Britain’s Secret Defences

NationalArmyMuseumUK
NationalArmyMuseumUK
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Published 2022-07-25
The narrative surrounding Britain’s Second World War anti-invasion forces has often centred on ‘Dad’s Army’-like characters running around with pitchforks, on unpreparedness and a sense of inevitability of invasion and defeat. The truth, however, is very different.

For the launch of his new book, Andrew Chatterton will explore the secrets behind the top-secret, highly trained and ruthless civilian volunteers who were being recruited as early as the summer of 1940. He will highlight the countermeasures created should the Germans have attempted an invasion.

Andrew Chatterton is a Second World War historian and public relations professional. His role as Press Officer for the Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team (CART) led to his fascination with the secret layers of defence in place in case of an attempted German invasion during the Second World War.

This video is a recording of a live conversation between Andrew Chatterton and Dr Glyn Prysor, originally streamed on 13 July 2022.

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All Comments (12)
  • @bremnersghost948
    Interesting to hear about the Lady in Leeds, My Grandad was a Councillor in Wakefield and mentioned that there are Bunkers covering Kirkgate & Westgate Train Stations in Wakefield/HMP Wakefield and also the Marshalling Yards at Healey Mills and Normanton that no longer exist. He also mentioned Nuclear Bunkers connected to the Rescue Shafts between Middleton, Newmarket, Parkhill & Walton/Sharlston West Collieries. As Wakefield was the County Capital of the West Riding and is riddled with Tunnels I wouldn't be surprised if it was true and would love to learn more.
  • @Geordieerskine
    My Good Lady's uncle, was the leader of the Creech Barrow 7. Fred Simpson.
  • @leighrate
    Just as a point: If someone was critically injured, they would not shoot, strangle or knife them. That could potentially result in their trial and execution for murder at a later date. What you would actually do is remove and administer both morphine styrettes from their personal first aid kit. Each styrette contains one grain of morphine. That is sufficient to render most individuals insensable. Two is a fatal dose. That was the advice given to Soldiers during WW2, so that if it had to be done, they were protected by the doctrine of double intent.
  • @badgertheskinnycow
    Please note this is one amateur enthusiasts view of the Auxiliary Units - it is not by any means an authoritative view. If you want the factual story, not one based purely it seems upon anecdotes, you need to read the books by Malcolm Atkin because he is a professional historian and his books are academically researched and are authoritative. I have no connection to either author but I have been researching the Auxiliary Units for longer than both these gentlemen. I was also the person the MOD sent the Bomb Disposal professionals to - in order for them to learn more about Aux Units weapons and ammunition caches in the 1990s.
  • @peterbolt2048
    The occupying Forces usually have a quite ruthless way of dealing with such " saboteurs " . They took hostages from any nearby town/ village and either deported or shot them !
  • @daveboon5992
    Weapons delivery was made covertly by Aux who drove for a living ( taxi drivers etc.) as the locations would be compromised. Many London Black Cab drivers who became fire fighters with their cabs were used in this way.😳
  • @59patrickw
    Would you get people from today time sign up and do whet they did if i remember right we had a arms cash like the one he said in minis bay just out side Birchington Kent