Private William Patrick Salmon
Name: 1525871 Parachutist Salmon, William Patrick.
Unit: 1st Special Air Service.
Date of Birth: 20th April 1915.
Date of Enlistment: 15th January 1940.
Captured: 14th December 1942.
Escaped: 14th September 1943.
Peacetime Profession: Miner.
Private Address: 26, Pheasant Ford St., Burnley, Lancs.
1. Capture.
At Surta on 14 Dec 1942 at 1400 hrs, while engaged in sabotage behind the German lines.
2. Camps in which imprisoned.
In transit: 14 Dec 1942 to 1 Jan 1943.
Camp 75, Bari: 1 Jan to 15 Mar 1943.
Camp 85, Tuturano: 15 to 18 Mar 1943.
Camp 70, Monte Urano: 18 Mar to 14 Sep 1943.
3. Attempted Escapes.
At Camp 70, Monte Urano on approx. 20 Aug 1943 by breaking down walls of cell with Cpl. Stevenson.
4. Escape.
From Camp 70, Monte Urano on 14 Sep 1943 at about 0400 hrs. They broke out through the wire netting, which had been broken down the previous night.
There were others with Source but he cannot remember their names.
From Monte Urano they kept due west of the Apennines and then made due south for Termoli. They came through Caramanico, then due east making for Larino, which they missed, arriving instead at Bonefro where they met British Troops on 20 Oct 1943.
The whole journey was made on foot.
INTERVIEWED: 6 Jan 1944.
APPENDIX A
(1) HELPERS.
Nicola CAPPELLUCCI, Via S. Maurizio, Caramonica. Source stayed with him about ten days at Caramonica and was housed, fed and provided with civilian clothes and maps and money.
Giovanni CITERONI, Castel Drela, Villa Chiaristia, Province of Ascoli. Helped Source and provided him with shoes and food.
My thanks to John Howes for this report.