Marksbury Patrol

A.K.A. (nickname)
Pensford or Hunstrete
County Group
Somerset Group 12 - Long Ashton
Locality

Marksbury is a small village and civil parish in Somerset about 4 miles from Keynsham and 7 miles from Bath.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Lieutenant Charles William Trussler

Gamekeeper

 22 Aug 1940 01 Apr 1941
Sergeant Herbert Arthur Pearce

Butchers manager

 12 Nov 1942 03 Dec 1944
Private Henry Cecil George Bailey

Haulier

 22 Aug 1940 02 Feb 1943
Private Leslie George Bullock 27 Nov 1942 03 Dec 1944
Private Geoffrey Norris Harding

Engineer learner

 29 Jan 1942 Unknown
Private Stephen John Harding

Miner

 Unknown Unknown
Private Frederick John Hillier

Salesman & market gardener

 22 Aug 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private George Kenneth Hitchins

Student

 04 Dec 1943 03 Dec 1944
Private James Thomas Hooper

Bricklayers apprentice

 13 Feb 1941 14 Apr 1943
Private Victor Hooper

Motor mechanic

 Unknown Unknown
Private Arthur Rawlings

General labourer

 22 Aug 1940 18 Jul 1944
Private Ernest Thomas

Carter in coal mine underground

 13 Jul 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private Edwin Charles Thomas

Bricklayer

 11 Mar 1942 14 Apr 1943
Private Keith Robert Charles Trussler

Student

 31 May 1943 03 Dec 1944
Private Graham Eric Tucker

Student

 04 Sep 1942 03 Dec 1944
Private Frederick Watts

General labourer

 27 Jul 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private William Sidney Charles Willis

Shopkeeper grocer dealer & sub Postmaster

 25 Apr 1941 03 Jun 1943
Operational Base (OB)

The OB is located in a private wood. Originally part of the Hunstrete Estate the land was sold in the 1960s and the woods replaced with conifers. Jim Hooper, a bricklayer, was asked to help build the OB.

Group Commander Charles Trussler showed local Boy Scout, John Baker, the OB just after the war and he remembered the original leafy lid in place.

Patrol & OB pictures
Bed Frame Marksbury 2000
Bed frame intact 2000 (from Don Brown)
Marksbury OB diagram
Marksbury OB diagram
Marksbury OB main chamber
Marksbury OB main chamber
Marksury OB main chamber
Marksbury OB main chamber
Marksbury OB outline
Marksbury OB outline
Marksbury OB opening shute
Marksbury OB opening shute
Marksbury OB entrance shaft - note white glazed bricks
Marksbury OB entrance shaft - note white glazed bricks
Marksbury OB opening shute
Marksbury OB opening shute
Marksbury OB entrance shaft - note white glazed bricks
Marksbury OB entrance shaft - note white glazed bricks
Marksbury OB corridor roof
Marksbury OB corridor roof
Marksbury OB side chamber
Marksbury OB side chamber
Marksbury corridor main chamber on left
Marksbury corridor main chamber on left
Marksbury corridor main chamber on left
Marksbury corridor main chamber on left
Marksbury brickwork
Marksbury brickwork
Marksbury side chamber
Marksbury side chamber
Marksbury wooden lintel to side chamber
Marksbury wooden lintel to side chamber
Marksbury curved entrance
Marksbury curved entrance
Marksbury brick
Marksbury brick
Marksbury corridor roof battens
Marksbury corridor roof battens
Marksbury entrance to main chamber
Marksbury entrance to main chamber
Marksbury roof battens
Marksbury roof battens
Marksbury main chamber
Marksbury main chamber
Marksbury side wall of main chamber
Marksbury side wall of main chamber
Marksbury escape tunnel
Marksbury escape tunnel
Marksbury side wall of main chamber
Marksbury side wall of main chamber
Marksbury main chamber
Marksbury main chamber
Marksbury main chamber
Marksbury main chamber
Marksbury end of main chamber showing escape tunnel
Marksbury end of main chamber showing escape tunnel
Marksbury marks in render
Marksbury marks in render
Marksbury end wall of chamber
Marksbury end wall of chamber
Marksbury main chamber towards door
Marksbury main chamber towards door
Marksbury end chamber
Marksbury end chamber
Marksbury end chamber
Marksbury end chamber
Marksbury end chamber vent pipe
Marksbury end chamber vent pipe
Marksbury escape tunnel
Marksbury escape tunnel
Marksbury escape tunnel with batten
Marksbury escape tunnel with batten surround
Marksbury end of escape tunnel
Marksbury end of escape tunnel
Marksbury entrance
Marksbury entrance
Marksbury end of escape tunnel
Marksbury end of escape tunnel
Marksbury entrance
Marksbury entrance
Marksbury entrance grate
Marksbury entrance grate
OB Status
Largely intact
OB accessibility
This OB is on private land. Please do not be tempted to trespass to see it
Location

Marksbury Patrol

Patrol Targets

The large railway viaduct over the Chew Valley would have been a likely target along with the nearby Whitchurch aerodrome.

Training

Jim Hoper recalled; "We were all keen and well versed in training and explosives. We knew how to get around the countryside, all around the area. We had great fun at times. We were attacking the guards in Keynsham. We ran out of thunderflashes and finished up with throwing sticks of 808 over the wall. It was an early finish that night. There was a dance going on at Keynsham Town Hall so we all piled in with our blackened faces. They thought they were being invaded. Another time, Units from the whole area attacked Locking airport. Each one had to capture a particular hut. Ours was the WAAF sleeping quarters."

Weapons and Equipment

Charles and Keith Trussler cleared the OB of all kit and explosives after the war. 

References

TNA ref WO199/3390 & WO199/3391

Hancock data held at B.R.A

1939 Register

The late Jim Hooper and Donald Brown