Coat's Mission & Morris Detachment

Cheers all, another one solved

 

Blimey...Im impressed guys.

 

Remembered last night where I had a bit of information relevant to this and the Coats mission thread reffered to by dbf : -
From “Tanks and other A.F.Vs of the Blitzkrieg Era, 1939-1941” by B T White – when describing the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car and Special Ironside: -

…The detachment of the 12th Royal Lancers responsible for providing the escorts for the Royal Family and Cabinet Ministers received the first Humber Special Ironside armoured saloon on 13 September 1940, followed by a second five days later, and soon afterwards both the King & Queen and the Prime Minister had travelled in these vehicles.
…..later cars built (two of which were received by the 12th Royal Lancers detachment in December) small bullet-proof windows were provided. At the same time it was no-longer felt necessary to provide picks and shovels on the newer armoured saloons, since they were invariably escorted by one or two Guy Armoured Cars which did carry this equipment.

This tends to imply that the Lancers were a "close protection" unit whereas some posts in the Coats thread suggest that Coats' unit travelled some distance from their charges. This quote also re-itterates the use of Guy Armoured Cars.


From July 1957 edition of “Soldier” magazine – an article on Motor Cycle Infantry post Dunkirk:-

The 4th battalion Royal Northumberland Fusiliers had served with the BEF as a motor-cycle reconnaissance battalion………At one time they were charged with the task of providing an escort to accompany Queen Mary to Scotland if the Germans invaded……
If I've got my history right, Queen Mary was the widow of the previous King (Queen Mother - though I dont know if that term was used in the 40s). So were there any other Royals or VIPs who had thier own military escort/protection?

Noel

 

The 12 L history also mentions a Lanchester, issued alongside the original four Guy armoured cars, that was modified to carry passengers before armoured saloons were available.

 

This tends to imply that the Lancers were a "close protection" unit whereas some posts in the Coats thread suggest that Coats' unit travelled some distance from their charges. This quote also re-itterates the use of Guy Armoured Cars.



I'm not sure if there's anything in what we've read that assumes the Morris Detachment would be operating under any degree of independence The "Coat's Mission" seems to read more as a COATFORCE sort of idea - simply made up of odds'n'sods scraped up from everywhere in and around London!

Nor that the various elements would have to work independently. It looks like a nice little "combined arms" unit - mobile infantry plus light armour, JUST big enough to force their way through minor obstacles, rioting crowds, roads crammed with refugees roadblocks, FJ skirmish lines in the event of a preemptive Hague-like drop on London etc.

 

The 6th, and to some degree later on the 5th Bn Coldstream guards (they were holding Bns for a lot of the time) were the main body of Coates force. Other units were involved as needed.

On certain occasions, when the threat was large enough to warrant it, armour was draughted in. This was often the case when threat of airborne raids (for instance to assasinate churchill) was great.

I've done several interviews about this and came back last month from interviewing a coates force officer who used to guard checkers. This particyular gentleman was sitting in the cinema with churchill when the sinking of the french fleet in north africa was announced.

 

The impression I get is that the 12 L (and Northants Yeo by association) were more closely involved with the Royal Family - and later, senior politicians - because they would escort them on their rounds. The Guards company may have been a step removed, providing perimeter protection or lurking nearby as a quick reaction force.

 

Does anyone know of any files at Kew?

 

Yes - but it's from the later years.

 

I've (Well Andrea) has put all WO 199 on excel and a quick look shows these files too:

WO 199/286 Defence of Windsor Castle
WO 199/287 Guard at Sandringham
WO 199/288 Visits by Royalty
WO 199/289 Tours and visits of distinguished personages
WO 199/290 Protection of heads of Allied States
WO 199/291 Household Cavalry detachment (formerly 'Morris' detachment)
WO 199/292 Special operation instruction `A'
WO 199/293 Correspondence on Special operation instruction `A'
WO 199/294 Moves to Balmoral: warning orders and correspondence on
WO 199/295 Moves to Sandringham: warning orders and correspondence on
WO 199/296 Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent and children: moves
WO 199/297 Household Cavalry detachment
WO 199/298 Coats mission
WO 199/299 Curzon Street
WO 199/300 Visits to formations and units by His Majesty King George VI
WO 199/301 Windsor Castle and garrison
WO 199/302 Protection of Dytchley Park
WO 199/303 Protection of Chequers
WO 199/304 Protection of Higher personages
WO 199/305 Protection of Chartwell.


Lots more inteersting files in there too. I will be posting the Excel Spread Sheet for WO 199 containing nearly 3,500 files along with many others when they are done (Andrea has only done 12 WO series so far).

 

WO 199/292 Special operation instruction `A'
WO 199/293 Correspondence on Special operation instruction `A'

Hmmm.....THESE look potentially very interesting

Drew, as you go keep your eyes open for anything around the Churchill/Chartwell combo that could possibly refer to the legendary "Tall Trees" installation...

 

When Andrea has done a few more I will start posting all the more popular WO, Air and Adm catalogues in Excel format for all to view.

 

The impression I get is that the 12 L (and Northants Yeo by association) were more closely involved with the Royal Family - and later, senior politicians - because they would escort them on their rounds. The Guards company may have been a step removed, providing perimeter protection or lurking nearby as a quick reaction force.

Funny you should say that; I also have a IWM recorded interview of a bren carrier who mentioned that they were always on the perimiter; lurking out of sight on parallel roads. However, the fact remains that Coates force existed until late in the war and was the primary mission to protect royal family members and VIPs in this country and to escourt them out of the country in case of trouble.

Does anyone know of any files at Kew?

6 coldstream is the diary you want... I'd say 90% of it is coates force.... but be warned Coates mission diaries are notoriously boring. Just lists of locations: "Where's" but no "who's". I was a bit dissapointed by the diary to be honest; it was so rubbish I didn't bother photographing it; which says a lot because I usually photograph everything.

 

Look what I found in Drive for Freedom:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=40057&stc=1&d=1289166729

 

Looks like - down the High Street to queue up for her meat ration!

 

Morris CS9 armoured cars of 'C' Squadron, 12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales' Own) at Villiers St Simon.

 

My mates Dad, now deceased, served with the Coats mission during the war. His Dad never talked much about it and he only found out after his Dad died. Apparently, his Dad was in from early war (Coldstream) but never got posted overseas and never rose above lance Jack. Upon querying this with one of his Dad's mates, just after the funeral, he was informed it was because he was on Close Protection duties for the Royal Family and this chap then told him a few things about the Coats Mission.

Later in the war, after the threat of invasion receded, he found himself guarding Chequers. One story his old man did tell him was of being on Stag at Chequers and seeing the glow of a cigar coming towards him. Of-course he knew immediately who it was but he also knew that if he didn't issue the correct challenge that he'd get it from the man himself. So challenge duly issued back came the growled reply, "It's the Prime Minister, now bugger off". By the way name of my mates dad was (drum roll) Jim Coates, (no you daft bugger, just a coincidence...anyway different spelling!)

 

WO 199/298 coats mission 1942 Jan.- 1944 Dec.
WO 199/291 Household Cavalry detachment (formerly 'Morris' detachment)

 

WO 199/298 coats mission 1942 Jan.- 1944 Dec.
WO 199/291 Household Cavalry detachment (formerly 'Morris' detachment)

Sadly nothing really of interest in either file. Just admin notes really about 12 Lancers handing over to the Household Cav. Its disbandment due to manpower shortages overseas in the Guards and a war establishment table.