Coat's Mission & Morris Detachment

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by phylo_roadking, Jun 24, 2010.

  1. phylo_roadking

    phylo_roadking Very Senior Member

    In Operation Sealion, Fleming notes that FOUR large country houses were prepared for the Coat's Mission to escort the Royal Family to in the event of invasion, in various parts of the country.

    But that's ALL he says....

    Does anyone know which four country houses?:huh:
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I think there's a thread on here about it. I seem to remember someone posting about the role of escorting them being given to a Guards Bn. Maybe Diane.
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  4. phylo_roadking

    phylo_roadking Very Senior Member

    Several country houses in remote locations, reportedly including Newby Hall, North Yorkshire, Pitchford Hall, Shropshire, Madresfield Court (Earl Beauchamp's home in Worcestershire), and a fourth unnamed house (possibly Bevere Manor, Worcestershire), were designated as refuges. Madresfield Court reportedly replaced Croome Court, Worcester (the home of the Earl of Coventry) in 1940.


    Tha's why I asked, should have said what I had already! There's too many reputedlies and reportedlies in there for my liking! ;)
     
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Ok, I'll leave it with ya :lol:
     
  6. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    TNA:
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    Quicker just to put this up and let you judge if it's of any use at all...
    3 pages from Coldstream Guards, Howard & Sparrow
    IMG_0636.jpg~original.jpeg IMG_0637.jpg~original.jpeg IMG_0636.jpg~original.jpeg
     

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  7. phylo_roadking

    phylo_roadking Very Senior Member

    Excellent, thanks for that!

    It actually does agree in some major details with Flemings "thin" account - and pokes a couple of other holes in the Wiki account!

    The most notable of these is the vehicles - Fleming says they had four armoured cars....and four civilian coaches!....which make a re-appearance here! :)

    ...tho' I have an 'orrible image of Jonesy's "Bang-two-three-Bang-two three..." when it talks about them practising to FIGHT from the coaches!!! :huh:

    Looking at the Wiki account...

    They were equipped with ten vehicles - four armoured cars, two armoured Daimlers, and four Guy wheeled cars.....


    ...should this actually be four Guy motor coaches??? :huh: Remembering a Bus Rally on a saturday every year as a kid on first Montgomery Road then the venue moved to Castle park in bangor for years - Guy made their fair share of period coaches!!! ;)
     
  8. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

  9. Phaethon

    Phaethon Historian

    My Grandfather was in Coates force; as were quite a lot of the coldstream originally from the 6th Bn. I've just been reading their war diaries at kew, and listening to some interviews from the IWM.

    Most of the time Coates force had no idea who they were guarding or where they were going, they would often drive in paralell roads, keeping close, but not too close as to draw attention, and spent a lot of time sitting around in fields. Not the most rivetting of war diaries, and awfully short descriptions of various brews in various corners of england.

    Sadly I didn't take any photos because of this, then I get back and find a thread about them.
     
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Anyone heard of it?

    Just finishing the 12th Royal Lancers War Diary and in the last month (June) the following entry can be found:

    Hamworthy, Poole. 28th June 1940.

    Lieut. WA Morris and ten other ranks went to Wellington Barracks, Chelsea, on a special mission to HM King. It was to me known as Morris Mission.


    I wonder if this has anything to do with moving the Crown Jewels mentioned in another thread on here.

    Any thoughts?


    Edit: Thread merged with older one.
     
  11. urqh

    urqh Senior Member

    Wasnt this the kings mobile bodyguard force. Check in Flemmings Sealion 1940 if you have it..my copy is awol..thanks bruv...
     
  12. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I still can't confirm the above via some googling. Anyone got the book to possibly clear this up for me?

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  13. idler

    idler GeneralList

    It was to me known as Morris Mission.

    To everyone else, it looks like it was known as the Coats Mission, after the OC: Lt-Col J S Coats, Coldstream Guards. It comprised one company of Coldstream and 4 armoured cars, with 12 L and Northants Yeo manning 2 each.

    The book is actually Invasion 1940 by Fleming
     
  14. urqh

    urqh Senior Member

    Havnt got my copy either but on that point wasnt it published under 2 named titles.. But to answer Drews request does Flemming refer to this group in your copy as Morris?
     
  15. urqh

    urqh Senior Member

    Yep my copy is definately operation sea lion.
     
  16. idler

    idler GeneralList

    No: Coats. No mention of Lt Morris.

    A quick check on ABE suggests that Invasion 1940 might be the British edition, Operation Sealion was the US edition.
     
  17. urqh

    urqh Senior Member

    That makes sense.
     
  18. urqh

    urqh Senior Member

    12th lancers kings bodyguard
     
  19. urqh

    urqh Senior Member

    All the kings men! - World War II Forums Drew we did this over there...my lines are from flemming...others should beware the brit army language code book in later posts...brit army has a language known only to brit army.
     
    dbf likes this.
  20. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    See post 6 for mention of 12 Lancers and Lt Morris
    Edit: Thread now merged.
     
    Drew5233 likes this.

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