Hoxne Patrol

A.K.A. (nickname)
The Suicide Squad
County Group
Locality

Hoxne is village 4 miles south-east of Diss (Norfolk).

Patrol members
Name Occupation Posted from Until
Sergeant George William Thirkettle

Farmer

20 Aug 1940 03 Dec 1944
Corporal Kenneth Charles Rush

Farm labourer

21 Aug 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private John Patrick Banham

Lorry driver

21 Aug 1940 Unknown
Private Clement Lewis Brett

Tractor driver

21 Aug 1940 07 Apr 1941
Private Bertram Ernest Gissing

Carpenter

21 Aug 1940 Unknown
Private Arthur James Knights

Horseman

Unknown 03 Dec 1944
Private Herbert William Knights

Farm labourer

21 Aug 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private Herbert C. Page

Cowman

21 Aug 1940 Unknown
Private Harry John Revell

Horseman

21 Aug 1940 Unknown
Private Arthur Reginald Riches

Horseman

21 Aug 1940 07 Apr 1941
Private Herbert Steward 21 Aug 1940 Unknown
Private Gordon Edward Creasy Thirkettle Sept 1940 03 Dec 1944
Private Alfred James Whatling

Farm worker

21 Aug 1940 07 Apr 1941
Private Gordon Witton 21 Aug 1940 03 Dec 1944
Operational Base (OB)

The Patrol’s OB was constructed by Royal Engineers and located in a private wood at Denham Low Road between Hoxne and Redlingfield.

In an interview conducted with one of the local farmers who helped with its removal in the 1960s, it was described to us as having been an Anderson shelter-type structure.

The hole in the ground was filled in and levelled off, no trace remains. The photo shows an approximate location.

Patrol & OB pictures
OB Image
Caption & credit
Hoxne OB location
OB Status
Destroyed
Location

Hoxne Patrol

Other information

In 2018, the diary of Major Henry Palgrave Raven was discovered. He was an Officer in the original Local Defence Volunteers (later Home Guard). The diary records the formation of the L.D.V and also the formation of the local Auxiliary Units by Captain Andrew Croft. Raven is not recorded in Auxiliary Unit records but was obviously involved at the start.

Many of the men, especially Thirkettle and Rush are frequently mentioned as still being very much involved with the Home Guard during 1940 even though they are part of the Auxiliary Unit which Major Raven calls a "Mobile Squad".

In February 1941 the Patrol consisted of 7 members.

References

TNA ref WO199/3389

Hancock data held at B.R.A

1939 Register

Evelyn Simak and Adrian Pye.

B.R.O.M at Parham, 

Mrs G Thirkettle, Hoxne

Major Raven's diary transcript from Hoxne Heritage Group.

Diss Express