Gunner Benjamin Clegg
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3324/139
Name: 1497515 Gnr. Clegg, Benjamin.
Unit: Royal Artillery.
Left: Algiers, 8th September 1944.
Arrived: U.K., 15th September 1944.
Date of Birth: 13th September 1918.
Army Service: Since 18th July 1939.
Peacetime Profession: Cook.
Private Address: 9 North Avenue, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northants.
1. CAPTURE.
I was captured at SIDI REZEGH (LIBYA) in Nov (?) 41.
2. CAMPS IN WHICH IMPRISONED.
CAMPO 66 (CAPUA) 27 Dec 41 - 23 Jan 42.
CAMPO 59 (SERVIGLIANO) 24 Jan 42 - 19 Feb 43.
CAMPO 53 (MACERATA) 19 Feb 43 - 15 Sep 43.
3. JOURNEY FROM CAMPO 53.
On 15 Sep 43 the Italian sentries deserted, and I walked out of CAMPO 53 with several others. The British patrols tried to stop us, but we got away, and we went through APPEZZANA (ITALY, 1:250,000, Sheet 24, X 59) and SAN GINESIO (X 4492) and up into the mountains.
I lived in the woods until Mar 44, when I was suffering from pneumonia and decided to find shelter in some house. I walked from FIASTRA (Sheet 24, X 4995) to SAN GINESIO and was taken in there by an Italian family. These people looked after me for a month, and brought a doctor to attend me.
Meanwhile another Englishman called "Sid" had turned up, and on 14 Apr 44 we set out for SANT ANGELO (X 5191) and APPEZZANA (X 59). "Sid" decided to stay at APPEZZANA, and in Apr 44 I went to MONTAPPONE (Sheet 25, X 5795) where I stayed with a family until the end of Jun 44.
At the end of the month I set out for FERMO (X 79). On the way I met some Polish
troops, with whom I stayed one night. They were going to take me to see AMGOT at
PORTO SAN GIORGIO (X 89), but on the road I saw a truck full of Royal Engineers
who were bound for PESCARA (Sheet 29, C 12) so I joined them, and after a night
at their camp I was taken to ORTONA (C 31) by road. I then went to TORINO DI
SANGRO (Sheet 30, C 40), and on to NAPLES by train. I missed the boat I was to
catch, as I had gone back to see my friends at MONTAPPONE. I finally left
ALGIERS on 8 Sep 44, and landed in U.K. 15 Sep 44.