Whitwell is a small village located on the south of the Isle of Wight, approximately 3 miles north-west of Ventnor.
| Name | Occupation | Posted from | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant Thomas Arthur Cowley | Pig marketing board |
12 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Private Leslie Holbrook | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Private Charles Henry James Holbrook | Dairy farmer |
12 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
The arms and ammunition dump for the Patrol was found in the 1950s when a field close to a barn at Stenbury Manor Farm was ploughed for the first time in years. The plough unearthed grenades and explosives.
The OB has now been located at Stenbury Manor Farm by local man David Pritchard. He can remember the OB in better condition than it is now. The OB is in Simms Wood to the north of Stenbury Manor.
Charles Holbrook remembered the OB had 4 bunks and a stove for cooking.
Whitwell Patrol
Charles Holbrook recalled training at the Drill Hall in Newport with a lot of other Patrols. He remembered being taught the art of assassination by Russian fighters who had been through the German invasion of their country.
Charles Holbrook recalled 100lb of high explosives, time delays, detonators, cortex and ordinary fuses, Smith & Wesson revolvers and knives.
On January 20th 1945, a significantly historical dinner was held at the Masonic Hall, Ryde. Gathered together for the first time in five years were the majority of the members of the Island’s Auxiliary Patrols. A copy of the post stand-down dinner menu for that Saturday evening offers evidence of the men involved.
David Pritchard 2017
TNA ref WO199/3391
Hancock data held at B.R.A
1939 Register
John Riddell
Charles Holbrook via Adrian Searle