Hoxne is village 4 miles south-east of Diss (Norfolk).
Name | Occupation | Posted from | Until |
---|---|---|---|
Sergeant George William Thirkettle | Farmer |
20 Aug 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
Corporal Kenneth Charles Rush | Farm labourer |
21 Aug 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private John Patrick Banham | Lorry driver |
21 Aug 1940 | Unknown |
Private Clement Lewis Brett | Tractor driver |
21 Aug 1940 | 07 Apr 1941 |
Private Bertram Ernest Gissing | Carpenter |
21 Aug 1940 | Unknown |
Private Herbert William Knights | Farm labourer |
21 Aug 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private Arthur James Knights | Horseman |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private Herbert C. Page | Cowman |
21 Aug 1940 | Unknown |
Private Harry John Revell | Horseman |
21 Aug 1940 | Unknown |
Private Arthur Reginald Riches | Horseman |
21 Aug 1940 | 07 Apr 1941 |
Private Herbert Steward | 21 Aug 1940 | Unknown | |
Private Gordon Edward Creasy Thirkettle | Sept 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 | |
Private Alfred James Whatling | Farm worker |
21 Aug 1940 | 07 Apr 1941 |
Private Gordon Witton | 21 Aug 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
The Patrol’s OB was constructed by Royal Engineers and located in a private wood at Denham Low Road between Hoxne and Redlingfield.
In an interview conducted with one of the local farmers who helped with its removal in the 1960s, it was described to us as having been an Anderson shelter-type structure.
The hole in the ground was filled in and levelled off, no trace remains. The photo shows an approximate location.
Hoxne Patrol
In 2018, the diary of Major Henry Palgrave Raven was discovered. He was an Officer in the original Local Defence Volunteers (later Home Guard). The diary records the formation of the L.D.V and also the formation of the local Auxiliary Units by Captain Andrew Croft. Raven is not recorded in Auxiliary Unit records but was obviously involved at the start.
Many of the men, especially Thirkettle and Rush are frequently mentioned as still being very much involved with the Home Guard during 1940 even though they are part of the Auxiliary Unit which Major Raven calls a "Mobile Squad".
In February 1941 the Patrol consisted of 7 members.
TNA ref WO199/3389
Hancock data held at B.R.A
1939 Register
Evelyn Simak and Adrian Pye.
B.R.O.M at Parham,
Mrs G Thirkettle, Hoxne