Sergeant J. Smith
Name: 6455985, Sgt. Smith, J.
Unit: 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment.
Date of Birth: 15th November 1908.
Date of Enlistment: 6th September 1926.
Captured: 1st December 1942.
Escaped: 12th September 1943.
Peacetime Profession: Milk Distribution.
Private Address: 28, Westbury Avenue, Southall, Middlesex.
1. Capture.
Near Tunis on 1 Dec. 1942. 600 of them had been dropped by parachute and they marched 18 miles to a place with a code name, and went into attack in the morning, directed against a railway. The Germans were firing and Source was hit in the thigh. He was taken to an Arab dwelling and operated on by Major McGovern, R.A.M.C. Next morning the Germans machine-gunned them but ceased firing when they exhibited an R.A.M.C. flag. They captured about 20 who were there wounded.
2. Camps in which imprisoned.
He was operated on again at Trapini in Sicily, where he was sent after ten days.
Hospital at Palermo: until 23 Jan 1943.
Caserta Hospital: 23 Jan to 12 Feb 1943.
Hospital camp, 20 miles south of Naples: 12 Feb to 24 Apr 1943.
Camp 66, Capua: 24 Apr to 12 Jun 1943.
Camp 70, Monte Urano: 12 Jun to 12 Sep 1943.
3. Attempted Escapes.
Nil.
4. Escape.
From Camp 70, Monte Urano on 12 Sep 1943 at about 1700 hrs. Source walked out of the back gate alone - the sentries did not interfere.
He walked to Montegeberto and was put up by an Italian for a fortnight. His leg was bad and he could not easily walk. The Italians advised him to get out into the country, and so he walked round from farm to farm to avoid the Germans. One day he met one of his own officers, Major Timothy, who had been dropped behind the lines to aid escapers, who told him of a plan whereby Landing Craft Infantry would take them off. He stayed with him, taking he round to the farms where the prisoners were. The men subsequently assembled in driblets on the beach at a place on the east coast. Some were waiting by the river bed and were fired on. Source was in charge of the men on the beach and so he does not know what the casualties were, but finally about 20 came up. It was then about 0200 hrs, but the boat came in and about 25 were taken on board. The boat took them to Termoli where they arrived about 26 Oct 1943.
[Note: More can be read about Major Timothy and this operation here.]
INTERVIEWED: 6 Jan 1944.
APPENDIX A
(1) HELPERS.
Luigi NICKOLINI, Civileguardia, Monte Giberto, Picino. He put Source up, gave all information about troop movements etc. Was in touch with all the Carabinieri. An excellent man in all ways and a valuable helper. Cannot say if he helped anyone else - most of the men probably missed him as his house was out of the way. He had stores of wheat and food in Monte Giberto waiting for the British to arrive. It is hidden.
My thanks to John Howes for this report.