As soon as I discovered Geocaching I knew that this particular spot deserved a cache and this is dedicated to all those who served in The Home Guard during the Second World War.
Background
During the Second World War Auxiliary Units were set up to form Britain’s secret resistance and underground fighting force. These units were designed to spring into action should Hitler’s forces make it to the UK. Secret bunkers, observation posts and wireless stations were built inland from the coast. The idea was that after an invasion the unit's members would lie hidden for a period of 5 days and then appear and bring havoc to the invading army by sabotaging transport links and setting booby traps etc. In reality it was thought that such units would only have a 10 day life expectancy.
The units answered to the GHQ home forces but were organised as part of the Home Guard.
Kent Auxiliary Units
A report in 1940 states that Kent was in a more advanced state of training than average with 25 patrols comprising of some 120 men. This number rose to 280 members in 1942.
Drellingore Patrol was part of this network . The Patrol consisted of 8 known members including a butcher, haulier, engineer and sweet shop owner. Training took place every Sunday at Tappington Hall near Denton and personal equipment included a .38 revolver, rubber truncheon, knuckledusters, fighting knife and a pair of plimsoles.
The patrol had no particular targets should an attack occur but it was thought that Hockley Sole, a large house at Standen in the Alkham Valley would’ve been favoured as a base by the German army and should therefore be destroyed.
The Patrol’s operational base was in the coppice not far from the cache site. It was built by Canadian engineers and had a corrugated iron roofed chamber. A tree stump was bolted onto a man hole cover which was hinged to allow access down an 8ft deep concrete shaft which then led to a chamber built into the hillside. An escape tunnel led to a Nissan hut 3ft off the ground.
The base had to remain an absolute secret which wasn’t easy even in the middle of the countryside as poachers frequented the woods and would spot regularly used paths or disturbance in the undergrowth. Unfortunately a local lady who lived at the bottom of the track very nearly happened upon the base one day whilst walking her dog. A Patrol member managed to divert her away but it was suggested that if Hitler’s army did invade then she would have to be done away with. The Patrol took the view that they would simply dispatch her off on a bus or train somewhere never to return!
This is only a very short history of why this location is special and more can be found online. Sadly the Patrol’s bunker base has now collapsed and although certain elements remain in the landscape it is hard to imagine it in it’s full glory. The remains are on PRIVATE LAND so please DO NOT go looking for it. It is not easy to find and what is left is unsafe.
Whilst at the cache site try to imagine the clandestine activities that went on in this area to ensure that had Hitler invaded the UK there were ordinary members of the public prepared to go underground to do what they could to protect our country, likely losing their lives in the process.
Due to the nature of the cache site ie it is heavily wooded the GPS signal changes with each visit but hopefully the coordinates will place you in the right area for you to be able to begin your search.
The track on which the site is located is uphill and steep in places. It also gets SLIPPY and MUDDY after rain so take care.
The cache site is on the part of the track that opens up and is a ‘little’ wider. Generally the sun shines through more strongly on this part of the track. Due to the problems with the bouncing GPS signal you will probably have to widen your search but it should get you in the right area.
There is parking for one maybe two cars at a pinch at the top of the track on Fernfield Lane which is the lane that leads up from South Alkham . Cars often pull in there to walk dogs etc but do not block the access to the track. You can also access the site from the bottom of the track on Stombers Lane but be careful if you plan to park here as it is easy to obstruct regularly used field entrances.
The track is used by trail bikes and 4x4s some weekends but you will hear them coming! I walk it most days with my dog and it is a truly stunning place to stroll so please enjoy.
There is a FTF prize in this one which is themed to match the cache.
UPDATE - 28.03.2016 - THE ORIGINAL CACHE AND CACHE LOCATION WERE DAMAGED BY A VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED THE CACHE WITH ANOTHER NEAR THE SAME LOCATION. SEE NEW HINT.