Marksbury Patrol

A.K.A. (nickname)
Pensford or Hunstrete
Locality

Marksbury is a small village and civil parish in Somerset about 4 miles from Keynsham and 7 miles from Bath.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Lieutenant Charles William Trussler

Gamekeeper

22 Aug 1940 01 Apr 1941
Sergeant Herbert Arthur Pearce

Butchers manager

12 Nov 1942 03 Dec 1944
Private Henry Cecil George Bailey

Haulier

22 Aug 1940 02 Feb 1943
Private Leslie George Bullock 27 Nov 1942 03 Dec 1944
Private Geoffrey Norris Harding

Engineer learner

29 Jan 1942 Unknown
Private Stephen John Harding

Miner

Unknown Unknown
Private Frederick John Hillier

Salesman & market gardener

22 Aug 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private George Kenneth Hitchins

Student

04 Dec 1943 03 Dec 1944
Private James Thomas Hooper

Bricklayers apprentice

13 Feb 1941 14 Apr 1943
Private Victor Hooper

Motor mechanic

Unknown Unknown
Private Arthur Rawlings

General labourer

22 Aug 1940 18 Jul 1944
Private Ernest Thomas

Carter in coal mine underground

13 Jul 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private Edwin Charles Thomas

Bricklayer

11 Mar 1942 14 Apr 1943
Private Keith Robert Charles Trussler

Student

31 May 1943 03 Dec 1944
Private Graham Eric Tucker

Student

04 Sep 1942 03 Dec 1944
Private Frederick Watts

General labourer

27 Jul 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private William Sidney Charles Willis

Shopkeeper grocer dealer & sub Postmaster

25 Apr 1941 03 Jun 1943
Operational Base (OB)

The OB is located in a private wood. Originally part of the Hunstrete Estate the land was sold in the 1960s and the woods replaced with conifers. Jim Hooper, a bricklayer, was asked to help build the OB.

Group Commander Charles Trussler showed local Boy Scout, John Baker, the OB just after the war and he remembered the original leafy lid in place.

Patrol & OB pictures
OB Image
Caption & credit
Bed frame intact 2000 (from Don Brown)
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury OB diagram
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury OB main chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury OB main chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury OB outline
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury OB opening shute
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury OB entrance shaft - note white glazed bricks
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury OB opening shute
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury OB entrance shaft - note white glazed bricks
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury OB corridor roof
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury OB side chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury corridor main chamber on left
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury corridor main chamber on left
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury brickwork
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury side chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury wooden lintel to side chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury curved entrance
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury brick
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury corridor roof battens
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury entrance to main chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury roof battens
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury main chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury side wall of main chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury escape tunnel
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury side wall of main chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury main chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury main chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury end of main chamber showing escape tunnel
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury marks in render
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury end wall of chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury main chamber towards door
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury end chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury end chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury end chamber vent pipe
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury escape tunnel
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury escape tunnel with batten surround
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury end of escape tunnel
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury entrance
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury end of escape tunnel
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury entrance
OB Image
Caption & credit
Marksbury entrance grate
OB Status
Largely intact
OB accessibility
This OB is on private land. Please do not be tempted to trespass to see it
Location

Marksbury Patrol

Patrol Targets

The large railway viaduct over the Chew Valley would have been a likely target along with the nearby Whitchurch aerodrome.

Training

Jim Hoper recalled; "We were all keen and well versed in training and explosives. We knew how to get around the countryside, all around the area. We had great fun at times. We were attacking the guards in Keynsham. We ran out of thunderflashes and finished up with throwing sticks of 808 over the wall. It was an early finish that night. There was a dance going on at Keynsham Town Hall so we all piled in with our blackened faces. They thought they were being invaded. Another time, Units from the whole area attacked Locking airport. Each one had to capture a particular hut. Ours was the WAAF sleeping quarters."

Weapons and Equipment

Charles and Keith Trussler cleared the OB of all kit and explosives after the war. 

References

TNA ref WO199/3390 & WO199/3391

Hancock data held at B.R.A

1939 Register

The late Jim Hooper and Donald Brown