Sionside Patrol

County Group
Locality

The Sionside Patrol was based to the west of Belford in northern Northumberland. Most of the Patrol were employed in farming and hand picked by Group Commander "Peter" Robinson who lived nearby.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Sergeant Thomas Hetherington

Motor wagon driver

1941 1944
Private George Harold Marshall Bell

Farm shepherd

1941 1944
Private Frederick Campbell Davidson

Bridge building foreman

1941 1944
Private Gilbert Lee

LNER Permanent way lengthman

1941 1944
Private George Henry Little

Farm worker

1941 1944
Private John Ridley Reay

Farmer

1941 1944
Private George Richardson

LNER Permanent way labourer

1941 1944
Private Robert Richardson

LNER Permanent way labourer

1941 1944
Private Andrew Selby

LNER Permanent way labourer

1941 1944
Operational Base (OB)

The OB is a standard "Elephant" type shelter and is aligned east/west close to a stream as with most Northumberland OBs.

Patrol & OB pictures
OB Image
Caption & credit
Entrance shaft
OB Image
Caption & credit
Main chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Entrance showing rungs
OB Image
Caption & credit
End wall of chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Looking up entrance shaft
OB Image
Caption & credit
Main chamber
OB Image
Caption & credit
Sionside OB
OB Status
Largely intact
OB accessibility
This OB is on private land. Please do not be tempted to trespass to see it
Location

Sionside Patrol

Patrol Targets

Key targets would have included the East Coast main railway line, the A1 main England/Scotland road and the Holy Island causeway. Roads and bridges west to Wooler and to the east in the area of possible invasion beaches will have also been destroyed by the Patrol in the event of an invasion.

Middleton Hall and Belford Hall both HQ's for the Somerset Light Infantry and the 51st Highland Division both retraining in the area for the D-Day invasion, might also have been on the target list.

Training

The Patrol did training with the army based at Belford and at nearby Middleton Hall and members of the Patrol (possibly the Sergeant) also went to Coleshill House for specialist courses.

Weapons and Equipment

The Patrol was issued the Auxiliary Units Mark 2 kit including pistols and a .22 sniper rifle.

Other information

The Patrol went to the Isle of Wight as part of the island garrison just before D-Day and also went to Balmoral to guard the Royal Family.

References

National Archives in Kew ref WO199/3388

Hancock data held at B.R.A

1939 Register