Private Robert Wallace
Name: 3189919, Pte. Wallace, Robert.
Unit: 2nd Parachute Battalion.
Date of Birth: 21st October 1923.
Date of Enlistment: 3rd March 1939.
Captured: 3rd December 1942.
Escaped: 12th September 1943.
Peacetime Profession: Engine driver.
Private Address: 6, Troqueer Cottages, Dumfries.
1. Capture.
At Tunis on 3 Dec 1942 at 1430 hrs. Surrounded after being dropped behind lines.
2. Camps in which imprisoned.
Source was flown to Palermo.
Camp 66, Capua: 4 Jan to 6 May 1943.
Camp 70, Monte Urano: 7 May to 12 Sep 1943.
3. Attempted Escapes.
Nil.
4. Escape.
From Camp 70, Monte Urano on 12 Sep 1943. Source got through a hole in the fence, slipped by 2 sentries and took rifles off them and threw them in the river, as it was not considered advisable to carry arms.
Source escaped with Rfn. Burns and Rfn. O'Brien, both London Irish. He last saw them on 22 Sep 1943 at Gran Sasso. They wanted to rest, but Source decided to move on.
From Monte Urano Source went to Macerata, Ascoli, Aquila and Pescara and then headed west to Guardiagrele, Palata Ridge and Guglionesi where he met British Troops on 18 Oct 1943.
The whole journey was made on foot and Source was helped by farmers.
INTERVIEWED: 13 Jan 1944.
APPENDIX A.
HELPERS.
8 to 10 Oct 1943. Signor NICHOLA, Farmer, Penepediemonte. Sheltered Source and gave him food and a good bed.
(2) BLACK LIST.
13 Mar 1943. At Camp 66, Capua, No.5 Compound, fourteen P/Ws tried to escape through a sewer. Italians fired up the sewer and wounded one. The remainder were brought back to camp and beaten up by the Italian guards and had to go into hospital.
25 Apr 1943. At Camp 66, Capua, Pte. Smith, 2 Parachute Bn. was shot and killed by guard when trying to escape.
My thanks to John Howes for this report.