Dads Underground Army
This talk tells the story and explains the development, organisation and activities of a secret and clandestine organisation which would have come into action if the enemy had invaded Britain in World War II.
In the late 1930’s it became obvious that there would be another war and that Germany would be the opponent. Britain was woefully unprepared for a war against such a powerful adversary and preparations were made in secret for a clandestine organisation to come into operation should the country be threatened with invasion. In the event of invasion small groups of specially selected men, trained in all aspects of clandestine warfare – concealment, communications, sabotage and assassination – would have literally gone underground and as opportunity permitted, emerged behind enemy lines to gather intelligence, disrupt communications through acts of sabotage and assassinate key personnel. The organisation would, as part of its concealment be known as ‘Auxiliary Units’.
No official recognition was ever given to the existence of these units and no medal was ever awarded for Auxiliary Unit service. They never formally existed and their full story will never be known.
Tea and Coffee will be available.
Raffle
Large free car park adjacent to the hall.
Visitors and Non-Members are welcome – £5 pp
Date
- Mon 17 Jun
- Expired!
Time
Doors open at 7.15pm- 19:30 - 21:30
Location
- Long Furlong Community Centre, Boulter Drive, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 1XP
Organiser
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Abingdon Branch - Berkshire FHS
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Email
abingdon@berksfhs.org.uk
Speaker
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Bill KingBills’ main historical specialism is the Second World War, with particular reference to the role of Airborne and Special forces and in clandestine warfare. He has conducted extensive research on the role of the British Resistance Organisation (Auxiliary Units) and has contributed to the books ‘With Britain in Mortal Danger’ (2002) and ‘Churchill’s Underground Army’ (2008).
Bills interests and research has led him to contributing articles to ‘After the Battle’ magazine and to elements of the books ‘D-Day – Then and Now’, ‘Operation Market – Garden – then and now’ and ‘Glenn Miller in Britain – Then and Now’. He is a former Chairman of the Ridgeway Military and Aviation Research Group (RMARG) and is a member of The Western Front Association and of the Military Vehicle Trust.
Bill has appeared on radio and TV on many occasions, including Countryfile’ on BBC1, ‘History Mysteries’ on BBC2, the Channel 4 series ‘Dads Secret Army’, the Channel 5 Select series ‘Secrets of the National Trust’, and ‘The Thames, Britain’s Great River’ with Tony Robinson. In addition, Bill is a regular speaker throughout Wiltshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Dorset.