Pelynt Patrol

One Saturday evenings exercise;

The Patrol met up with an army lorry at an agreed venue with an army Major travelling in front. After several miles the Major jumped in with them and gave them orders that they had until midnight to complete. They were given a map that showed a small wood with a track that ran into fields and a nearby house that was guarded by six sentries. Their task was to get into the building without being seen or heard by “the enemy” and return to the army lorry. Posted around the area were observers, wearing easily seen dress, that were to be ignored unless the Patrol were caught in a booby trap or seen and therefore “killed” by the defending troops. No weapons were to be used. The Patrol studied the map in detail and decided to go a short distance into the wood and hide. They would then take it in turns to complete the task until one was successful. Joe Northcott was the first to try.

It was a cold, windy and dark night with the moon peeping out on occasions between the storm clouds. The Patrol waited in the woods in silence for more than an hour before Northcott returned, nodded, and the group silently made their way to the canvas covered lorry. Inside flasks of hot drink were soon being consumed as Northcott was the only one who wasn't extremely cold.

After some time they were joined by six men in denims, showing no rank, and then the Major. They had a short conversation in German before the Major turned to Jack Bickford telling him they had failed in their task as the guards had reported that no one had breached their defences and entered the house. Bickford looked to the quietly spoken Northcott to explain. Northcott explained his route as having gone along the track in the wood. By taking great care he was able to overcome a booby trap set across his path in the form of a wire hidden in the undergrowth about six inches above the ground closely followed by another one about four feet high. He left the wood and crossed two fields, keeping close to an overgrown hedge. Following the map he now entered an orchard, close to the target, where he was able to hear the guards talking. Taking off his shoes and heavy great coat, he crept close to the guards and waited for them to move on before he darted across the road and into the target building. He explained how he found himself in a room with damp army coats hung around a fire to dry.

At this point the irritated Major interjected demanding proof he had been in the house. Northcott was enjoying himself and was not going to be rushed by any army officer so he continued his explanation at his own pace. Collecting his boots and greatcoat he made his way over a gate, having spent time checking it for booby traps, and back into the woods returning to the rest of the Patrol. He did not mention that the imitation bomb, that he was meant to have left at the target, was still in his pocket.

The rain was now beating on the canvas of the lorry and the Major's patience was wearing thin, yelling, he demanded evidence. Northcott quietly produced an alarm clock he had taken from the mantel shelf. The guards were officers from Sandhurst that were being trained to operate at the front line. In the dressing down given to them by the Major he was heard to have told them to “improve their abilities”, for they had been “destroyed by a bunch of yokels”. The Major chose to travel back to Pelynt in the lorry with the Patrol, exchanging stories on the way, as like many of them, him had served in World War 1. They were all in their beds soon after midnight.

Hall Barton Farmhouse was used as a training place to break into along with the Jubilee Inn where the Patrol would often have a drink or two but would always leave the money for Landlords, the Nicholls.

The local Home Guard had their HQ in the disused Chapel on Sumer Lane. Joe Northcott was captured on an exercise with them but he was actually a decoy as Reg Wakeham was waiting to garotte them.