Choppington Patrol

County Group
Northumberland Group 5
Locality

The Patrol was based to the west of Choppington in Northumberland. The majority of the Patrol were employed in the mining industry. Most had some explosives knowledge from their work and were therefore obvious ideal candidates for the Auxiliary Units.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Sergeant James Albert Graham

Colliery official (below ground)

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Lieutenant Robert Charlton Hall

Bank manager

 Unknown Unknown
Private William Gair

Motor driver

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Thomas Hogg Harmeston

Slaughterman, butcher & shopkeeper

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private George William Laws

Miner - stoneman

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Charles Brown Mayes

Coal miner

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Daniel Paxton

Charge firer at Bedlington "A" pit.

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Matthew Gray Turnbull

Coal hewer

 Unknown 06 Sep 1943
Private Ralph Stephen Graham Wilson

Coal puller (underground)

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Operational Base (OB)

The Patrol OB was a standard "Elephant" type shelter built by the 184th (S) Tunnelling Coy Royal Engineers. The OB is in Blue House wood between Choppington and Hepscott. The shelter was almost complete until the 1990's when the wood was reforested. The heavy machinery crushed the structure. The trap door and the counter balance weights were in a heap of rubbish in the field opposite the OB for some time.

During the mid 1970's part of the roof had rusted through and a local lad Paul Ryder fell into the OB while playing in the wood. The beds and a fire place were still intact at that time. Now there is a bit of brick work from the entrance shaft and the concrete base still in place.

Patrol & OB pictures
Choppington OB 1 escape tunnel route
Escape tunnel route
Choppington OB iron sheet
Corrugated iron sheet remains
Choppington OB end wall remains
End wall remains
Choppington OB 4 base full of stagnant water
OB full of stagnant water
Choppington OB 5 looking into the main chamber
Looking into the main chamber
Choppington OB site
Choppington OB site
Choppington OB in Blue House Wood
Choppington OB in Blue House Wood.
OB Status
Collapsed with few visible remains
OB accessibility
The OB site is publicly accessible
Location

Choppington Patrol

Patrol Targets

The Blyth & Tyne railway and it's bridges would have been a main target for the Patrol as would have been the Port of Blyth.

There are a number of key bridges in the area including the Stakeford road bridge, which would have been on the list for the Patrol to destroy in the event of an invasion.

The Cambois coal staithes and various key industrial sites including Bedlington, Choppington and Ashington collieries would have been targeted. 

The potential invasion beaches at Blyth & Newbiggin will have also been in the sights of the Patrol.

Training

Training took place locally in a small quarry near the OB. The Patrol also attended the Otterburn Ranges with the regular Army and went to Cupar in Fife for the Commando course.

The Sergeant of the Patrol went to Coleshill for special courses.

Weapons and Equipment

The Patrol was issued with a .22 silenced rifle and Auxiliary Units Mark 2 kit. They were also issued with pistols, probably Smith & Wessons.

Other information

The Patrol did at least one tour guarding the Royal Family at Balmoral and went to the Isle of Wight just before D-Day as part of the island garrison.

References

National Archives in Kew ref WO199/3388

Hancock data held at B.R.A

1939 Register

Tot Barrass interview

Evening Chronicle article

Paul Ryder

Paul Kindley