The Creech area lies at the foot of the Purbeck Hills, 3 miles south of Wareham.
| Name | Occupation | Posted from | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergeant Frederick James Simpson | Farm worker |
15 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Sergeant Wilfred John Wise | Locomotive engine driver |
10 Jun 1940 | 1942 |
| Private Ernest Edward Cooper | Dairy chap |
05 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Douglas Frank Green | Farm worker |
10 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Leslie Cyril Green | Clay miner |
10 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Harold Arthur Hatchard | Clay miner underground |
10 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Harold John Hatchard | 11 Mar 1943 | 02 Feb 1944 | |
| Private Eli Frank Kitcatt | Clay worker |
30 Sep 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Wilfred Robert Stockley | Clay miner |
02 Feb 1942 | 03 Dec 1944 |
The Patrol built their own base to begin with but it collapsed and they built another. The location of this is not known.
Eventually the Royal Engineers were sent to build a more substantial OB. The remains survive just off a footpath and can be easily visited. Map ref SY939828. The main entrance shaft had a hatch operated by a remote cable. The first chamber contained the equipment and tables. There was a second chamber, unusually set at an angle with a short connecting tunnel, apparently to deflect blast, though it isn’t clear if this would have worked. The second chamber held naval type hammocks in a star pattern suspended from the centre. At the end of this chamber was the escape exit. What survives is the entrance shaft and the walls of the two chambers, though the corrugated iron roofs have collapsed.
Creech Patrol
These included the railway from Swanage to Wareham and the main line from Weymouth which passed through Wareham. They also practiced infiltrating the Holton Heath munitions factory.
Apart from training to attack the above targets, they also regularly travelled to the Dorset HQ at Duntish Court, Buckland Newton for training. Fred Simpson reckoned to make a small profit on the journey as a mileage allowance was payable. He also recalled going to Coleshill at least once.
In 1944 the Patrol was mobilised to provide a weeks guard for the underground bunkers of the radar station near Worth Matravers. This was part of the defences against possible German counter raids around the time of D Day. Another Patrol took over from them.
In 2009 a memorial stone was erected near to the OB. It lists the men involved and an information board alongside has pictures of the men and a rough plan of the layout of the OB. It was erected by the Royal British Legion.
This video was kindly supplied by Tony White (Son of Fred White, Patrol Leader from Langton Matravers Aux Unit):
For much more information about this Patrol, we can recommend Ken Williams' book published by CART member John Wareham, and John's accompanying website: The Creech Barrow Seven.
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/8124391.Purbeck_s__secret_seven__were_…
http://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2009/11/staying-behind/
Audio tape made by Fred Simson (CART archives)
Tony White
Martyn Allen for some of the images
Ken Williams & John Wareham & John Pidgeon