Paxtondene OB And Auxiliary Unit

Located near Longhosley

This Auxiliary Unit O.B. is a one off in the Northumberland area as far as I know. This due to the construction of the O.B. it is a double “elephant” shelter. Two shelters built end to end. After that the layout is the same as normal, with the O.B. being located on high ground near to a water supply and just far enough into some woods to make it hard to locate. The O.B has a good view of the surrounding slopping fields to the south and west.

The site is approximately half way between Longhorsley and the main A1 road, this being the main England / Scotland route. It is located in a wooded valley which is quite hidden to its surroundings. The O.B. is at the western end of the woods and the marker for it is a “Y” shaped tree in a sparse hedge line. It can be reached on foot with some difficulty but it is possible.

The O.B. is in two differing states of repair. The north side of the shelter is totally collapsed as is the bolt hole tunnel, again wood was used for the tunnel which has now rotted away. The south side is in fair condition though with a hole in the corrugated iron roof it is just a matter of time before it collapses also. The trapdoor into the OB was still there 10 years ago but we think has now perished.

The O.B. was built as all the other Northumberland shelters were, by 184 (s) Tunnelling Company R.E. and was completed before December 1942. Capt. Anthony Quayle was at the time Officer in charge of the Auxiliary Units.

 WW2 map reference qU659152, modern map reference NZ 168 947

 Cell / Patrol members:-

 LT  A. Carmichael
 PTE  J. Green
 PTE  J.H. Rutherford
 PTE  T. Wood
 PTE  J.L. Wood
 PTE  H. Clark
 PTE  T. Clark

All of the above are dead now but part of their story lives on with B.Ricalton who knew them all and to whom I have to thank again for his help with this project.

Page text and images supplied by Stephen Lewins.