Private John Rae
Name: 6013247 Pte. Rae, John.
Unit: 2nd Parachute Battalion.
Date of Birth: 24th June 1919.
Date of Enlistment: 21st May 1938 (T.A.)
Captured: 13th March 1943.
Escaped: 12th September 1943.
Peacetime Profession: Furrier.
Private Address: 58, Arragon Road, East Ham, London, E.6.
1. Capture.
At Sedgenane on 13 Mar 1942. Surrounded during withdrawal. [Note: 1942 is incorrect as the 2nd Parachute Battalion was in the U.K. at this time, it should read 1943 as stated above.]
2. Camps in which imprisoned.
In transit in North Africa.
Camp 78, Sulmona: May 1942 to 12 Sep 1943.
3. Attempted Escapes.
Nil.
4. Escape.
From Camp 78, Sulmona on 12 Sep 1943. Source got through the wire and went into the hills.
He was with four others:
Pte. Holton, F.G., K.O.Y.L.I. (Report No: M.I.9/S/P.G./MISC/INT/364)
C.S.M. Wreford, S.W., R.E. (Report No: M.I.9/S/P.G./MISC/INT/242)
Sgt. Nudd, V.S.E., R.A.O.C. (Report No: M.I.9/S/P.G./MISC/INT/290)
From Sulmona they went on foot across Gran Sasso to Pescara, through numerous villages, and eventually met British Troops at Campo Basso.
They were helped by farmers and obtained civilian clothes.
INTERVIEWED: 26 Jan 1944.
My thanks to John Howes for this report.
See also: Sergeant Clements.