Sergeant Ronald Eric Donald Parker
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3324/152
Name: 1600876 Sgt. Parker, Roland Eric Donald.
Unit: 111 Squadron, B.N.A.F., R.A.F.
Captured: Near Tain (France), 28th August 1944.
Escaped: Lyons, 1st September 1944.
Left: Naples, 18th October 1944.
Arrived: Wroughton, 20th October 1944.
Date of Birth: 12th February 1922.
Army Service: Since 6th April 1944.
Peacetime Profession: Electrical Engineer.
Private Address: 10 Maxwell Road, Littlehampton, Sussex.
CAPTURE.
I took off in a Spitfire aircraft at 1400 hrs on 28 Aug 44 from an aerodrome at CISTERON near GAP (FRANCE, 1:250,000, Sheet 32, 095). I was detailed to "straf" targets south of LYONS, and while engaged on this my aircraft was hit by Flak. I crash-landed near the town of TAIN (H 9811).
I received severe head wounds and was knocked unconscious of landing. When I regained consciousness I found a German soldier with a rifle standing beside me. After I had bound up my head, he led me to a nearby road, where I was handed over to his Platoon Commander.
I was then put in a staff car and driven West. After we had gone a few miles the car was ambushed by two members of the Maquis armed with Tommy guns and mills bombs. The driver managed to turn the car, and we retreated the way we had come. From this point I got confused as to direction, but we finally arrived South of TAIN, probably at or near the town of MAUVES (H 9608). I was taken to a house and given a brief routine interrogation by an officer who could speak English. I remained at this house until dark, when I was put into an ambulance and driven to an emergency hospital probably 15-20 miles North of MAUVES on the main LYONS road.
I remained at the emergency hospital North of MAUVES from 28-29 Aug, and was then moved to a military hospital South of LYONS. On the evening of 30 Aug, I was moved to a hospital in LYONS. I remained there until my escape.
ESCAPE.
On 1 Sep it became obvious that the hospital was going to evacuated, and I was told by one of the French nurses that I was to be taken to GERMANY. The evacuation was very hurried, and there was considerable confusion. The medical orderlies in my ward had been armed, but during the afternoon they disappeared, and I found I could leave the ward unchallenged. I was still wearing my R.A.F. uniform, which was covered with blood. No one took any notice of me, and I reached the outer courtyard of the hospital without interference. I was considering how to get out of the gate, which was guarded, when a Frenchman approached me and asked if I was English. I told him I was, and he told me to go and wait in a nearby corridor where some equipment was stored. At about 1600 hours the Frenchman returned, and instructed me to carry a pile of blankets from a stack in the corridor - I did so, and followed him, through the gate, to where a private car bearing a Red Cross flag was waiting. The blankets hid my uniform, and I was not challenged. I then got into the car and we drove away.
I was taken to a farm out the outskirts of LYONS, where the Frenchman looked at my wound. He decided it was impossible for me to stay there. The same evening (1 Sep) I was taken by car to a civilian hospital in LYONS. I remained there until the arrival of American forces on 4 or 5 Sep.
The American medical authorities sent me to a field hospital at GRENOBLE (J 62). On 9 Sep I was sent by air to the R.A.F. Hospital at NAPLES. On 18 Oct I was sent to the U.K. by air.