Spaldington is a village in East Riding of Yorkshire lying 3 miles north from the market town of Howden and to the east of Selby.
| Name | Occupation | Posted from | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergeant John Morrison | Farmer |
Unknown | 1943 |
| Corporal Stephen Rennie | Farmer |
Unknown | 1943 |
| Corporal Robert Roper | Farm foreman |
Unknown | Unknown |
| Private John James Fitzgerald | Farmer |
Unknown | 1943 |
| Private Harold Peam Hardgrave | Horseman on farm |
Unknown | Unknown |
| Private Edward Cyril Hessel | Farmer |
Unknown | 1943 |
| Private Clifford Newby Hill | Aircraft toolmaker |
Unknown | Unknown |
| Private Geoffrey Thomas Hill | Student |
Unknown | 1943 |
| Private Edward Maltby | Grocer |
Unknown | 1943 |
The Patrol had two OBs. The first was abandoned due to the high water table. Flooding and dampness meant it was of no use.
A second OB was then built, unusually above ground. It was an adapted "elephant" type shelter built inside an old mill building to the northeast of Spaldington Village. Locals were told it had been bombed by the Germans as cover for the rebuilding inside.
The OB ventilation was via the remains of the mill chimney. This structure doubled up as the Patrol Observational Post. The escape tunnel was built under piles of rubble and bricks from the mill.
Spaldington Patrol
They were based to the east of Selby which itself was a main railway junction and they were surrounded by airfields; RAF Breighton, RAF Holme, RAF Bellasize. Nearby and a bit further west around Selby were RAF Burn, RAF Riccall, RAF Church Fenton and RAF Melbourne.
These would have been obvious targets.
The Patrol trained at Rise Hall and Middleton on the Wolds with other Patrols. Locally they did a lot of training at Brough Aircraft works on how to sabotage aircraft. Meetings were often held in the saddle room of Sergeant Morrison's home, Willitoft Hall.
Sergeant John Morrison went to Coleshill House for specialist training.
Weapons issued to the Patrol would have included; Smith & Wesson revolvers, .22 sniper rifle, .303 rifle and a Thompson Machine Gun
All had wooden truncheons. In an interview with Ed Maltby he said none of the members had fighting knives.
The Spaldington Patrol were based further inland than the other East Riding Patrols.
They were an Independent Patrol, not in any Group, and reported directly to Intelligence Officer Captain Peter Hollis.
They were formed in late 1940 or early 1941 and disbanded in 1943. In 1942 the Patrol consisted of Morrison, Roper, Fitzgerald, Hessel, Rennie and Maltby.
TNA ref WO199/3398
Ed Maltby
Alan Williamson East Ridings Secret Resistance