NewBasfordlad 3,599 Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Ian I think what your referring to is an Auxiliary Operational Base. The Auxiliaries were a secret organisation badged Home Guard as a cover and some of the HG best members were chosen for membership along with local gamekeepers and poachers etc, given specialist training they were in fact guerrillas who would emerge from their underground bunkers after a German invasion. Life expectance was some 12 days but being specialists in assassinations and explosives they were expected to cause havoc among the Hun during that time. Their OBs were built by the Royal Engineers often in remote locations well hidden and designed and armed for independent local operations. Even as late as the 70s a OB was discovered and much to the consternation of those around still had most of its weapons etc intact. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
carni 10,094 Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 I thought Ian and Newbasfordlads posts were really interesting and I had never heard about these Auxiliaries before. It really was a well kept secret, I have just spent some time on YouTube reading up on them and on one of the videos I watched it was said that if they went into operation they were only expected to live about twelve days. Brave men. There are quite a few informative videos to watch on You Tube, but I have added this one for you as a starter. https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/home-guard-auxiliary-units Sorry NBL,Just realised that I have repeated your info on the 12days life expectancy . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NewBasfordlad 3,599 Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 No need to be 'sorry' Carni I am just glad you find it interesting. Like you not many people have heard about these guys but if the worst had happened they would have been a great asset. The article you high lighted made a couple of mistakes in that there was also a named 'resistance force' operated by the secret service. These were not in uniform and would have operated along the lines of the French resistance. It also spoke of a 22 sniper rifle that could kill at a mile, to clarify this was not a 22rf but a 22 magnum centre fire. Same size of projectile but far more powerful. Again this was part of the deceit if some one was shot with a 22 bullet you would hardly scan the horizon a mile away for the perpetrator. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 It might be on the computer Carni.. The Harry Harris War Secrets was fascinating! Like NBL said these blokes weren't going to mess about! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
carni 10,094 Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 Thanks for the tip about Harry Harris, I will check it out, not sure if you have to pay to view and if so, I will have to wait until my sonny boy pops in to show me how to do it. I have had a quick look on You Tube and there are still some interesting free videos to keep me occupied until he calls in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 I notice in Davids first picture a shelter was in the Imperial Hotel/between Beast market hill and Granby Street...can't place it..anyone got a snap? Also the tunnel which provided us with a trip this year..was also a place of refuge.Ian. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,457 Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 The Imperial was the next one up after The Roebuck. Currently called Bla Bla Bar - remind me to avoid it. https://goo.gl/maps/fjE9HywZojQ2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 Yep!...forgotten about that one...had fancy lion/dragon lamppost outside? Thanks cliff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
freckles 196 Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 What about schools ?did they have their own shelters. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 We certainly had them at Mellish. They were at the rear of the school and built into an earth bank. They were a favourite haunt for the smokers (not me) back in the 50's/60's. I don't recollect any at Arno Vale primary though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 Can't help noticing the pubs with deep bunta cellars were used. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 We had one in our back garden at Park Road in Woodthorpe; an Anderson shelter. It was built into a steep rockery. Self and Father demolished it with sledge hammers and he sold the galvanised corrugated iron parts as there was a demand for them back in the 50's. I also remember one in the back garden of my grandparents on Greendale Rd. Sneinton Dale. When we moved out to near Southwell in the 60's there was no trace of one ever being there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MargieH 7,599 Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 Phil, I can't remember seeing any shelters at Arno Vale either. But by the time we we started there in 1948 they might have been filled in/demolished? We had one in our garden which was demolished when I was about 6 or 8 I think. I just remember its being damp and cold, so I didn't play in it. That reminds me....when we stopped having chickens in our back garden, there were 2 little huts still there - one had nesting boxes in and the other was a 'scratching' hut, so my brother had one of these and I had the other, after they'd been cleaned out of course! I used mine as a play house, put little curtains up and used to have my friends round for 'tea parties'. Sorry, I know this has nothing to do with air raid shelters..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NewBasfordlad 3,599 Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 I do believe that even Shippo's cellars were used. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 We used to keep chickens in Woodthorpe post war. I remember the annual killing ritual in December! Living in the country we've had a selection of horses and ponies and at one time we had five sheep. They were a nuisance to look after so we rapidly got rid! Just 4 cats now. Getting too old for more livestock so we just grow hay and make it when the sun shines - hopefully. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MargieH 7,599 Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 When our chickens had stopped laying eggs, I'm told my mum gave them to the butcher for him to dispatch, and she wouldn't have them back for us to eat as she was too fond of them. I expect he paid her for them... I was not party to any of this as Mum always protected me from things like that! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,507 Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 # 37. Phil, what number did you live at on Park Road? A friend of mine has lived up there for the past 40+ years. #40. You evidently didn't have a ram in your flock then?!! We acquired 6 ewes in lamb once upon a time and the flock quickly became 40+ sheep! True, they are a nightmare to hang on to ...... their only aim in life is to escape, the grass is always greener in the neighbour's field. Sorry to deviate, but have no recollection of an air-raid in our back garden! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AfferGorritt 868 Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 Sorry denshaw, not been on for a bit. I lived at number 10, just a few doors up on the right from Carlton Road. Ask him to have a glegg in the back and see'f it's still there! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
carni 10,094 Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Just watched Time Team on Channel 19 (Channel Yesterday), very interesting, all about the WW11 defenses on Shooters Hill, London. It turned out that one of the bunkers they were investigating was probably used by the Auxiliary forces, They were referred to as really being a suicide squad as they were expected to fight to the death to defend the country. It was also said that the people who chose the Auxiliaries would have probably have to be killed by those same people they had chosen, in case they gave up their names under torture. They also discovered a bunker, which it was thought to be a communications center, but these places were so top secret that there was no way of finding out for sure as there were no reference or papers to acknowledge its existence. The programme was intriguing and if anyone is interested, it would be worth trying to view it on catch up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Nice one Carni,when did they let the public know about these squads? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
carni 10,094 Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Ian, I have no idea. Chris knew about them, but until I saw your post i had never heard of the Auxiliaries, though like everyone,I knew of the home guard. If it was all so top secret, i'm surprised anyone found out about them, it makes you wonder how many of these bunkers are around, with no paperwork I expect they will only be found by accident or archaeologists at work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Yes interesting, do you believe about that attempted German invasion that was kept quiet? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
carni 10,094 Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 I'm afraid I'll have to read up on that Ian. I have very limited knowledge. I just read about Operation Sea Lion, not sure if that is what you mean. I do find it interesting reading about the Auxiliaries and home guard though. My Granddad was in the Sherwood Foresters in WW1 and the Home Guard in WW11. Don't know if he was one of the chosen few though? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Google Shingle Street invasion Chris...very interesting... my old man told me it was true. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
carni 10,094 Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Did a bit of Googling Ian and there are quite a few leads to read up on. I will save it for later and enjoy an hour reading upon it. Intrigued I must say. Thanks for the pointer. I will let you know what I think when I've investigated? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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