Leuchars Patrol

County Group
Fife Group 2
Locality

Leuchars is a small village near the north-east coast of Fife in Scotland.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Sergeant Robert Skinner

Gamekeeper

 Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private John F. Anderson Unknown Unknown
Private Robert M. Anderson Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Stewart Anderson Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private William Collier Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Operational Base (OB)

The Operational Base is located within a wooded area near to Earlshall Castle and grounds. It was demolished after the war.

Patrol & OB pictures
Earlshall Auxiliary Unit Patrol 1
All that remains of the Earlshall OB (debris not in situ to OB location)
Earlshall Auxiliary Unit Patrol 2
OB remnants (not in situ to where OB was constructed)
OB Status
Destroyed
Location

Leuchars Patrol

Patrol Targets

Leuchars Airfield was the prime target for this Patrol as they were very near to the airfield, including its rail and road movements; in conjunction with the Guardbridge Patrol.

Training

The Patrol mostly trained at Melville House, but also conducted training at Earlshall Estate grounds. Infiltration into the airfield on several occasions prompted the station commander to request that GHQ Home Forces pass the message on for them to stop cutting his perimeter fence.

Weapons and Equipment

Weapons included a Winchester 74, which Robert Skinner, who was the gamekeeper used it to good effect. They also had 5 x .38 Revolvers, 5 x Sten guns and Commando fighting knives.

References

David Blair

TNA ref WO199/3388

Hancock data held at B.R.A

Family of Captain K.A.D Niven

Widow of Lieutenant  Alex Crowe

Andrew Topping