Guardsman William McLelland
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3325/18
Name: 2696850 Gdsmn. McLelland, William.
Unit: Scots Guards, 22nd Guards Brigade.
Captured: Regel Ridge, 13th June 1942.
Left: Campo 112 (Turin), 10th September 1943.
Left: Paris, about 20th October 1944.
Arrived: U.K., about 20th October 1944.
Date of Birth: 30th May 1919.
Army Service: Since 27th October 1939.
Peacetime Profession: Miner.
Private Address: 4 Rorison Place, Ashgill, Lanarkshire.
1. CAPTURE.
I was captured with my Battalion at REGEL RIDGE, near TOBRUK, on 13 Jun 43.
2. CAMPS IN WHICH IMPRISONED.
TMINI (North Africa ) 14-15 Jun 42,
BENGHAZI 16-17 Jun 42,
EL VAGEILA 17-18 Jun 42,
SIRTE 19-20 Jun 42,
MISURATA 20-22 Jun 42,
SOUANI BEN ADEM (Tripoli) Jun - Oct 42,
CAMPO 66 (CAPUA) Oct - Nov 42,
CAMPO 53 (MACERATA) Nov 42 - Apr 43,
CAMPO 113/12 (near NOVARA) Apr - Jul 43,
CAMPO 112 (TURIN) Jul - 10 Sep 43.
3. ATTEMPTED ESCAPE.
At the end of Sept 42 Cpl. MCLOUGHLIN, Scots Guards, nineteen others (names unknown), most of them were cooks, and I began a tunnel at SOUANI BEN ADEM (TRIPOLI). When we had completed about twenty-five yards, with a further five yards to go before clearing the fence, the tunnel was discovered by an Italian officer.
Three other tunnels in the camp were discovered about the same time, and we were convinced that the tunnel on which I was engaged could not have been discovered unless someone had given information to the Italians. We did not know whom to suspect. As the tunnel was in the vicinity of the cookhouse, most of the cooks were put in cells for about three weeks.
4. ESCAPE.
On 9 Sep 43 we learned at Campo 112 (TURIN), (ITALY, 1:250,000, Sheet 9, J 0230) of the armistice. I was ill in bed at the time, but I recovered the following day.
On 10 Sep 43 we saw the Italian guards burying their arms and equipment, and learned that the Germans were already in TURIN. At 1900 hours, with PTE. MEADOWS, Tank Corps, PTE. WYLIE, Cameron Highlanders, PTE. LAW, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (?) I went to the Italian Commanding Officer and asked him to release the whole camp of fifty prisoners. He said his instructions were to await the arrival of a British officer.
Shortly afterwards the Commanding Officer received instructions to release us, and each P/W was issued with a Red Cross parcel, fifty cigarettes, and two loaves of bread. The gates were opened and we walked out at 2000 hrs. The camp interpreter, a corporal (name unknown) gave us instructions on how to get to GENOA. After we left the camp we scattered in small groups.
I was accompanied by PTE. MEADOWS, and LAW and another (name forgotten, R.A.S.C.). We walked across the fields to a house, where we were given some civilian clothes. We then walked south to a farm where we stayed until the following morning (11 Sep 43). The farmer, (name unknown) supplied us with civilian clothes.
We then continued walking and at 0830 hours, (11 Sep 43) we arrived at a village (name unknown). Two German trucks full of infantry were in the village, but we walked passed them and were not questioned. An Italian in the village gave us directions on how to get to GENOA, and we began walking south across country.
We called at various farms and were given food and then spent the next two nights (11-12 Sep 43) at a house (location unknown). On the morning of 13 Sep 43 PTE. MEADOWS decided to travel alone. I did not see him again. The remaining four of us stayed at the house until 15 Sep 43, when the farmed asked us to leave, as he was afraid our presence would be discovered. We decided to travel in pairs, and PTE WYLIE and I remained together. We did not see PTE. LAW or his companion again.
Pte. WYLIE and I walked south across country by day and stayed at farms at night until we arrived on the outskirts of SALUZZO (Sheet 14, O 8783). We then walked S.E. across country until we arrived at CARRU (O 1462), on 18 Sep and stayed at a house until the following morning. We continued walking East across country and arrived at S. GIULIA (O 4159) on 25 Sep. From Sep 43 till Sep 44 I was with a band of Italian partisans. My journey from ITALY to FRANCE in Oct 44, was arranged for me.