Saxby All Saints Auxiliary Unit and Operational Base.

Thank you for selecting information on the Saxby All Saints Auxiliary Unit and their Operational Base in Lincolnshire. The info and images below have been supplied by CART's Norfolk CIO, Evelyn Simak and CART's Suffolk CIO Adrian Pye.

Saxby All Saints Patrol (Lincoln Group 1 / 1d)

The patrol formed part of Area North 1 - Group 1 which also included
 
Worlaby Patrol                 Lincoln Group 1 (1a)
Barton-on-Humber Patrol   Lincoln Group 1 (1b)
Elsham Patrol                  Lincoln Group 1 (1c)
Great Limber Patrol          Lincoln Group 1 (1e)

CO Lt. H Marshall – The Grange, Saxby All Saints

Currently unknown.

  Sgt H Drayton TNGH 6/1
  Cpl F Kingswood
  Pte H Morely
  Pte H Redhead
  Pte O Waddington
  Pte L Catling

Both the patrol’s OBs are situated in a private woodland near Saxby Hill, with the 2nd OB being located on higher ground approximately 300 metres to the east of the first.

Both the patrol’s OBs were built by John Sheffield of Scunthorpe with Royal Engineers labouring, from prefabricated concrete panels that were bolted together. Breezeblocks were used for constructing the walls. 

OB 1

The patrol’s first OB is located in mature woodland by Saxby Hill, with its entrance opening hidden within a group of ancient yew trees.  It was accessed with a ladder down a drop-down shaft built from breezeblocks. 

The structure is in good condition but flooded. 

There is no exit and only one vent is visible in the roof, near the end wall.  More vents might be obscured from view by foul-smelling water that has accumulated at the bottom of it.  At the time of our visit the water was about 70 cm deep, making access impossible.

We found the remains of a wooden ladder near the entrance.  We do not know if this was the original ladder used by the patrol.

We do not know if the site was abandoned because of problems with flooding or for other reasons.

OB 2

A second OB was built at a higher elevation in the same woodland, further up the hill and about 300 metres to the east of the first. 

This 2nd OB is a little larger than the first and in very good condition, dry and well ventilated. 
The structure was accessed with a ladder down a drop-down, breezeblock-built shaft. 

A staple with an eye can be seen in the wall near the top of the drop-down shaft – perhaps it used to serve as a cable guide for a release hatch.

The main chamber has retained two wooden boards affixed to the rear wall - remains of the original wooden bunks.

An approximately 70 cm long section of heavy-gauge steel wire, attached to the roof beside the entrance doorway, presumably served for hanging up coats and other items of use. 

Several rusty nails were hammered into the wall on the other side of the entrance doorway, presumably also to hang items from.

Debris blown into the uncovered entrance opening by the wind, and several items dumped here deliberately, is littering the floor.

The structure has no exit.

Sizes of OB 2: 

Main chamber: 4.50 L x 2.30 x 2.10m H

Entrance: 2.60m drop-down shaft, 0.80 cm square entrance opening

The construction is orientated ESE/WNW

Other physical remains: One vent (above) at near rear wall; concrete slab covering entrance opening (presumably put there by Royal Engineers after the war in order to seal the entrance); remains of wooden ladder

Observation Post/s:  Currently unknown

RAF Kirmington; railway line and railway bridges in the vicinity

Locally within the area the patrol operated or at the regional headquarters at Wellingore, Blankney or Dalby.  All patrols also went to Coleshill for specialist training.

Currently unknown.

Many thanks to John Andrew and Dennis Holloway for taking us there.

Mark Sansom, The Secret Army, Heritage Lincolnshire (2004); John Andrew, Barton upon Humber (personal interview); Dennis Holloway; Stephen Lewins CART CIO Northumberland; Will Ward, DOB;

If you can help with any info please contact us.