Leavening Patrol

Locality

Leavening is on the Yorkshire Wolds approximately 13 miles north-east of York in Ryedale.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Sergeant Percy Welburn Milner

Farmer

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Corporal Robert Dent

Farmer

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Norman Grice

Assisting father on farm

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Harold Grice

Assisting father on farm

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Douglas Grice

Assisting father on farm

1940 1942
Private George Robson

Farmer

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Edgar North Smallwood

Farm worker

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Douglas Webster

Farmer

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Operational Base (OB)

The Patrol were based just to the east of Leavening and had two OBs.

The first one was a square type dug out on Rabbit Hill, overlooking Leavening. This is now collapsed and it is not known what remains. It was made from logs with a wiggly tin roof and no escape tunnel.

The Patrol moved to a second OB built by the Royal Engineers approximately 550 yards from the first site at an area known locally as "Coombes".

The Patrol also constructed a two man Observation Post (OP) around 30 yards south of the first OB connected to the OB via field telephone. It is not known what remains.

Patrol & OB pictures
OB Image
Caption & credit
Entrance shaft 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
Looking into collapsed main chamber with vent pipes 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
Collapsed main chamber with vent pipe 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
Entrance shaft with collapsed main chamber 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
Looking down entrance shaft 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
Remains of metal rungs leading down entrance shaft
OB Image
Caption & credit
Looking down entrance shaft 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
Inside collapsed main chamber 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
Main chamber looking towards small anti chamber and escape tunnel 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
Small anti chamber leading to escape tunnel 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
First length of escape tunnel from OB 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
Second length of escape tunnel leading out 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
Escape tunnel looking to exit 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
End of escape tunnel with brick and corrugated chamber end 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
Escape tunnel leading off from OB chamber 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
Coat hooks 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
Escape tunnel exit on left, entrance by far right tree 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
Escape tunnel exit 2016
OB Image
Caption & credit
East Riding Group 3 Leavening members, rear left Edgar Smallwood. Middle l-to-r Doug Webster, Norman Grice & George Robson. Front left Robert Dent, 2nd right Percy Milner
OB Status
Destroyed
Location

Leavening Patrol

Patrol Targets

Local targets would have included Birdsall House, a possible German HQ and Castle Howard a likely German target.

Kirkham Priory was occupied by the military during the war and the site of the Landing Vehicle testing-area for the various types of tanks, lorries etc to be used in the invasion on the D-Day beaches.

Transport targets included the Derwent river road crossings and the main road from the east coast probable landing beaches through the area to Malton and York.

Training

The Patrol trained at Middleton Hall, Danby Lodge and Guisborough rifle ranges.

Some members went to Coleshill House for specialist courses.

Weapons and Equipment

Weapons issued to the Patrol included Thompson Sub Machine Guns, Sten guns, .38 Smith and Wesson Revolvers, .22 Sniper rifle and a Canadian Ross .300 Rifle. Fairburn Sykes knives and a Cosh.

Other information

Norman Grice recalled that they never spent a night in the OB.

They drank all the rum and fired off surplus ammunition at stand down.

References

TNA ref WO199/3389

Hancock data held at B.R.A

1939 Register

Andy Gwynne

Peter Sisterson and Ian Turton for photos

East Ridings Secret Resistance by Alan Williamson

Roddy Hamilton