Cairnie Patrol

County Group
Locality

Cairnie is a village near Huntly.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Sergeant John Maitland Roger

Farmer

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Corporal George Kemp Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private James Duff

Farmer

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Alexander Duncan

Farmer

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Norman Duthie Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Ronald George Gray Unknown Unknown
Private J. MacDonald Unknown Unknown
Private F. MacKenzie Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private William McPherson

Farmer

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Donald Sey

Farm Worker

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private John Symon

Forestry worker

Unknown Unknown
Operational Base (OB)

The location is about ½ Mile on Ordiquill Hill which is part of Bin Forest. This is basically a wooded area, however currently the location has been forested.

The OB is located at a ruined cottage which is on Forestry Commission land and was accessed under the Land Reform Scotland Act (2003).

This is accessible off B9022 road towards Banff. Walking from parking area at Croft of Dykeside, follow path up hill and follow road round to the right.

One area has a collapsed concrete roof, walls are intact and in good condition. The area next to it is just a depression. It is believed to have been blown up at the end of the war.

Entrance was through a dry stone wall at the back of a ruined cottage. In accessing the entrance, there was a split corridor that went left to one area and right to another.

Patrol & OB pictures
OB Image
Caption & credit
Ordiquill Hill which is part of Bin Forest
OB Image
Caption & credit
Cairnie Auxiliary Unit OB
OB Image
Caption & credit
Cairnie Auxiliary Unit OB from the air
OB Image
Caption & credit
Cairnie Auxiliary Unit OB
OB Image
Caption & credit
Railway bridge over the River Devron
OB Image
Caption & credit
Cairnie Auxiliary Unit OB
OB Status
Collapsed with some visible remains
OB accessibility
The OB site is publicly accessible
Location

Cairnie Patrol

Patrol Targets

Targets would of included the substantial railway bridge over the River Devron, as well as road bridges. Banff would have been a possible landing ground on the coast, with a major airfield there. Huntly is also a main thoroughfare for the Aberdeen Inverness road.

Training

Training was conducted at Blairmore House, Huntly.

Other information

Norman Davidson (Forestry Worker) recalls two other structures in the wood, however is unable to locate them today.

References

TNA ref WO199/3388 201 Bn rolls.

Hancock report held at B.R.A

Most of this info has come from Norman Davidson, who got it from John Strachan of the Patrol.  Additional Information from Patrick Scott of Huntly.