Thursford Auxiliary Unit Patrol and Operational Base.

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Thank you for selecting information on the Thursford 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 11 which also included

Walsingham patrol, Alethorpe (Ailthorpe) patrol, Blakeney patrol and Cley patrol

CO Lt LN Brook
2nd Sgt JE Taylor

It is currently unknown when the patrol was formed.

 Sgt A Scargill
                   Cpl Bernard H Flint
                   CAF “Anthony” Bailey (farm manager)
                   Edward WC Davies (carpenter)
                   HC Lewis
                   Alfred Smith
                   T Brock
                   ? CT Coleman

This OB is on private property.

First OB, located in Thursford Wood, was replaced by OB near the stable block of Thursford Hall.

We were directed to what turned out to be the OB site by the property owner.  The OB is situated in what is now a private garden, built right up against the brick wall separating the grounds of the Hall from the stable block and outbuildings.

The main chamber and entrance end wall intact; exit end wall collapsed.  The emergency escape tunnel collapsed. The OB size is 5.50 x 3m and it is orientated NW/SE – 288ft ASL

It was accessed via a brick-built outdoor toilet that is still in place, albeit without its roof and missing the toilet bucket.  The OB’s entrance doorway is in one of the privy’s sidewalls.

The interior walls of the curved corrugated sheets forming the main chamber are painted white, as is the brick wall near the entrance. The entrance doorway has a wooden frame, also painted white.
A ceramic vent pipe emerges at the bottom of the north-west corner.

A number of modern fertilizer bags stored beside the entrance doorway contain what appear to be rather large lumps of coal.

Roughly in the middle of the roof there is a small opening of approximately 75mm, marking the location where perhaps a 35mm water pipe would once have been put through the roof to emerge on the grassy mound outside. We were unable to establish what purpose it served. (left)

The U-bend of a larger cast iron pipe is lying on the floor near the exit. 

The brick-built exit wall has collapsed entirely. Just outside it and set near the perimeter wall there is a weathered strainer post with a long nail sticking out of it, another similar post is lying on the ground nearby. 

(Left) A 35mm water pipe (with an elbow) emerges from the ground nearby, first vertically and then running horizontally and leading towards (or into) the main chamber. The pipe’s upright section is intact, with the corroded remains of the horizontal section adhering to it.  Another upright pipe of similar type emerges horizontally from the ground to about 1 metre high near the opposite end of the main chamber.

According to patrol member Anthony Bailey’s account (published in A Hoare) there used to be an emergency escape tunnel. 

No traces remain visible on the ground. It is possible that the tunnel is still intact but made inaccessible, due to the collapse of the end wall of the main chamber. Also, the adjoining perimeter wall collapsed (and was rebuilt about 17 years), causing considerable disturbance of the adjoining ground.

Observation Post/s: Currently unknown

Currently unknown

Locally around Thursford and at South Creake, and also at Coleshill. (Information from patrol member Anthony Bailey (in: A Hoare)

 Currently unknown

According to an account given by patrol member Anthony Bailey (in: A Hoare), the patrol’s first OB was built by the regular Army and situated in Thursford Wood. Due to regular flooding it had to be replaced by another which was built by near Thursford Hall by the patrol members themselves.
The entrance is described as having been beside an outside lavatory seat and it had a trapdoor contraption. The OB contained a gas stove and a telephone and it had an escape tunnel.

About 17 years ago the perimeter wall separating the Hall from the adjoining property, the former stables, collapsed, and was rebuilt along the whole length of the OB and what we believe to be the route of the emergency escape tunnel. 

A Hoare, Standing up to Hitler (2002), Stephen Lewins; CART CIO Northumberland.

We would like to thank Dr and Mrs Nolan of The Stables and Mrs Moodie of Thursford Old Hall for granting access onto their properties and many thanks to Mrs Green, The Old Coach House, Thursford, for pointing us in the right direction.
 

If you can help with any info please contact us.