St Dennis is almost in the centre of Cornwall being half way between Newquay and St Austell.
| Name | Occupation | Posted from | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergeant William Percy Meagor | Carpenter |
13 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Corporal John Claude Dunstan | China clay worker |
06 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private William John Bunt | Clay worker |
21 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Henry Symons Estlick | Pharmacist |
21 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private William Thomas Arthur Kellow | Butcher |
Unknown | Unknown |
| Private John Thomas Kessell | Garage owner |
13 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Percy Vincent Nobes | Mason |
17 Jun 1940 | 09 Oct 1942 |
| Private Eric Owen Trethewey | General labourer |
21 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Sydney Herbert Willcox | Co-op bank manager |
22 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
The whereabouts of the operational base of the St. Dennis Patrol was never disclosed but it is thought to have been located in one of the many disused china clay workings in the area of St. Dennis, probably south of the village.
St. Dennis Patrol
The main A30 running the length of Cornwall could have been a target.
Regular meetings were held to train in Auxilier Tommy Kessell's garage at Whitegates Crossing in St. Dennis.
Explosive training and grenade throwing was carried out in the fields behind owned by Kessell.
It is known the whole Patrol went away to train though not where.
Trevor Kessell, son of Auxilier Tommy Kessle remembered as a boy helping the Patrol clean grease from their rifles when they were first issued.
He recalled they were issued with Sten gun, pistols, and a machine gun on a tripod. He also remembered a huge amount of explosives.
By the mid 20th century the surrounding area was dominated by the china clay and china stone industry and provided employment for a large number of people from the village.
Even today the village is surrounded by still worked and disused clay works that would be the most obvious location for the OB and for training in. Explosives training especially would have aroused little attention.
TNA ref WO199/3391
Hancock data held at B.R.A
Alwyn Harvey's research for Defence of Britain database
Trevor Kessell son of Auxilier Tommy Kessell.