Basil Tedbury

Basil is recorded as untraceable on the nominal roll by 4th October 1944.

He was known in the village as Dick. His Grandson Stan recalls; "I never met my Grandad as he died before I was born. I know he died when my father was about 17. He drove a lorry delivering coal/coke which may have gone towards his lung condition, I think a bout of pneumonia finished him off.
My father grew up around Sidbury / Sidmouth area so Grandad hadn't gone far. I'm guessing when the war ended he just went on with life as normal which I can imagine was his way. My father remembers him mentioning that he signed the secrets act but never thought much of it until we saw a documentary on it. My grandfather's name was Basil Tedbury and he was born in Branscombe. His family were farmers and I've heard story's of his prowess as a poacher and that he could handle himself and has excellent knowledge of the area". 

His replacement, Sergeant Morgan Selley recalled; “Dick [Tedbury] was a bit of a roamer who used to climb down the cliffs collecting seagulls eggs and when he left Branscombe I was put in charge of this demolition lot".

Sergeant Dick Tedbury was remembered as the explosives expert of the group. It is thought he may have been an occasional poacher. One day, for a bit of fun, Dick decided to test a time switch by connecting it to a small explosive and laying it in a bramble bush. The Patrol then went down the Fountain Head and waited. When an hour later the explosive went off there was general panic as everyone thought a bomb had exploded. 

It is not known where Dick went before stand down. Local rumour suggest he may have fought overseas maybe as part of the SAS. In 1960 he was involved in a motor cycle accident. At that time he was living 28, Furzehill, Sidbury.