Corporal H. F. Jones
Name: 7518016, Cpl. Jones, H.F.
Unit: 16 Parachute Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.
Date of Birth: 8th September 1919.
Date of Enlistment: 14th September 1939.
Captured: 2nd December 1942.
Escaped: 14th September 1943.
Peacetime Profession: Railway Control Clerk.
Private Address: 29, Neva Road, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset.
1. Capture.
Neat Tunis on 2 Dec 1942 in the evening. Source had descended by parachute 30 or 40 miles behind the enemy lines with the object of capturing airfields etc. They captured the airfield but the relieving force failed to arrive in time to prevent capture.
2. Camps in which imprisoned.
Tunis - in gaol: 3 Dec (flown by plane)
Sicily (in unknown gaol): 3 to 4 Dec 1942.
Flown by plane to Naples.
Camp 66, Capua: 4 Dec 1942 to 1 Mar 1943.
Camp 59, Servigliano: 3 Mar to 14 Sep 1943.
3. Attempted Escapes.
Source was preparing to escape through a sewer pipe in Camp 66, Capua; while awaiting his turn those already in the pipe were machine-gunned, so the attempt was abandoned.
4. Escape.
From Camp 59, Servigliano on 14 Sep 1943 to 2200 hrs. Source left before the arrival of the Germans and while the Italians were still guarding Ps/W. Capt. J.H.D. MILLAR, R.A.M.C., the S.M.O., told the men to get away as they could.
Source escaped with Capt. Millar. They forced the main gateway.
Source joined British Lines at Termoli on 18 Nov 1943. The journey took over two months and Source came the whole way with:
Capt. J.H.D. Millar, R.A.M.C. (Report No: PW/REP/ITALY/198)
Source's story is the same as that of Capt. Millar.
Source finally got on a fishing smack at San Benedetto and reached Termoli. (See Report of Sjt. Cuthbertson, 2 Camerons - No. S/P.G./MISC/INT/306).
INTERVIEWED: 26 Jan 1944.
APPENDIX A.
(1) HELPERS.
End of Oct 1943. Signor Alexiano PIETRO, Smerilia, Marche, Nr. Ascoli. Sheltered Source for three weeks, giving him food.
My thanks to John Howes for this report.