Gilbert Smith, brother of Bert (both sons of a New Forest Keeper), recounted joining the unit in 1941. He lived in Church Place Cottages at Normansland, but later moved to Shave Green Cottage, Cadnam, his address being changed in the nominal roll book. He recalled that he was "back and forth to Fritham for duties with the Unit".
Gilbert Smith was a well known Keeper, who wrote a book about his life in the Forest. The book contains photos of groups of Keepers, taken in the 1950s. These included Bert Smith and Bill Gulliver. Smith can be seen to be wearing his Aux Units enamel badge in some of the photos.
Bert Smith, Gilbert Smith, Bill Gulliver and Allister Holloway all occupied well known Keeper’ or Forester’s cottages in the Forest (Holly Hatch, Bramshaw Wood and Coppice of Linwood respectively). These were “official residences” that came with the job and form part of the unique structure of the New Forest.
Mr Smith was laid to rest in Lyndhurst Cemetery, on the open Forest near Bolton’s Bench.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fritham Patrol | Patrol member | 25 Jan 1941 | 03 Dec 1944 |
General labourer & forest keeper
Moved to Cadnam in May 1944.
His date of birth is recorded on the nominal roll as 31 Oct 1906, on the 1939 Register as 28 Sept 1907 and on early school registers as 28 Sept 1906. He married Edith M Green in 1933.
A later friend Rod Andrews recalled: "His knowledge of the Forest and everything that moved in the Forest was second to none. Although a man of few words, as I had an interest in his environment he would, on occasion, tell me something of his life. The first time he left the Fritham area, his home, was on the day of his wedding when he and his bride had a half day honeymoon in Bournemouth. He was an expert in what is now called bushcraft by TV survivalists. I used to meet him at prearranged places in the Forest when he showed me places to look for deer. I’d arrive and could see no sign of Gilbert Smith...within a minute he would step out onto the path. I had no idea he, and his two dogs were stood so close to me. He talked a little about the Auxiliary Unit he and his brother belonged to. Mainly the funny stories, of getting into large army camps in the Forest, finding the CO’s tent, and placing a house brick with the word BOMB painted on it under the covers of the sleeping officers feet. He wouldn’t name any other members of the unit, apart from his brother, but told me many still lived in that part of the Forest and some of them were “real gentlemen”.
WO 199/3391
1939 Register
Man of the New Forest by Gilbert Smith
Rod Andrews