British Resistance Movement 1940-
Sirs,
I’m researching a unit formed during the early days of WW2. Using the name Auxiliary Units, this was actually a cover name for a Resistance network that covered the whole of the UK, mainly in east coast areas.
Set up by the then Major Colin McVean Gubbins, individuals were recruited locally by regular Army Intelligence Officers and civilian group leaders who were given a local rank of Captain or Lieutenant and sworn to secrecy by the official secrets act of the time, this was all by word of mouth and the individuals carefully chosen.
Training consisted of weapon handling, navigation, demolitions, as well as other skills associated with this clandestine type of warfare. Members wore civilian clothes during those early days but as they grew in numbers they were given battledress uniforms and wore Home Guard shoulder titles which was a cover, they were also later given battalion status. Three battalions were formed, 201 GHQ Reserve Battalion which covered all of Scotland down into Northumberland.
Most members were in a reserved occupation and came from a wide and varied background, but included farmers, estate workers, blacksmiths, to name but a few. Operating from underground hides known as Operational Bases (OB’s) they would work in 6 or 8 man cells and be tasked with causing as much mayhem as possible to the movement of the German occupation forces.
Life expectancy for an Auxiliary member during the occupation would be approximately 2 weeks; they were all too aware of this as the threat of invasion got closer by the day in those summer months of 1940.
The units in Scotland covered areas from the Outer Hebrides down to the Scottish Borders. Some members of the Scottish units were also tasked with helping to form the outer perimeter guard at Balmoral when the Royal family was there.
The Scottish Auxiliary Units were commanded for a short time by Eustace Maxwell, wearing the uniform of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, when he first arrived in Scotland he had his HQ near to Stirling, he was tasked to set up and organize training for the Scottish Auxunits.
Melville House near to Ladybank in Fife was one of the headquarters later used by Maxwell for the Scottish units. Another HQ was at Blairmore House near to Huntly this is where training in demolitions, weapon handling, and silent killing was honed to perfection.
The east coast of Scotland was one of the routes from Europe that the enemy would likely strike. In coastal towns and villages or a few miles inland Auxiliary units were going about their normal lives, working the fields, etc and would be stood to by another network of runners and contacts using hidden transmitters spreading the word and secret messages being dropped of at locations only known to a select few; Auxiliary Unit members Wives /girlfriends and mums would be totally unaware of the task that lay ahead for their loved one, as even they were not told.
Auxiliary units all over the UK were stood down in late 1944, many went on to volunteer and work with Special Forces as was the extent of the training they received, they were well suited to this kind of work, some died during those months with Special Forces units in the European theatre, prior to Normandy and after. My research into this unit is focusing on the part played by Scotland and would like to be able to record the relatively unknown work done by this Organization.
My research is now focusing on the Isle of Lewis which had patrols at Ness, Stornoway (Holm/Steinish and Gallows Hill) and on North & South Uist as well as Benbecula. I would be most interested to hear from anyone who has knowledge of such patrols or information relating to such units and their underground operational bases. Many thanks.
I can be contacted at:
David Blair
54 Younger Gardens
St Andrews
Fife, KY16 8AB
01334 470599
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