The Netherwitton Patrol was a highly secret Auxiliary Unit (British Resistance) formed during World War II to act as a stay-behind guerrilla force in the event of a German invasion. 

Key Facts

• Operational Base (OB): The patrol operated from a hidden underground built by the Royal Engineers. It was located in a wood south of Coal Houses and west of Park Head Farm, cleverly concealed near a stream.

A local resident, Donald Ions found the Operation Base on the Park Head Farm land during the war but told no one for 40 years.

The men in the Patrol knew the men in the Paxtondene Patrol and their role, but did not know where their OB was.

Members of the Patrol did a tour of guard duty for the Royal family at Balmoral.

• Members: The unit consisted of local civilians with intimate knowledge of the land, including:
  • Sgt John Robert Pringle (Shepherd/Farmer)
  • Cpl John Phillipson Robson (Mole Catcher)
  • Pvt Matthew Arkle (Stockman)
  • Pvt Henry Arkle (Farmer)
  • Pvt Ivor William Hutton (Gamekeeper)
  • Pvt Alfred Septimus Stephenson (Farmer)
  • Pvt Bernard Francis Smith (Varied)

• Primary Targets: Their mission was to sabotage German infrastructure. Potential targets included the Scots Gap to Rothbury railway and the searchlight battery at Nunnykirk.
• Secrecy: The patrol was so clandestine that even though members knew the neighbouring Paxtondene Patrol existed, they did not know the location of each other's secret bunkers. 

Training & Equipment

• Specialist Training: Members attended commando training at Cupar in Fife and specialist sabotage training at Coleshill House.
• Weaponry: They were issued high-end guerrilla kit, including .22 sniper rifles with telescopic sights, Smith & Wesson pistols, Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knives, and garrottes. 

There were no operational casualties for the Netherwitton Patrol. They survived the war and returned to their civilian lives as farmers and tradespeople.

Because the German invasion of Britain never occurred, Auxiliary Units like the one at Netherwitton were never called into action and remained a stay-behind secret throughout the war until 03 Dec 1944.

Notably, members of this patrol also performed guard duty for the Royal Family at Balmoral during the war.