Fraserburgh Patrol

County Group
Aberdeenshire Group 6
Locality

Fraserburgh is a busy Fishing port on the north east coast of Scotland.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Sergeant Lewis Hope Davidson McDonald

pre- WW1, worked in McKay's Tailor
Post WW1, Worked as a machinist in Toolworks
Became a Barber before and throughout WW2 and until death

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Frederick Hendry Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private George Low

Stonemason

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Robert McDonald

Toolworker

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Alexander Duthie McLeman

Radio shop owner

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private John McWillie

Architect

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private J. Murison Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private O. Williamson Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Operational Base (OB)

Initially the explosives were stored in a shed behind a hairdressers in Mid Street.

The actual OB site is unknown, it may have been in the town of Fraserburgh close to where the ammunition was stored. However, like Peterhead, this may have been at the start of the war until an OB was built out of the town and the equipment relocated.

Patrol & OB pictures
Fraserburgh Auxiliary Unit 1
Fraserburgh Auxiliary Unit 2
Fraserburgh Auxiliary Unit 3.
OB Status
Location not known
Location

Fraserburgh Patrol

Patrol Targets

Fraserburgh had several factories making munitions and aircraft parts. Several miles from Fraserburgh was the RAF station at Inverallochy and further along the RNAS at Rattray.  Fraserburgh has some beaches that would have been deemed a possible landing ground.  Fraserburgh also had a railway system and access roads along the coast.

Weapons and Equipment

Malcolm McKillop’s Father-in-law, Davy McDonald, recalled the war at age 13. Davy mentions that the Patrol kept ammunition and explosives behind Archie Mcdonald’s hairdressing shop in Mid Street, Fraserburgh. The store was accessed by a passage. Mid Street had several patrol members that stayed there. Archie McDonald was the Patrol Sergeant's son. Davy’s father (David) was not impressed by the patrols actions and mentioned “they’re playing at being soldiers”

John McWillie was also in the regular Home Guard, and was the 'explosives man'.

The Patrol all appear to be businessmen around the High and Mid street in Fraserburgh. Several are relatives of the Patrol Sergeant Lewis McDonald.

Other information

A unique information folder relating to the Fraserburgh & District (and Banffshire) activities of the Auxiliary Units has been established at Fraserburgh Heritage Centre - a result of Alan Stewart's presentation. Visitors can read the Folder contents in the Reference Library (WW2 Folder 3). It makes fascinating reading!

References

TNA ref WO199/3388 201 Bn rolls.
Hancock report
Fraserburgh Heritige Centre
Malcolm McKillop
1942-43 Valuation Roll
Jennifer (McDonald) Stanley – Daughter of Robert McDonald