King’s Cliffe: Northants Home Guard - ‘A’ Company
- 3rd (Oundle) Battalion (1940-1944)
Oundle Divided into Six Companies
The 3rd (Oundle) Battalion (Lt-Col FR Berridge) was well in step with the new regularization. It now divided into six companies, with the area reaching from Denford and Addington in the south to Easton on the Hill in the north, and from Lutton in the east to Brigstock and Deene in the west.
A Company (King’s Cliffe) was originally commanded by Major FJ Lenton, MC, who later became the Battalion’s second-in-command. He was succeeded by Major Simpson, a farmer, and a veteran of the 1914-18 war.
Chapter VII – The Battalions Reviewed, Page 75
The 3rd (Oundle) Battalion (Lt-Col FR Berridge) was well in step with the new regularization. It now divided into six companies, with the area reaching from Denford and Addington in the south to Easton on the Hill in the north, and from Lutton in the east to Brigstock and Deene in the west.
A Company (King’s Cliffe) was originally commanded by Major FJ Lenton, MC, who later became the Battalion’s second-in-command. He was succeeded by Major Simpson, a farmer, and a veteran of the 1914-18 war.
Chapter VII – The Battalions Reviewed, Page 75
Although the direct genealogical lineage of our ‘Wyles’ family comes down directly through Duddington (currently listed as being in ‘Northants’) – it is also true that various ‘cousins’ and ‘uncles’, etc, from Duddington did migrate to King’s Cliffe (usually through marriage) – a village lying around 4.6 miles South of Duddington. Indeed, at least ten such relatives are engraved upon the tomb-stones still standing in the graveyard of the All Saints and St James Church which is central to King’s Cliffe. Having visited King’s Cliffe (on research field-trips) around five-times in the last fifteen-years, my impression is that the place is smaller than Duddington, but looks might well be deceptive, as like Duddington, King’s Cliffe also possesses a modestly-sized (but recently used and well-maintained) Cemetery. I also note that the ‘Wyles’ family still lives in (and around) the village – and that a person named ‘Wyles’ is recorded in the Church as being a British Army casualty – losing his life during the fighting in Afghanistan (c. 2006). As of yet, and despite several attempts, I have been unsuccessful in making direct contact with these ‘Wyles’ people.
My mother – Diane Wyles – is an avid local historian, and recently made contact with an elderly woman whose father served in the King’s Cliffe Home Guard Unit during WWII. This interesting individual provided a family photograph (reproduced above) which features a number of King’s Cliffe Home Guardsmen – with Mr Jim Bollans standing second from left – on the back row. I have referenced the following book to gain information about the King’s Cliffe Home Guard
My mother – Diane Wyles – is an avid local historian, and recently made contact with an elderly woman whose father served in the King’s Cliffe Home Guard Unit during WWII. This interesting individual provided a family photograph (reproduced above) which features a number of King’s Cliffe Home Guardsmen – with Mr Jim Bollans standing second from left – on the back row. I have referenced the following book to gain information about the King’s Cliffe Home Guard
‘The Northants Home Guard (1940-1945) – A History of the Services of Men and Women of Northamptonshire Who in the World War of 1939-1945 Forsook Their Rest and Leisure to Rally in the Defence of the Homeland and Defiance of the Invader’
Written by BG Holloway – Zone HQ Intelligence and Public Relations Officer (Editor) & H Banks A Company, (Northampton) Battalion (Collaborator), The Naval & Military Press Ltd, (2019)
Written by BG Holloway – Zone HQ Intelligence and Public Relations Officer (Editor) & H Banks A Company, (Northampton) Battalion (Collaborator), The Naval & Military Press Ltd, (2019)
Obviously, the copy I have is a modern reprint – although the original book was published in 1949 (just five-years after the Home Guard had been ‘Stood Down’). The King’s Cliffe Platoon is described as forming part of ‘A’ Company of the 3rd (Oundle) Battalion of the Northants Home Guard. The Northants Home Guard Regiment was comprised of 15 Battalions which covered the length and breadth of geographical Northants. Although Peterborough City formed the 1st Battalion and Peterborough District (Soke) comprised the 2nd Battalion of the Northants Home Guard for over two-years – during a shack-up of Home Guard structure during August 1942, both Battalions were transferred to the Huntingdonshire Home Guard Regiment – although each continued to be included (on paper at least) as being part of the Northants Home Guard. I mention this as the Peterborough District (Soke) 2nd Battalion was responsible for an eighty square mile area covering the environs of Peterborough City – leading, I believe, up to the boundaries of Duddington and King’s Cliffe. In reality, however, the Peterborough City (1st Battalion) and Peterborough District (2nd Battalion) Home Guard Units paraded with the Huntingdonshire County Home Guard contingent – and when participating in the 1944 ‘Stand Down’ Parades – were under the command of Captain JR Condie of the 1st (Hunts) Battalion of the Huntingdonshire Home Guard Regiment.
Interestingly, the King’s Cliffe Home Guard did not guard the local RAF King’s Cliffe Aerodrome – as this was the responsibility of the 2nd Peterborough District (Soke) Battalion – and continued to be so even after the 1942 change of affiliation:
Interestingly, the King’s Cliffe Home Guard did not guard the local RAF King’s Cliffe Aerodrome – as this was the responsibility of the 2nd Peterborough District (Soke) Battalion – and continued to be so even after the 1942 change of affiliation:
‘The role assigned to the 2nd Battalion by Eastern Command was particularly onerous, being nothing less than that of a Communications Battalion with the prior duty of keeping open lines of communication. These ran from north to south along the Great North Road, and from Lincoln to Peterborough.
Along these important lines it was the duty of the 2nd to harass and delay the enemy, deny him his lines of communication, and, of course, wherever possible, destroy him.
Like other battalions, the 2nd also had its own special problems and responsibilities – among them being the Wittering, King’s Cliffe and Westwood aerodromes, the works of P Brotherhood & Co, the Royal Army Ordnance Depot at Walton, and the Wainsford viaduct on the Great North Road.’
Chapter VII – The Battalions Reviewed, Page 73
Along these important lines it was the duty of the 2nd to harass and delay the enemy, deny him his lines of communication, and, of course, wherever possible, destroy him.
Like other battalions, the 2nd also had its own special problems and responsibilities – among them being the Wittering, King’s Cliffe and Westwood aerodromes, the works of P Brotherhood & Co, the Royal Army Ordnance Depot at Walton, and the Wainsford viaduct on the Great North Road.’
Chapter VII – The Battalions Reviewed, Page 73
Throughout its history, the 3rd (Oundle) Battalion won many shooting competitions – creating amateur marksmen of some considerable skill. Not only this, but despite sometimes suffering heavy casualties during simulated battle exercises – the 3rd (Oundle) Battalion always fought the attacking enemy to a complete standstiil – even when the ‘enemy’ was comprised of Regular British Army soldiers who were sharpening their skills for the upcoming D-day Operations! Indeed, this ability to bog-down a determined (and better-armed) enemy was the entire point of the existence of the Home Guard. Once the Home Guard had performed its task of ‘stopping’ the enemy (suffering upwards of 75% losses) – the Regular British Forces would sweep into the area and destroy what was left of the invader! These brave Home Guardsmen ‘volunteered’ to perform this task without pay or recognition! There is no doubt that the presence of 1.7 million men and women under arms in the Home Guard contributed toward Hitler’s decision to delay his intended invasion of Mainland Great Britain! The Home Guard held its final (local) Parades on December 3rd, 1944 – including a Joint (National) Parade in Hyde Park (London) – and was officially ‘Stood down’ on December 31st, 1944. The Home Guard was ‘Disbanded’ on December 31st, 1945 – but there was one last mustering of Britain’s final line of resistance! On June 8th, 1946, a ‘Victory Parade’ was held in London to celebrate the defeat of Nazi Germany and its allies. Around 624 former Home Guardsmen (from all over the UK) travelled to London to ‘Parade’ in front of the King. Although 21,000 British, Commonwealth and Empire Troops diligently trained in Kensington Gardens for the ‘March Past’ – there was no place for the Home Guard in these preparations. Instead, the 624 who turned-up in London had to ‘March’ with no preparation – and it is noted that whilst staying true to their ‘make do’ attitude – these individuals performed their task admirably and against all the odds!
Further Reading:
The full name is elsewhere recorded as the '3rd (Oundle & Thrapston District) Battalion' - with 'A' Company (King's Cliffe) being comprised of '3' Platoons. If each Platoon was up to strength - then each would have possessed around 30-men - thus creating a 'Company' of around 100-men. The Battalion itself possessed '8' Companies named 'A'-'H'.