Kilham is a village approximately 5 miles to the north of Driffield which is the major settlement in the area
Name | Occupation | Posted from | Until |
---|---|---|---|
Sergeant Harry Middlewood | Farm worker |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
Corporal Leslie Robert Smith | Tractor driver |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private Arthur Carr | Farm worker |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private Douglas William Gray | Farm worker |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private Donald Wilson | Farm worker |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
Private Philip Lamplugh Wilson | Farm worker |
Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
The Patrol's OB was a basic shelter with no escape tunnel. It was built in a chalk pit close to Keeper's House on the north side of Kilham Lane. The site is roughly half way between Kilham and Rushton. It was destroyed after the war and only some corrugated iron remains.
Kilham Patrol
Targets for this Patrol would have included roads across the Wolds from the coast to the east along with landing grounds at the coast around the Bridlinton area and the Bridlington to Hull railway.
Military targets were RAF Lissett, RAF Cottam and RAF Driffield and also Burton Agnes Hall.
Some of the Patrol went to Coleshill House for specialist courses.
The Patrol trained locally in the area and visited Middleton on the Wolds to train at the Headquarters. They also trained at Hornsea with the army and at Richmond and Castle Howard with the army (Castle Howard was a large Home Guard training centre).
Weapons issued to the Patrol included Sniper rifle with sights, pistols and STEN Machine Guns.
Neil Hunt purchased Sergeant Middlewood's lapel badge from his Grandson.
He recalled, 'I went to meet him to collect it and when were talking he produced Harry's magnet, a small U shaped one. I had never seen one before only pictures and he asked me if it was any good to me, I said yes, so he gave it to me!! He was also selling his 1937 calendar this went to another person unknown to me. When I went to Yorkshire to research the badge I stopped at a large house near the chalk pit and I asked the lady working in her front garden if she knew Keeper's House near the chalk pit. She said I don't but see that chap there, pointing to a man riding a tractor in her field, he knows all about the Home Guard in the village. She beckoned him over and we got talking. He took me to the OB site then back to his cottage where he produced all this information. I couldn't believe in the middle of nowhere I found this man! Then he took me to Harry's farm house.'
Harry is buried in the Kilham cemetery with other members of the patrol.
The Group photo of Home Guard, was taken at Butchers Yard in 1939.
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),
Neil Hunt