R E P O R T B Y L I E U T E N A N T M c G R E G O R.
AIRBORNE PARTY IN D AREA.
Composition of party:-
Lieut. McGregor, Sgt. Mitchell, Cpl. Laybourne, Pcts. Sutton, Arnold, McQueen,
and Dellow, and Ts. Cpl. Nicolich (O.S.S.)
I was briefed for this operation on October the 1st. 1943.
No D.Z. had been fixed and this was decided upon before emplaning at Bari
airfield on October the 2nd. The Navigator was certain of this D.Z. on the
map, and remarked that he could drop the stick on a sixpence.
We took off at 16.00hrs, there were eight in the 'stick',
four containers of food and comforts for P.O.Ws., to be dropped between numbers
5 & 6.
We dropped at 17.35hrs., it was still far too light. As I
came down it was apparent we were on the wrong D.Z. since Chieti lay below,
and I feared that the stick would drop on the bridge over the Pescara river.
During the descent I saw enemy M/c combinations and cars
coming from the Chieti area to meet us.
We landed at Villanova. The stick, which had dropped in a
large semi-circle, quickly collected at the containers, hid the parachutes or
gave them to peasants of whom there were hundreds, all friendly. Indeed they
were shaking my hand before I touched the ground. Enemy troops were very close
so I decided to leave the containers in a ditch. Whilst doing this a member of
the Guardua di Finansa, in uniform, ran up and told us, through our interpreter,
that the Germans were only a few yards away and he would lead us to a safe
place. There was no time to doubt his good intentions, so he lead us at the
double down to the Pescara river where we hid while he returned to the D.Z.
to ask the farmer to hide the containers. During his absence, something like
a mortar bomb landed near us. The guide returned and took us about 7 miles
across country to a farm, which we reached at 01.00hrs. We stayed there for
2 nights as the enemy were making an extensive search of the area, to capture
us.
On October the 4th we moved, with this guide, to an area North
of Catignano, and on the night of the 4/5th. we moved again East of Civetella.
There were reports of many hundreds of ex- P.O.W. there, so I established a
Command post in a farm, and the troop set off in pairs to bring in ex-P.O.W. so
that they could be directed to the boats. We stayed in this farm until October
the 12th, and passed through about 300 P.O.Ws. At that time all were willing
to go, and were pleased to see us.
As the 8th Army was expected in Chieti by October the 20th,
I was not worried about our return; and as there were still many more P.O.Ws.
roaming about, and the evacuation of prisoners by sea had stopped, I decided
to make a recconnaissance and choose a route through the mountains back to
Allied lines. This I did, the route being as follows:-
Catignano, Torre, Popoli, Pratalo, Scanno, Alfedena.
The troop rounded up and sent on this route about another 250 - 300 P.O.Ws.,
many of whom, I believe to have got through.
On the 20th of October it became increasingly harder to move
P.O.Ws., as they were obviously settling down for the winter. On the 15th of
October I had met Capt. Lee and Capt. Baillie, who said that they were trying
to get a boat.
At this time about 200 enemy S.S. troops, arrived in Penne
with the object, apparently, of rounding up P.O.Ws; many of whom were enjoying
themselves in local villages and taking no precautions against recapture.
Sheet 2.
I decided now, if possible, to create a diversion from
the P.O.Ws and bring the attention of the local enemy upon ourselves.
We achieved this very easily by ambushingnthe roads, Chieti - Penne and Penne -
Catignano, for 8 days. During this period the ambushes were laid almost daily.
Each party consisting of four men, Sgt Mitchell was i/c one party and I of the
other. The plans were simple, the Carabinieri, myself, and the Sgt, shot the
driver and then attacked the remaining passengers with TSMG fire.
My original intention had been to use a Mobile ambush,
with a truck and a M.G. mounted on it, and to this end we obtained a Breda
L.M.G. and ammunition, and a small 8cwt truck;which we commandered from an
unpopular local Fascist. The truck subsequently broke down so ambushes had to
be conducted on foot. During this period very little passed on the road, but
one ambulance, (by mistake) was shot up, and four 3 ton trucks; three were full
of well armed troops who returned our fire in a big way. The doctor in Penne
hospital told me that German casualties were 6 dead and 7 wounded, unfortunately
no officers.
On October the 25th an Italian told us that a Marshall of
Carabinieri, at Collecorvino, had about 100 shot guns, rifles, and many pistols
in his barracks. We visited this man and took the weapons, distributed the
guns to various farmers who seemed anxious to turn into guerillas; we kept the
best pistols for ourselves. This they did not do however, as a party of 7
British P.O.W. stole their guns, and sold them to other farmers for post-war
use. These P.O.W. we were unable to catch.
On October the 27th we moved to Farindola area. We received
information that a small convoy of 10 trucks and about 25 men, had moved into
the monestary at Penne. I took 4 men and doubled 5 miles to see them, but the
convoy had moved out 10 minutes before we arrived.
On the 6th of November we contacted a P.O.W. doctor, who
had 24 P.O.Ws. ready for an evacuation scheme by a Major Gordon; this never
materialised, so I told him my troop would find him a boat. We left for
Collecorvino area, and after much difficulty found a 6 metre rowing boat at
Montesilvano. Two cars were arranged to transport P.O.Ws. from Farindola to
the coast. A M/c combination was hired and a new Italian guide, herein after
referred to as Toni, was despatched to the doctor with a note from me and
arrangements for R.Vs and evacuation. The doctor decided to walk instead, and
no P.O.Ws. would accept this opportunity.
On the 9th of November a new problem arose, clothes for ex -
P.O.W., the cold weather had come and many of them had only rags to wear.
I decided not to use the boat myself, but to stay on and provide as many P.O.Ws
as possible with clothes or money to buy them. We accomplished this by getting
lists of all rabid Fascists in the area; whom we visited and took all their
clothes and money for distribution to the ex- P.O.W.
On the 20th of November, a bomb fell on the church at
Collecorvino, and as the locals believed we had arranged this by radio, we
decided to move North.
On the 21st of November we moved across F. Fino to the area
Citta S. Angello. We contacted a driver of one of the Italian King's cars,
who had a new Fiat 6 cylinder hidden in a house, until after the war. We
explained that we needed this car and took it, 300 gallons of petrol were also
requisitioned.
On the 10th of December, a new menace arose, Germans were
pouring into the area, and Fascists became very active. 5,000 lire was offered
for a P.O.W., and many were captured by Fascists who gave them away to local
Germans.
December the 16/19th we visited Fascists in Elice, Picciano,
Loretto, Collecorvino, Citta S. Angello and Piccianello. This was done in our
car, which proved invaluable; by a party of 6 men. These operations were
always done at night, when we arrived in a town or village, nearly all of which
had Germans billeted there, 2 men with TSMGs travelled on the running board.
Sheet 3.
A very strong Fascist and anti - P.O.W. from Collecorvino
was driven to the cemetary one night and shot. I shot another at S. Angello,
who had turned in 4 P.O.Ws. Another was despatched near Picciano, in this
way life for the few remaining P.O.Ws in this area became more secure.
I estimate that during this period about 300,000 lire
and about 50 suits of clothes were distributed to P.O.Ws.
On the 20th of December we returned to Collecorvino area
where we all lived in Toni's house, until the 28th of December.
On the 26th ofDecember, after Christmas celebrations, I
began to feel worried about our return to Allied lines. A conference was held
and I decided that the troop should split up into pairs, change into civilian
clothes, and endeavour to make their way back. To this end, as we all had
plenty ofmoney, about 15,000 lire each, a tailor from Collecorvino was obtained
who measured us for good tweed suits, to cost 2,000 lire. At this time I
changed into civilian clothes, the property of a Fascist, and accompanied by
Toni, became friendly with several German N.C.O's; stationed in the town, with
about 100 other troops. We met two Sgts. from Alsace, who spoke fluent
French, in the "local"; but they gave us little useful information, although
some amusing evenings.
On the 30th of December, we contacted a pretty blonde
girl, who we persuaded to spy for us. We managed a dinner party at the
Podesta's house, who was a friend of ours, with 3 German officers, hoping
that she would get something useful. The results of this we did not hear,
as evacuation of that area soon became essential.
On the 31st of December, we moved West of Collecorvino,
the troop now consisting of the original 8 plus Toni and a Sgt P.O.W.
We lived in 5 farms, 2 in a farm; I decided that now we must change into
civilian clothes. Whilst waiting for the tailor to finish our suits, we were
dressed as rather disreputable civilians. Our arms we had hidden in the
farms as the farmers now believed we were P.O.Ws.
January the 1/4th, it became apparent that Germans were
doing everything possible to secure our capture. They devised many schemes.
Fascists were told to circulate among friendly farmers, that British aircraft
had dropped radio transmitters for the use of Parachutists. These farmers,
entirely innocent, offered to guide us to farms where radios were meant to be;
but on careful investigation, these houses were found to conceal well planned
German ambushes.
On the 4th of January, 4 Canadian Intelligence officers,
speaking fluent French, Italian and English contacted Toni, and informed me
a M.T.B. was waiting to pick us up at Ancona. Their story, however, was very
suspicious as they also wished Toni to meet them on the 5th, for a conversation
I did not let him go.
On the 5th of January, at 13.30hrs, I, Toni, Pcts.
Arnold, Dellow, McQueen and the Interpreter were sitting outside a farm.
We heard shots at close range, I got up and saw about 30 Germans, not more
than 40 yards away in extended line, advancing on the house through an olive
grove. I immediately gave the alarm, and I ran down the hill to my farm to
get my carbine, but saw about another 40 enemy had nearly surrounded it.
There was no alternative but to run. I took with me the above mentioned
people. We ran down a stream, for an hour, pursued and shot at by Germans;
who had launched a full scale attack on the farms with LMG's. We stopped
and I divided the party, myself, McQueen and Toni, Pct. Arnold, the P.O.W.
and the Interpreter, in the other. At this point Dellow was found to be
missing. I am certain he was not captured, but chose a different route.
I arranged an R.V. for the 7th of January, at a farm
we all knew, 10 miles to the North, and we then doubled off. The ground was
covered with snow and we presented an excellent target. We were not hit.
Sheet 4.
My party moved very fast, in a wide circle, past Moscufo, fording 2 rivers
over 4 feet deep. At 19.30hrs, after 5 hours, we were nearly exhausted so
we called at a farm, where they were ignorant of the situation and thought we
were P.O.W., the inhabitants gave us food and shelter.
The next day we met a friend of Toni, bringing intelligence
of the attack. I had not seen Sgt. Mitchell, Cpl. Laybourne or Pct. Sutton,
and was afraid they had been captured; but he assured me that no prisoners
were taken, and no parachutists had been killed or wounded. The number of
attackers were apparently 200. Having failed to capture us, the Germans
burnt down 4 out of the 5 farms.
That night we reached the R.V. and united in the area for
6 days, but there was no sign of the remainder of the troop. I imagined they
had gone over to the mountains, and were living in the farm we had visited in
October.
On the 12th of January,we decided to move North and try to
find a boat. We walked via Elice, Castelenti, and Atri to the Casoli area;
where on the 16th of January, we contacted an Italian sailor, who said he
knew of a boat. We went to Pineto, but found that the boat was over a mile
away from the sea.
On the 18th of January, we found another boat near Silvi,
this boat had no oars so we decided to make some. At this point we picked up
a U.S. P.O.W. who came with us.
On the 19th of January, whilst trying to find suitable wood,
we contacted a man who wished to escape, and who had a 7 metre rowing boat.
I immediately promised him 100,000 lire, to give us his boat. He refused, so
we planned to steal his cars, and use our boat at Silvi. Whilst engaged on
this operation, he realised our intention, and declared that he would come
with us in his boat.
On the 21st of January, at 17.30hrs, we met at a house near
Scherne, just South of F, Venamo. We found 2 boys who wanted to go with us,
an Italian pilot and his wife and another female relation, also. With
considerable noise and trouble we carried four 18ft. oars across the main
coast road, full of German trucks; across the railway, and eventually
embarked at 18.05hrs.
We had only the stars to guide us, and a broken escape -
compass. At dawn we reckoned we must be past Ortona, as we had not stopped
rowing for 13 hours, and the sea was getting rough. We saw a small village
with troops repairing a bridge, and we hoped fervently that they were
British, we landed. They were Canadians. The place was Fossacessia.
The time was 08.00hrs.