John Marshall Andrew

The son of Everret and Nancy he was known as Jack and was the elder brother of Godfrey. The two brothers rented and later bought Grange Farm where the OB was built.

He was a WW1 veteran serving as Private 31654 in A Company, Number 3 Platoon, Lincolnshire Regiment from 12 Feb 1916. He was reported missing and, as a prisoner of war, he was wounded with a gun shot wound in the neck and back 21 March 1918, he was mentioned in dispatches in France. He was repatriated to England 10 Dec 1918. He is recorded as 5ft 9inches tall and 144 pounds.

A gamekeeper in his youth, he then became a farmer. Having joined the Auxiliary Units he ensured his wife had money hidden in the chicken hut so she could leave area with their youngest son if invasion occurred.

Sergeant Andrew, excelled in silent night movement and once also won a prize at Coleshill House for planting explosives. He crawled through a field of sleeping cattle, placed his charges and returned unseen, even by the umpire. Competitions between the local Patrols in shooting and other skills took place at a quarry near Wellingore. On one occasion the Patrol took petrol coupons with them but no money for the return journey. Luckily Jack Andrew won the rifle sharp shooting, Tom Andrew won the rifle static target and Godfrey Andrew won the revolver competition.