Henry James Caws

The son of Leonard and Beatrice he was the brother of Frank Caws. He was registered at Cowes Grammar School as father had been. However he did not attend a great deal as his mother was unwell and help was needed on the farm. He left school in 1935 aged 13 as a result. He worked on the farm, alongside his brother. They tended to ditch responsibilities every 6 months. 

When war broke out he was 17. He realised then that the German chap who visited each summer for several months in the years before the war had been scouting military sites. He was keen to join the Royal Air Force, but he was found to be almost blind in his right eye which disqualified him. He signed up for the Home Guard (when it was still the LDV) but found the problem with his eyesight meant he couldn’t see along the sights of a rifle. It was 3 months or so before the platoon received any uniform. There was very little training bar rifle drill, but he did take part in guard duties.

One day in 1940 he was phoned by Captain Clive (the Hampshire Intelligence Officer) who asked Jim and his brother Frank, to come to meeting at the Gloucester Hotel in Cowes. He was told there he was wanted for a secret organisation of civilian saboteurs. On agreeing he was told he would receive a revolver. About a fortnight later, Jim Fisk contacted him and asked him to come to the office for his grain business for a meeting along with around 15 others, including Jim Gladdis who would be his Patrol Leader He was sworn to secrecy. As the war went on he wondered if all the secrecy was because he had been recruited by the Germans, since he wasn’t allowed to tell anyone anything and was instructed to pass on information to people he didn’t know. He had a small pass to show when he was stopped by the Police are Army. This said he was to be allowed to continue unhindered and without questioning. It was needed several times as driving about at night in particular was quite unusual at that time.

He continued to work on the farm. Their role in Auxiliary Units was unpaid and in addition to the farm work. He couldn’t admit what he was up to. He trained on a Sunday morning, though the frequency of other activities reduced as they became more skilled. There was normally a program set out in advance for training.

Around D Day he met a naval officer whose job was to assess the weather for the invasion forces. Other Auxiliers from around the country were brought to the Isle of Wight to defend against any German raids designed to disrupt the invasion. He could spot them in the local pubs as they had the 201, 202 and 203 badges on their uniforms.

He received a Stand Down shield badge, but only on payment of sixpence. He received a letter of thanks but knew they would get no other acknowledgement.

After the war he was hit the eye with a cricket ball. This seemed to prompt his vision to return to some degree.