Scampston Patrol

Group 2 of the Northern East Yorkshire Auxiliary Units consisted of Norton, Settrington and Scampston Patrols. They were Commanded by Lt Henry Towse who was the Scampston Gamekeeper and was born in 1904

Patrol Members

Sgt Joseph Allanby                  JCMR/92/1                      Lorry Driver                         15/06/1906

Cpl Herbert Batty                     JCMK/39/6                      Timber Man                          08/12/1903

Pte Alec Burrows                    JCML/4/6                         Vermin Killer                       01/11/1907

Pte Frank Burrows                  JGFB/8/5                         Joiner                                    11/01/1906

Pte Sidney Temple                   JJCM/119122                Bacon Curer                        15/12/1907

Landowner/Permissions:

The location is on a PRIVATE estate and full permission was given for the HERAW Team to investigate the Ice House. The condition of the Ice House (OB) is in very good condition. What looks to be or maybe started to be was an escape tunnel hacked out of an internal wall. The OB is Circular in orientation and no signs of a Observation Post could be found however traces of telephone cable within the OB tells us that an OP was there. Other physical remains nearby were a Stove Grate, large bunk bed frames that were big enough for two men.

Main Description of location: The ice house stands in land adjacent to a spring fed lake. It approx 30 feet from the lake side and is fenced off and blocked off from passersby who walk the lakes.

Patrol targets were most likely to be RAF Stations Wombleton and Cottam that are in the area.

The OB is  16 miles to the South is Middleton on the Wolds, the Yorkshire HQ and Training Area. It is believed they were equipped with the usual stock of weapons

Lt Henry Towse the Group Commander was the Head Gamekeeper of Scampston Hall where this OB is located. It would have been an obvious choice for him has he knew this land and that the ice house was out of the way of prying eyes. The rumour of it being an explosive store was more than likely a cover story for what really was going on here.