. He doesn't think he knows of a reason why you can't go on leave but doesn't think he knows you so would you come and see him" and so I did! .  

The first meeting was on the  A20 cross roads at Lenham where on coming down the hill he viewed the small figure of Monty pacing up and down in front of a very large staff car. Field thought now I'm for it!  He saluted and apologised for being late. The General responded, "No you are not! I'm always two minutes early- get in the car!" and they drove off at speed with Field's driver following behind!

He obviously impressed Monty following inspection of the hideouts “Has Winston seen this? I'll bring him down" said Monty.The now famous enlightenment about 'vanishing act at the sheep trough' has been well documented by several authors.

In Norman Field he had seen a young regular soldier with potential, a Sandhurst background and battle experience. Monty said“I think you should start thinking about Staff College.” Field protested that he had no interest in staff work. Despite an intervention from Coleshill and an official visit to Monty's HQ,  the General insisted on him joining his own staff before attending Staff College at Camberley. On graduating in 1942, Major Field joined the operations section of HQ 1st Airborne Division.In at the start  and received recognition in their official history for his work in the formation and planning of Airborne Forces.

Norman Field taken at Kastrup Airport in Copenhagen 1945. (Image Copyright 2010 to Richard Field.)

STAFF COLLEGE AND AIRBORNE OPERATIONS

As a Staff Officer to General 'Boy' Browning, Field was now involved in Airborne operations in Italy, Sicily, Middle East and North Africa.

He went to Tunisia the following year to help plan the Allied invasion of Sicily. While in North Africa, Field met “Popski” — Major Vladimir Peniakoff, the Russian émigré commander of the 1st Demolition Squadron that had carried out hit-and-run raids in the Western Desert campaign. Peniakoff was preparing to submit his plans for similar action in the Italian campaign, but he was no staff officer. Field helped him to couch his proposals in the correct military style and “Popski’s Private Army” went on to further successes in Italy.Field was recalled from Italy in late '43 to start planning joint British and American Airborne assaults on D-Day. Planning included the successful operations at the Merville Battery and Pegasus Bridge. He had access to all the D-Day plans at St Paul's School.
He was specifically requested by the Americans to work with them as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans. All because of his reputation.

In March 1945 Field was promoted to Lt Colonel and seconded to Lt General Ridgway,USA, First Allied Airborne Army for the Rhine Crossing 'Operation Varsity'. He was subsequently awarded The American Bronze Star for his meritorious service in connection with military operations in the invasion of Holland, and mentioned in Despatches.

Returning to General Richard Gale, he became his Chief of Staff. He described Norman Field as having done his job magnificently, as did General 'Boy' Browning who said:"He has been outstanding as a young and extremely capable staff officer with plenty of initiative and ideas and sufficient caution to back them."

He was awarded the OBE (Military) in 1945. Field was present at the liberation of Copenhagen and was due to fly out to Burma to assist in setting up a British Airborne Corps HQ. On the first day of his embarkation leave he experienced a life threatening stroke which stifled his progression in the Army. He retired from the Army in 1948.

CIVILIAN LIFE AND ARTISTIC FAME

Civilian desk jobs in London followed between 48-55 and did not suit. So in 1955 from a commuter life in Buckinghamshire, the family moved to Bilting in Kent, less than a mile from Field's wartime clandestine hideouts. In an orchard of a 17th Century cottage Fair Acres, he built a mushroom farm.
 
The farm provided daily supplies to Covent Garden and top restaurants. It was a hard "full on" seven days a week work,
 

The discovery of his self-taught artistic ability was born out of repairing his mushroom farm machinery. He had acquired oxy-acetylene welding equipment and this started him sculpting in steel. Taking the form of people, birds and plant life, exhibiting at the City of London Guildhall Art Exhibition.

Sales were high for a new artist and purchases went overseas. In ‘69 his work of "Rugby Players" was selected as one of sculptures representing British artists at the Second Biennale of Sport and the Fine Arts in Madrid and this art work purchased by the Netherlands Government. Acceptance by six National Art Societies in their London exhibitions gave him confidence to venture into Cork Street, W1 where the John Whibley Gallery took him on and gave him a ‘one-man show’ in June 1970.
   
Work was previewed in the art world press and on a BBC2 art programme.

A sculpture by Norman Field of Churchill painting.

Fair Acres became full time maintenance and with the passing of years, it was decided to move in 1997 to a smaller house in Wye, eventually to Church Street where Norman and Geraldine lived. She sadly died in 2001.
 
He warmly engaged with many village friends in the streets of Wye and proudly, wearing his red beret, laid the wreath of poppies on behalf of the village on Remembrance Sunday in 2008.In his life time, he had been at heart, a countryman and had an encyclopedic understanding of country life.

Flanked by his Son and Grandsons at home in Wye, Kent on his 90th Birthday in 2007.
  L-R: James Field (Grandson) NJLF, Richard Field, (Son) and Christopher Field (Grandson)

  He maintained close links with The Royal Fusiliers through the years, frequently, attending the Regimental Dinners and exchanging stories on the Fusiliers, Airborne Forces and Trout Fishing with his good friend and brother officer, Brigadier James Hill, DSO and two bars MC. Those many years ago he had passed on the mantle of Adjutant, 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers to Norman Field in 1940 prior to the evacuation at Dunkirk.

He was a patron and respected adviser to the Museum of the British Resistance Organisation at Parham in Suffolk.

He loved his family and was loved by many who met him, an inspiration, a survivor-an example of bare courage, fortitude and dedication to his Country which so many of his brave generation displayed.  Many researchers and military historians to this day continue to explore the clandestine operations of the Auxiliary Units and the major part he played at its conception.He will be sadly missed by us all but never forgotten. His name in military books and his art will see to that!

May God bless him!

Lt Colonel Norman J L Field OBE- 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, Auxiliary Units and 1st Airborne Division died on September 10th 2009, aged 92. 120 Friends and family attended his funeral at St Gregory and St Martin Church in Wye, Kent. The Royal British Legion and the Western Front Association were in attendance.

Richard Field (C) Copyright 2010

OUR THANKS GO TO RICHARD FIELD FOR SUPPLYING US WITH THIS PERSONAL INFORMATION ON HIS FATHER.