Corporal Frank Williamson
Name: 3241840, Cpl. Williamson, Frank.
Unit: 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment.
Date of Birth: 5th March 1911.
Date of Enlistment: 8th October 1930.
Captured: 3rd December 1942.
Escaped: 13th September 1943.
Peacetime Profession: Regular Soldier.
Private Address: 39, Hope Street, Bellshill, Lanarkshire.
1. Capture.
At Pondefar, Nr. Tunis, on 3 Dec 1942 while trying to capture the aerodrome.
2. Camps in which imprisoned.
Camp 66, Capua: 5 Dec 1942 to 12 May 1943
Camp 70, Monte Urano: 13 May to 13 Sep 1943.
3. Attempted Escapes.
Nil.
4. Escape.
From Camp 70, Monte Urano on 13 Sep 1943. Source climbed over the wall when the guards were not looking.
He was with four others:
Sjt. Laughland, T.A., 2 Bn Parachute Regt. (Report No: IT/AF/688)
Pte. Nesom, G., R.T.R. (Report No: IT/AF/898)
One other whose name is unknown, but who arrived back safely, and
Cpl. Stirling, 2 Bn Parachute Regt.
Cpl. Stirling was recaptured at Carlentino on 4 Oct 1943 by German Parachute Troops.
From Monte Urano they went on foot and headed for the hills. They went in a S.E. direction until Source and party were recaptured by German Paratroops at Carlentino on 4 Oct 1943. They were kept in the German H.Q. for 8 days. On 12 Oct 1943 Source jumped out of a window when the three German guards were not looking at about 1500 hrs. He was sheltered by two Italians and then made his way to Casacalenda. The rest of the party got out the same way about half an hour after Source.
Source contacted British Troops at Casacalenda on 14 Oct 1943.
He was helped by farmers en route and procured civilian clothes on the last day.
INTERVIEWED: 9 Feb 1944.
My thanks to John Howes for this report.