SAS disbanded plaque
 

Went out for a meal last night with some friends to a hotel in Wivenhoe and came across this plaque in the reception - I’d never realised there was a connection to the SAS and wondered why the disbanding of the regiment would have taken place here?

2nd SAS regiment were based at Wivenhoe House during World War II and were disbanded there in December 1945.

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Many thanks to gurkha rifles for photographing and mike vee for sharing info

I seem to remember a TV documentary “the Secret Hunters” which revealed that the SAS remained active after their official disbandment- specifically to hunt down the Nazi units responsible for the killing of SAS units captured in France. Can anyone confirm more details about it - or did I imagine the whole thing?

"The Secret Hunters" was a documentary by Gordon Stevens which mentions :

He also wrote a book "The Originals" which was made into a documentary.

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I had a copy of a book "The Secret Hunters" which covered their post-war activities tracking down war criminals as you describe: a couple of pages tied in with my lifelong interest in the occult when one veteran recalled being b*llocked by the CO for using either a seance or oujia board to get information - when he pointed out that the information had led to a successful conclusion he was told that was the only reason he wasn't facing a court martial.

Graham

That book , by Anthony Kemp , was published the year after Gordon Stevens documentary. I don't know if there was any mention of the 'occult' in the documentary.

The 'Author's Preface' to Gordon Stevens book "The Originals" is very interesting !

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The Secret Hunters...
 

this maybe part of it......the documentary...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o89qbmWGLy8&t=541s

SAS
 

The SAS were officially disbanded in Hylands House Chelmsford
Bob

Officially yes mate but as per above there was indeed a group that operated after the official disbanding of the regiment.
There’s photos too.
I can’t remember the name but I believe it was a Russian-born count or something that ran the setup.

This thread remembered me to this story so typical for Lt.-Colonel Paddy Maine..

In 1944, the newly formed SAS (Special Air Services) used Hylands House as their Headquarters. Mrs Hanbury cheerfully accepted their presence and was regularly invited to dine in the Officers’ Mess. On one memorable occasion, Captain Paddy Blair Maine (who went on to become this country’s most decorated soldier) attempted to drive a Jeep up the Grand Staircase for a bet. The incident caused much commotion and Christine Hanbury dispatched the men to bed with instructions to remove the Jeep in the morning when they had clearer heads. The Jeep had to be dismantled before it could be removed.

Source https://hylandsestate.co.uk/explore/...house/history/

Great story JB. Thanks for sharing..

Many years ago my parents lived next to JQHughes - double MC SAS in Italy).