Was your Grandparent a spy? By Martyn Allen

Was Your Grandparent A Wartime Spy ?

Few people are aware of the Second World War ‘guerrilla units’, colloquially known as the ‘Home Guard Commandos’ or the ‘Village Demolition Squad’, that were hidden around the countryside to hinder a German invasion in 1940. Even fewer know of the other branch of what is now commonly referred to as Churchill’s Secret (or Underground) Army.

Born out of the pre-war Special Intelligence Service (SIS) / MI6, and MI-R (Military Intelligence - Research), the organisation was officially known as ‘GHQ Auxiliary Units’. It consisted of two distinct branches, unaware of the other’s existence. Members were sworn to secrecy through the Official Secrets Act (normally after they had agreed to do ‘something a bit dangerous’!). Their nearest and dearest were completely unaware of their involvement.

The guerrilla branch, or ‘Operational Patrols’, consisted of cells of 6 to 8 civilian men in reserved occupations, that would delay the enemy by disrupting re-supply routes upon invasion. They had Home Guard uniforms to aid deception but were not actually part of the Home Guard. They had access to large amounts of explosives along with other weapons and were very highly trained. In the

event of invasion, they would have left their homes and families without saying a word, and descended into their concealed underground bunkers, coming out at night to attack strategic enemy targets. When they were stood down in November 1944 there had been upwards of 600 Patrols and 4000+ men involved the length of the country.

The other branch, a secret spy and radio network, or the ‘Special Duties’ branch, was also put in place to be active during the first few weeks of an invasion. This branch comprised around 1000 civilian male and female volunteers in 1940, and increased to around 3500 by mid-1944. In May 1940 when the Germans rapidly overran the Low Countries and France, the allied forces response was hampered by vast numbers of refugees clogging up the roads. In contrast to what happened on the Continent, Special Duties members were told to stay behind should invasion occur, and were trained to observe the enemy; to record unit identification, armaments and direction of vehicles and large troop movements etc. Coded information was to be relayed via messengers and runners through a series of dead-letter drops. This was by such methods as being left in hollow gate-bolts, in Oxo tins in tree stumps (as used in Wool, Dorset), and even in split tennis balls. Ultimately the information was to be passed along the network to another civilian with a secret wireless. These wireless sets were hidden in all sorts of places; in chicken sheds, pub attics, barns, in a bunker under an outdoor privy (as used in east Devon), and even under a church altar (in Monmouthshire), depending on the operator’s livelihood.

Indeed, it was the people that could move around the local area without raising suspicion that would be most useful, such as postmen, nurses, vets, school teachers, publicans and even teenagers. R.A.F. widows seem to be a popular choice for runners in Dorset. Like the Operational Patrols, the Special Duties members would have been recruited by Intelligence Officers. They would have been vetted, enrolled if suitable, and subsequently trained. This pattern was replicated the length of the country. For each Special Duties network with a wireless, there

were perhaps twenty observers, messengers and runners. The civilian wireless operators (in their ‘Outer’ networks) would transmit the information to an ‘Inner’ network that was staffed by ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) women seconded to the Royal Corps of Signals. These in turn would then transmit the information to Army Command to assess for any counter-attack.

Royal Signals engineers were responsible for wireless maintenance, replenishment of batteries and also installation of radio aerials. Initially the ATS operators were set-up in surface huts disguised as meteorological stations. Hidden bunkers were dug nearby for them to disappear into should the Germans head their way, and from where they would continue to transmit while underground.

In the Marshwood Vale area there were Special Duties operations near Hawkchurch (Fishpond’s Bottom) in a chicken shed, at Lyme Regis (in an attic) near the junction

In the Marshwood Vale area there were Special Duties operations near Hawkchurch (Fishpond’s Bottom) in a chicken shed

Airlie Abinda Campbell George and Airlie’s wedding Bewley Down Special Duties Medora Eames

Neither branch had supplies for more than a few weeks. This was their life expectancy should invasion occur

Kenneth and Dorothy Marsh of Edgarley Manor c 1965 operated secret wireless near Glastonbury, Somerset

of Clappentail Lane and the Sidmouth Road, and also in a dugout in Bridport somewhere north of Watton Hill. A little further afield there were also secret spies, messengers and runners in Axminster, Widworthy, Bewley Down (bunker under the outdoor privy), Buckland St.Mary and Puckington near Illminster.

As mentioned earlier, the two civilian branches of Auxiliary Units were not aware of each other’s existence, but there’s always an exception. In Kent, one Auxilier, George Gascoyne from the Lynsted Operational Patrol stumbled upon a secret hatch in the ground not unlike the one he had in his bunker. He prised the hatch open and descended the metal ladder only to be met by ATS lady Arlie Campbell, pointing her revolver at his head. They managed to convince each other that they were on the same side. Incredibly they ended up marrying. Their son, Jim, is one of CART’s researchers.

‘Auxiliary Units’ was a covert, clandestine organisation. As such it did not officially exist and there would be no protection if a member was caught by the enemy. Also, it meant that there would be no future recognition, hence no Defence Medals like those issued to the Home Guard or Air Raid Precautions Wardens etc. Auxilier veterans were only allowed to march on Remembrance Day in London, for the first time in 2013.

Neither branch had supplies for more than a few weeks. This was their life expectancy should invasion occur. The Special Duties branch was stood down in July 1944, and a letter issued stating that ‘there can be no public recognition’. The Operational Patrols branch was stood down in November 1944 and a similar letter issued.

Most Auxiliers were true to their word and never spoke of what they were trained to do. Some, in later life, did speak of these events. C.A.R.T. (Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team) believes their legacy is worth preserving.

If secret wartime spies, messengers, runners, and radio operators rings any bells, please contact Martyn Allen from C.A.R.T. : cartmallen@gmail.com

For further information about Auxiliary Units visit the CART website: www.staybehinds.com C.A.R.T. is a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation.