Arreton is a village in the central eastern part of the Isle of Wight. It is about 3 miles south east of Newport.
The inaugural meeting for the Isle of Wight was arranged in great secrecy and held at the White Lion Pub at Arreton.
The Patrol seems to have changed over time. Possibly HCA Blishen was the first Patrol Leader, prior to becoming the Group Commander in Feb 1941. By 1942, when Stan Williams joined, Sergeant Martin Moore was in change. It appears he left the Patrol around May 1943, based on Sergeant Buckett's papers which record subscriptions of 1/- monthly from 7 men dating from June 1943. They are named as Buckett, Williams, Westmore, Hayward, Philips, Chiverton and Coombes. Stan Williams memoir records that Eric Morey joined Auxiliary Units with him, although it is not clear if he joined the Arreton Patrol or another.
| Name | Occupation | Posted from | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergeant Frederick Hilton Buckett | Excavator driver |
01 Jul 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Sergeant Martin Blake Moore | Brickworks company director |
01 Jul 1940 | May 1943 |
| Private Cecil Eric Frank Cheverton | Carpenter and joiner |
31 May 1940 | 05 Apr 1944 |
| Private Percy George Coombes | Cowman |
27 Jun 1940 | 22 Aug 1944 |
| Private George Hayward | Power works night watchman |
29 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Raymond Edward Phillips | Tractor driver |
27 Feb 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private William Edward Westmore | Farm lorry driver |
10 Aug 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Stanley Herbert Williams | Ship draughtsman |
09 Sep 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
The OB was located in Arreton near Robin Hill Country Park. Robin Hill was a brickyard. The area of the OB was under a woodshed. Robin Hill was closed after the war as the owner died in a plane crash
It consisted of two Nissen huts, buried in earth, with a concrete tunnel linking them. There was a vertical entrance shaft at one end and an escape tunnel at the other. It is remembered there were 4 bunks inside. Fred's sons played inside it after the war.
Island historian, the late Dave Moore, photographed the interior while it was still largely intact. He tried to arrange for its preservation, but was unsuccessful. He was able to record a plan of the site. The corrugated iron was removed to avoid the risk of it collapsing as the surrounding area was turned into a tourist attraction.
Sergeant Moore showed his daughters another location after the war, on Broom Hill, under Arreton Down.
Arreton Patrol
The Patrol attended Quarr Hill House in Binstead and Long Lane Woods, Downend, near Robin Hill. The Patrol would sometimes spend a night or weekend in the OB for training. They took part in exercises with other troops on the Island.
On a list of kit and equipment compiled by Sergeant Buckett around 1943, Private Williams was issued with the only Thompson Machine Gun in the Patrol. Sergeant Buckett along with Privates Phillips, Chiverton and Coombes were issued with Sten Guns and Privates Westmore and Hayward were issued with rifles. Williams recalled a Browning Automatic Rifle, which were issued to some Patrols, though this is not recorded in Sergeant Buckett's notes, suggesting it was handed back in.
The Patrol had other standard equipment including rubber ankle boots, and canvas shoes in addition to standard Army leather boots. These would aid silent movement. They had greatcoats, gloves, 2 blankets and a groundsheet to stay warm in winter. They had denims for active work in addition to their battledress uniform. Each man had a revolver with holster and lanyard as well a a knife. Both battledress and greatcoat displayed the H 203 badges on each sleeve beneath the Home Guard shoulder title.
Williams recalled that they had 12 boxes of Mills bombs (No.36 hand grenades), packs of explosives with associated detonators and booby traps, along with tinned rations.
Explosives were stored in the back room and outhouse of Sergeant Buckett's home. His two young sons would often play with the grenades.
On January 20th 1945, a significantly historical dinner was held at the Masonic Hall, Ryde. Gathered together for the first time in five years were the majority of the members of the Island’s Auxiliary Patrols. A copy of the post stand-down dinner menu for that Saturday evening offers evidence of the men involved.
TNA ref WO199/3391
Hancock data held at B.R.A
1939 Register
Sgt Buckett's papers and son Alan Buckett
Defence of Britain database complied by Dr Will Ward with contributions from Tim Butcher and Jeffrey Carson, John Riddell.
Tom Sykes
Video c/o Isle Of Wight Archive.
Stan Williams The Summer of 1940 (E Cowes Heritage Centre)
Pat Philips