Flete Patrol

Locality

Flete Estate is in the South Hams, Devon, next to the Erme Estuary.

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Sergeant Albert Baker

Head gamekeeper

01 Jul 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private John Burgess

Gamekeeper

07 Jul 1940 26 May 1943
Private Walter Howard Harper

Farm labourer

18 Aug 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private Frederick Charles Tapper Kerswell

Farm worker

04 Oct 1943 03 Dec 1944
Private Arthur Edward Lloyd 30 Jul 1942 03 Dec 1944
Private John Pedrick

Farm labourer

12 Nov 1942 03 Dec 1944
Private Douglas Gilbert Vick

Scrap metal merchant

18 Aug 1942 01 May 1944
Private Ralph Vick

Acetylene burner

18 Aug 1942 01 May 1944
Operational Base (OB)

The Operational Base was located in a small quarry on the edge of Ermington Woods. It was removed after the war and sections used around Sexton Farm. Nothing remains on the site today.

Patrol & OB pictures
OB Image
Caption & credit
Edmeston Farm used as stores
OB Image
Caption & credit
Ermington Wood
OB Image
Caption & credit
Flete House from the OB site
OB Image
Caption & credit
Sequer's Bridge target
OB Image
Caption & credit
A379 from the OB site
OB Image
Caption & credit
Albert Baker's Keepers Lodge at Flete
OB Status
Destroyed
Location

Flete Patrol

Patrol Targets

Damage to the nearby Sequer's Bridge would disrupt traffic on the main A379 between Plymouth and Kingsbridge. The large manor house of Flete Estate, Flete House, would have been a possible German HQ and so a target for the Patrol. Their OB overlooked the A379 and House.

Training

Training took place with the other Patrols of Group 3.

On a night exercise at Flete Woods, trip wires were laid by the Ugborough Patrol for the Flete Patrol to try to find. The evening was finished off with bread, cheese and cider at the Sergeant Baker's home; the Flete Estate head keeper's lodge.

Weapons and Equipment

It is assumed they were issued with the standard kit, arms and explosives. Some arms were stored in the outbuildings of Edmeston Farm.

Other information

Flete House was requisitioned during the Second World War when Freedom Fields Maternity Hospital was bombed. Several years and over 9,000 babies later it was returned to the Mildmay family, and is now converted into retirement apartments.

References

The National Archives ref WO199/3391

Hancock data held at B.R.A

1939 Register

Auxilier Alec Rogers and family