Harpham Patrol

Locality

Harpham is a small village about five miles north east of Driffield and seven miles from Bridlington.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Sergeant Robert Pearson

Gamekeeper

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Corporal Frank Garton

Farmer

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Marcus Alfred Bell

Assisting father on farm

Unknown Unknown
Private John Conyers

Quarry labourer

Unknown Unknown
Private Raymond Sellars

Farm worker

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Ronald S. Sellars

Horseman

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Tom Rowland Webster

Farmer

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Operational Base (OB)

The Patrol OB was built in Gransmoor gravel pits.

The OB has been completely destroyed but the footprint of the main chamber can be easily seen along with the escape tunnel that stretches for some 30 feet from the chamber. Large piles of bricks scatter the area from the demolition.

The main Chamber was approximately 15 feet long.

Approximately 150 yards away from the OB there is a suspected Observation Post, concrete lined on 4 sides and we think prefabricated off site due to the elaborate corner locking design. The post is around 5 feet deep and 3 feet by 3 feet in size. The top pieces on 3 sides have a 4 inch band running around we can surmise that this is for extra support for a cover of some sort. Telephone wire was found in the bottom of the post thus giving good evidence that communication to the OB were more than likely. Around 100 yards from the OP is another concrete structure that is buried and could not be found and we surmise that it could of been the explosive store. We are told it is approximately 6 feet by 6 feet and 3 feet deep and was last seen around 50 years ago.

The OP information was given to us by Mr Nigel Simons who worked as the woodsman in the woodland. His father before him worked as a woodsman during the war. 

Patrol & OB pictures
OB Image
Caption & credit
The footprint of the main OB
OB Image
Caption & credit
A mound of Bricks and rubble the only evidence of the OB’s structure
OB Image
Caption & credit
Looking from the escape tunnel to the main shaft
OB Image
Caption & credit
Looking from within the main chamber along the path of the escape tunnel
OB Image
Caption & credit
The area of the surmised concrete explosive store.
OB Image
Caption & credit
The OP corners all interlocked giving it strength and rigidity
OB Image
Caption & credit
The OP concrete lined on three sides
OB Status
Destroyed
OB accessibility
This OB is on private land. Please do not be tempted to trespass to see it
Location

Harpham Patrol

Patrol Targets

As the Patrol was very close, an obvious target is the main coast line from Hull to Bridlington and Scarborough. The nearest Railway Station was the village of Lowthorpe which was closed in 1970. This line would of been of vital importance to resupply any invading force anywhere within the Country.

Military targets included RAF Lissett which had a Bomber Command Squadron (158) based there is to the South East and RAF Carnaby to the North East. Not forgetting RAF Driffield to the East which was a target for many Units.

The probable landing grounds on the coast around the Bridlington area would also have been targeted.

Training

Some of the Patrol went to Coleshill House for specialist courses

The Patrol trained locally in the area. Group training took place at Middleton on the Wolds, Auxiliary Units HQ along with training at Hornsea with the army and at Richmond and Castle Howard with the Green Howards, (Castle Howard was a large Home Guard training centre).

Weapons and Equipment

Weapons issued to the Patrol included; BAR, 9mm revolvers, .22 sniper rifle, Thompson Machine Gun later Stens. Fairburn Sykes Knives and homemade knuckle dusters, American Pistols and Winchester rifles.

Other information

Speaking with the daughters of both Sergeant Pearson and Corporal Garton neither spoke of their time in the Auxiliary Units although the daughter of Pearson does remember him taking her to visit the ammunition stores when she was a young girl.

References

TNA ref WO199/3389

Hancock data held at B.R.A

1939 Register

Andy Gwynne

Local Press

Paul Richardson (son of CSM F.K. Richardson), Nigel Simons, Martyn Owst, Mr Alex Wood and Mr Tom Moody and the Legard Family