William James Ground

Extracts from Lincolnshire Standard 1968 on the publishing of David Lampe's “The Last Ditch”;

Among those who will be reading it [The Last Ditch] with very special interest are former underground Group leaders Captain Frank Dawson of Dalby Hall, Spilsby, Captain Leslie Clarke and Captain W E Greenwood both of Pilleys Lane, Boston and Lieutenant W J Ground of Spalding. They are among British Resistance leaders mentioned in the book...

Accountant Mr W Ground of Spalding, once Lieutenant Ground and the group leader of four resistance Patrols, still does not know how he came to be picked.

“I was, and am completely non-military, and at the end of it all I still didn't know how to salute. But I admit they did make me pretty handy with weapons and explosives”

His wife and family never knew anything about his secret war. Until they read the book they still won't. He never talked about it then or since although now his wife will know why Captain Hamilton-Hill, the army officer who organised the field work and set up the Lincolnshire underground army, sent them a wedding present. Mr Ground got married during his Auxiliary Unit service.

...All over Lincolnshire as this book is read, the secret will be coming out ….

Information from the late Bill Livett - RE Corporal (1992) IWM

Group Commander Bill Ground used to meet Bill Livett in the Flower Pot public house in Boston, Ground's mother was the publican so if they wanted a group meeting it was no problem. They had access to a side room for the instruction and were still able to get a few drinks in.