Stoke Holy Cross Auxiliary Unit Patrol

This page was last updated at 9:05am on 13/1/12

Thank you for selecting information on the Stoke Holy Cross 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 Norfolk Group 2 which also included

Kirby Bedon Patrol, Fundenhall Patrol and Carleton St Peter Patrol
 

CO Capt. H.W.R. Mitchell, The Vale, Kirby Bedon

It is unknown when the patrol was formed.

TRMO 160/1   Sgt WA “Dicky” Bickerson (Dickerson?) - Old Post Office, Shotesham
TRMN 4/3      Cpl Harry “Pitman” W Lynes - Shotesham 
TRMO 57/1    GR Allen
TRMO 117/3  Roy Benjamin “Dick” Allen – farm worker at Abbott’s Farm (Mr Kidner), Poringland
TROP 36/5     Geoffrey Arthur E Newman
TBMO 40/1    John E Sayer
TRMO 77/4    SG Sexton, Shotesham
STEC 66/3     PA Winterbone, Latergreen Farm, Shotesham
  

The OB site is located on (strictly private) land belonging to Shotesham Hall and was accessed by kind permission.

The OB site is located on Skeet’s Hill, an area of disused sand and gravel pits surrounded by farmland to the west of Norwich Road, south of Stoke Holy Cross. 

A picture taken in the 1940s showing the view from the OB - © Chris Sutton

The OB appears to have been removed quite some time ago.  It was built into a small, disused sandpit situated on the brow of a hill, with the location affording wide views to the south, west and east. A depression can be seen scooped out of the side of the pit where the OB once was.  We failed to find information concerning the building materials used.  Nothing remains in the ground and the pit is much overgrown with brambles.

A larger sand and gravel pit (above) adjoins the site in the north and a patrol member’s son told us that the men used it for target practice.

RAF Stoke Holy Cross Chain Home Station, Hethel airfield; Norwich to London railway line and bridges in the vicinity

The nearby sand and gravel pit was used for target practice.  
Two meetings per week in the Drill Hall, Wymondham and parades, drill and weapon training on weekends.  Many weekends from Friday to Sunday at Leicester Square Farm, Syderstone.  Special army units taught the latest methods. Duties during the week included to test (at night) security at searchlight units and other military establishments based in the area.

Currently unknown

Currently unknown

Simon Mitchell (son of Group CO Capt. H.W.R. Mitchell), Kirby Bedon; Ethel Lynes (widow of patrol member Cpl Harry Lynes), Newton Flotman; Peter Allen (son of patrol member Roy B Allen), Framingham Earl; Lynne Lambert (daughter of patrol member GAE Newman), Mulbarton; Chris Sutton (brother in law of patrol member JE Sayer), Shotesham; Mark Watson, gamekeeper at Shotesham Park; Stephen Lewins CART CIO Northumberland

If you can help with any info please contact us.