Private Harkins William McBeth
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3325/52
Name: 173497 Pte McBeth, Harkins William.
Unit: No.3 Troop, Special Raiding Squadron, 1st Special Air Service.
Captured: Termoli, 3rd October 1943.
Escaped: Mestre, 27th October 1943.
Left: Naples, August 1944.
Arrived: Liverpool, August 1944.
Date of Birth: 1st February 1915.
Army Service: Since 29th February 1940.
Peacetime Profession: Coal Merchant.
Private Address: 177 Allander Street, Possilpark, Glasgow, N.
1. Capture:
I was with a party which was landed by sea behind the enemy lines at TERMOLI (ITALY 1:250,000, Sheet 30, N 87) at 0200 hrs on 3 Oct 43. By 1000 hrs our section was completely surrounded by the Germans and we were ordered to surrender.
2. Camps in which imprisoned:
P/W Transit Camp (FROSINONE) 6 Oct - 16 Oct 43.
3. Attempted Escapes:
A few days after I was captured I joined a party of about ten men who were planning to escape. We knocked a hole in the corner of the wall of the courtyard in which we were imprisoned and it was agreed that the whole party would leave the same night. The first man out, however, was immediately arrested, so that our mass escape had to be abandoned.
4. Escape:
On 16 Oct we were put into a cattle truck, with an armed sentry at each end, en route for GERMANY. Our journey was very slow owing to damage on the line.
I escaped from the train at 0230 hrs on 27 Oct as it was slowing up to pass through NESTRE (Sheet 13, G 65). The three men who jumped with me were Pte Robert MacDONALD, L/Cpl. WOODS, S.A.S. and a private of the Battle Patrol. We had managed to cut a hole in the side of the truck with the air of our penknives large enough for one man to put his hand through and unfasten the wire which held the bolt of the door, and, having done so, we seized the first favourable opportunity we had to escape.
After we left the train, we decided to split up. Pte. MacDONALD and I headed for PADOVA (Sheet 13, G 34) and reached a small village called BORGORICCO, eight miles North East of PADOVA on 29 Oct. Here we stayed for three days with an Italian family, who supplied us with civilian clothing. We set out again walking South about 1 Nov. Five days later, as we were approaching ESTE (G 12), MacDONALD left me with the intention of heading for BOLOGNA (Sheet 18, L 84). I continued on my own, for ROVIGO (G 21) after crossing the river ADIGE at BARBONA (Sheet 13, G 11) by bridge which was unguarded. From here I went to SALETTO on the river PO, where I persuaded a boatman to take me across. I by-passed FERRARA (M 18) and continued on to MINERBIO (Sheet 19, M 06), FAENZA (M 32) and FORLI (M 41). From here I continued along the foothills to SAN MARINO (R 78). Somewhere South of FORLI (M 41) I met two New Zealanders, one of whom was Frank JOSLING, L.R.D.G. and we continued together to SASSOFERRATO (Sheet 24, S 02) and FABRLINO (S 11), where I left them.
About the beginning of Dec I reached MACERATA (S 51) where I stayed with a family for two days. On 11 Dec I came to a town near TERARO (Sheet 29, B 75) called VILLARIPA (ITALY 1:100,000, Sheet 140, 7147) where I remained until 2 Jun 44. Twice during this time I tried to reach the Allied lines, but though I got as far as CHIETI (ITALY 1:250,000, 29, C 11) the first time, and PENNE (B 92) the second time, was forced to turn back on both occasions.
On 20 Jun the Germans began to retreat along the main roads in the area and I was able to slip by unnoticed. I contacted Italian troops between PENNE and TERAMO the same day, but they were unable to help me and I continued South on my own for five days till I reached TORINO DI SANGRO (ITALY 1:100,000, Sheet 148, 4598) where I was sent to a Repatriation camp. From here I was sent first to FOGGIA and then NAPLES where I was interrogated. I sailed from NAPLES in Aug and arrived in the U.K. the same month.