Gunner Charles Henry Smith
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3324/140
Name: 994167 Gnr. Smith, Charles Henry.
Unit: Royal Artillery (Field), Indian Division.
Left: Algiers, 9th September 1944.
Arrived: U.K., 16th September 1944.
Date of Birth: 16th May 1920.
Army Service: Since 12th July 1940.
Peacetime Profession: Wood worker.
Private Address: 195, Cranbury Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire.
1. CAPTURE.
I was captured in LIBYA on 1 Jul 42.
2. CAMPS IN WHICH IMPRISONED.
BENGHAZI 8 Jul 42 - 1 Aug 42.
CAMPO 70 (FERMO) 6 Aug 42 - 15 May 43.
CAMPO 102 (AQUILA) 16 May 43 - 8 Sep 43.
3. ESCAPE.
The camp sentries deserted CAMPO 102 (AQUILA) and I walked out of the camp on 12 Sep 43, with two other prisoners (names unknown) and Signalman PEASCOD, Fred, Royal Corps of Signals. We walked to a very small village outside AQUILA, and were taken in at the house of an Italian couple. We stayed with them until 26 Mar 44.
On that day we had gone into the mountains of the GRAN SASSO D'ITALIA (ITALY, 1:250,000, Sheet 29), as the Germans were making one of the periodical searches of the AQUILA district. We saw no signs of the Germans in the mountains, and were sitting smoking. When we turned round we saw that a Corporal of the German Field Police was standing over us. We were taken to the German Headquarters at a house in AQUILA (Sheet 28, B 51) and asked who had housed and fed us. We refused to give any information, and were taken to CAMPO 102 (AQUILA).
There were a number of Italian civilian workmen in the camp, fixing up lamps and laying wires, and I saw that they wore green armbands with German lettering. Five of us decided to escape. The others were:- one Yugoslav, one American, and two Englishmen. We all had nondescript civilian clothing, and made ourselves armbands from green material found in the camp. We picked up coils of wire, and some lampshades and walked out. The sentry asked where we were going, and I said "to the magazine", and we passed without query. I did not see the other members of our party again. Sgmn PEASCOD remained in camp, and I believe he is in a German P/W camp now.
I returned to the family near AQUILA the same day (30 Mar 44) and remained with them until the English arrived in Jun 44. Before the Germans left they burned and looted the houses, so I took to the mountains till they had gone. I was sent to NAPLES in Jul 44, but I missed the boat I was meant to take, as I had gone back to AQUILA to make sure that my friends were safe. I finally reaches ALGIERS and sailed from there on 9 Sep 44, arriving in U.K. 16 Sep 44.