Frank Dawson

Extracts from Lincolnshire Standard 1968 on the publishing of David Lampe's “The Last Ditch”;

Among those who will be reading it [The Last Ditch] with very special interest are former underground Group leaders Captain Frank Dawson of Dalby Hall, Spilsby, Captain Leslie Clarke and Captain W E Greenwood both of Pilleys Lane, Boston and Lt.W J Ground of Spalding. They are among British Resistance leaders mentioned in the book...

“It was all a very long time ago” says Spilby farmer Mr Frank Dawson, underground commander for South Lincolnshire during the war. Eventually his home, Dalby Hall, was the regional headquarters but when he was recruited, HQ was in the now demolished Blankney Hall. A 1914-18 army officer, Mr Dawson commanded the Alford company of the Home Guard until he agreed to “go underground”.

In days when Britain faced the threat of invasion, he took part in top security meetings, built up Patrols in South Lincolnshire, supervised the establishing of secret hideouts and helped to train the men in guerrilla tactics.
“It was the kind of warfare that appealed to me” he admitted. “I was never much for army routine”. But when the time came to disband, I just forgot about the whole thing. I never thought anything would ever be known about our activities.

...All over Lincolnshire as this book is read, the secret will be coming out ….