Sheet 3.
C. Party.
C Party was landed on the night 6/7th. of October just
North of the mouth of the R. Tronto instead of the mouth of the R. Salinello.
The party made its was inland, then Southwards and back towards the sea at the
intended landing point.
Lt. Hibbert contacted the Airborne Div. Landing party
and 75 ex P.O.Ws.
On the night of the 9/10th. of October no contact with
the landing craft was made, most of the P.O.Ws. dispersed and on the night
11/12th. the S.A.S. and Airborne Div. party with ex P.O.Ws. returned to
Termoli by schooner.
D. Parties.
These landed as has been previously described on the
night 3/4th. of October, at Punta del Moro. Capt. Baillie and his party moved
North to the R.V. at the mouth of the R. Foro, while Capt. Lee with his
protection party went inland. Capt. Baillie signalled on the nights 5/6th -
8/9th. without result.
By the 10th. of October 200 ex P.O.Ws. had been collected
and Capt. Lee's party had returned to the R.V. Three hours before the R.V.
time a bright light was observed from the sea, emanating from a vessel which
had the appearance of an M.T.B., this was answered by a light from the shore
and suspicions aroused, Capt. Lee decided to investigate. He found at the
beach a motor-boat and 3 Germans whom he shot. The M.T.B. shone its search-
light on the beach for some seconds and made off Northwards at high speed.
The P.O.Ws. were then told to disperse as nothing more
could be done for them. After this miscarriage, Capt. Baillie and Capt. Lee
moved independently with their respective parties to the Cugnoli area.
( Pct. Fawthorpe who had an injured foot was left behind in a farmhouse. He
eventually made his way back on the 24th. of December. For full details see
his report which is appended ). From Cugnoli the party moved to Villa Cellars
and contact was made with Lt. McGregor on the 15th. of October.
Capt. Baillie and Lt. De Sablet made a raid on the
Carabinieri headquarters at Civitella. The Carabinieri were disarmed and told
to go home. Consequent on this raid a search was made by enemy troops which
were led by the Marshall of the Carabinieri, who unfortunately had not been at
home on the night of the raid. Capt. Baillie's and Capt. Lee's parties there-
upon moved to Silvi from this place. Capt. Lee left by schooner with certain
ex P.O.Ws. from 1st. S.A.S. Regt., arriving in Termoli on the 24th. of October.
Capt. Lee had promised to return within a few days to collect the rest of the
party.
Three nights later Lt. Lyte and Sgt. Scott (one of the
1st. S.A.S. ex P.O.W's who had been evacuated by Capt. Lee) in search of more
adventure, landed with the following instructions; - Lt. Lyte to leave
Sgt. Scott on the coast and proceed to the mountains North of Villa Cellars,
and there contact Major Gordon. Having doen this he was to return to Silvi,
there to await evacuation by Capt. Lee. The following night the situation
became involved by the arrival of Lt. Caddell and his party. Unfortunately
the heavy surf had overturned their Rubber boats, and so they landed without
equipment and very wet. Meanwhile on the 1st. of November, Lt. Sablet with
his French party set out for Termoli in a fishing boat, and Lt. Lyte with
some P.O.Ws. returned from inland.
On the night 2/3rd. of November the Italian M.S. boat
bringing Capt. Lee was destroyed by heavy M.G. fire from the coast and blew up.
Capt. Lee, Lt. Calf R.N. and Midshipman Draper swam ashore and reached
Capt. Baillie's party. On the night 6/7th. Capt. Baillie and his party,
Lt. Lyte and Lt. Caddell and his party returned to Termoli. Sgt. Scott,
Capt. Lee and Soldat Ken were left behind as Capt. Lee could only move very
slowly. These latter contacted Major Gordon and returned with him and an
Italian officer and 4 ex P.O.Ws. to Termoli on the 12th. of November.