Stourton Caundle Patrol

Locality

Stourton Caundle is village 5 miles east of Sherborne.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Sergeant Robert Charles Ashford

Road foreman

27 Jul 1940 03 Dec 1944
Sergeant George Henry Furnell

Roadman, Dorset County Council

Unknown Unknown
Private Albert James Ashford

Roadman, Dorset County Council

24 Jun 1940 03 Dec 1943
Private Leslie Frank Dawe Bird

Roadman

07 Oct 1941 03 Dec 1944
Private Vernon Claude Caines

Public works contractor

24 Jun 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private Reginald Edward Garrett

Shepherd assisting father

10 Apr 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private Charles William Gould

Labourer dairy & arable

06 Nov 1942 03 Dec 1944
Private Albert George Gordon Harris

Cowman dairy of 60 cows

24 Jun 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private Victor William Hayward

Coal delivery driver

31 Oct 1943 03 Dec 1944
Private Edward Harold Hayward

Farm labourer

30 Sep 1942 03 Dec 1944
Private Frank Hugh Hollex

Errand boy general stores

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Charlie Lake

Road carter

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Operational Base (OB)

The OB was reported to be in Haltham Plantation, between Stalbridge Weston and Stourton Caundle.

It was also reported to be in Holt Wood, on the other side of Stourton Caundle. This had a brick and corrugated iron construction.

It is possible that both locations are correct as some Patrols had more than one OB.

Patrol & OB pictures
OB Image
Caption & credit
Stourton Caundle Patrol: Back Row ( Left to right): Charlie Lake, George Harris, Frank Hollex, Sgt George Furnell Front Row: Robert Ashford, Vernon Caines
OB accessibility
This OB is on private land. Please do not be tempted to trespass to see it
Location

Stourton Caundle Patrol

Weapons and Equipment

Claude Caines son recalled his long thin dagger with an almost non-existant hilt, which would seem quite a good description of a Fairbairn-Sykes Commando dagger. A photo of the Patrol, taken prior to the issue of Home Guard shoulder titles, dating it to 1941 at the latest, shows Charlie Lake wearing a broader bladed knife of the type found in a number of Dorset Patrols. All the men wear revolvers and two have rifles, carrying the ammunition in cotton bandoliers rather than webbing pouches.

References

Tim Wray

Rod Bealings

Caines Family

Samamtha Hollex

TNA ref WO199/3390 and 3391