North Walsham Auxiliary Unit Patrol and Operational Base.

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Thank you for selecting information on the North Walsham 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 formed part of Norwich Group 3 which also includes

Matlaske Patrol, Stody Patrol, Baconsthorpe Patrol, Thorpe Market Patrol (aka as Calthorpe patrol or Alby patrol), Aylsham (aka Oulton) Patrol and possibly Ingham Patrol

CO Lt P N Neave
2nd Lt A G Abel
Capt Duncan took over from Lt Neave as CO

It is currently unknown when the patrol was formed.

Sgt Fredrick Kidman   [TQHC 17/1]    
Cpl Frank Nicholas Tofts  [TRIB 35/1] Heath Farm, Norwich Road, North Walsham
     Thomas John Bell  [WZRC 4/3]
     Wallace Charles Hannant  [TQHC 303/5] The Bungalow, Station Road, North Walsham
     William Alma Hicks  [TQHA 200/1] 14, Barton Road, North Walsham
     Alfred Barrett

According to information given to us by Mr JN Tofts, son of patrol member Cpl Frank Nicholas Tofts, the OB was located by the northern edge of a woodland on the Westwick Estate.  We identified the location as an area marked on OS maps as Postle’s Corner. The OB was located about 20 metres from the northern edge of the woodland adjoined by fields.
 
Mrs BE Kidman confirms that the OB was situated in ‘Westwick Woods’.

Mr JN Tofts visited and accessed the OB on several occasions and describes the entrance as having been a drop-down shaft, with a small room (annex) preceding the main chamber. 

The main chamber was an Anderson Shelter. The shelter was constructed by patrol members themselves in the farmyard at Heath Farm and then carted across the field to the OB site.

The emergency escape tunnel led off the annex and emerged about 18 metres away, running in a zigzag course.

The emergency escape passage was constructed from a number of 40-gallon drums with tops and bottoms removed and arranged so that they would form a tunnel.

The structure was pulled out of the ground and all that remains is a shallow depression.  Considering that in all likelihood there is nothing left to see on the ground, and also because access to the Westwick Estate is usually not permitted, we decided not to ask for permission to see the OB site but rather to illustrate our text with a photograph depicting Heath Farmhouse (above) (which housed the patrol’s ammunition and explosives store in its cellar), and two photographs of typewritten letters - kindly shown to us by Mrs Kidman.

The letter above is dated 30 November 1944 and signed by Colonel F.W.R. Douglas, with ‘To Sgt F Kidman’ added by hand in ink.

This is a typewritten copy of a letter addressed to ‘The Commander, GHQ Auxiliary Units’ - written by General H.E. Franklyn (Commander in Chief) and dated 18 November 1944.

Currently unknown

Currently unknown

Currently unknown

According to Mr JN Tofts, the patrol’s ammunition and explosives were stored in the cellar of Heath Farmhouse.  Mr Tofts also mentioned an ammo dump in the woodland near the OB site but he could not recall its exact location.

Mrs BE Kidman, North Walsham (personal interview); JN Tofts, son of patrol member, North Walsham (personal interview); A Hoare, Standing up to Hitler (2002); Stephen Lewins CART CIO Northumberland

If you can help with any info please contact us.