2nd Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment

Abbreviations

2i/c

80th Foot

Adjt

ATk

Bde

Bdg

Comd

Coy

Div

Inf

Int

Junc

LCI

M/C

Mortr

Offr
OO

Pdr

RAMC

RASC

Regt

Rly
RMO

RSF

Sec

Sig

Sqn
Stn

Tpt

Veh

X roads

Second-in-Command

80th Regiment of Foot (2nd South Staffords)

Anti-Aircraft

Adjutant

Anti-Tank

Brigade

Bridge

Battalion

Commanding Officer

Commander

Company

Division

Exercise

Infantry

Intelligence

Intelligence Officer

Junction

Landing Craft Infantry

Motorcycle

Machine Gun

Mortar

Officer Commanding

Officer

Operation Order

Other Ranks

Pounder

Platoon

Prisoner of War

Royal Army Medical Corps

Royal Army Service Corps

Road

Royal Engineers

Regiment

Railway

Regimental Medical Officer

Royal Scots Fusiliers

Rendezvous

Section

Signals

Squadron

Station

Troop

Transport

Vehicle

Crossroads

The Bn marched to the sea at KRISTEL (12 miles) to spend the day bathing and returned at night.

Food is still not enough and too watery, although the official number of diarrhoea cases is only 60, at least 25% of the Bn has it.

An advance party is now at MASCARA preparing our new camp. There appears to have been little or no preparation for the Bde's arrival in N.AFRICA at all, we are almost helpless. In spite of the almost incredible state of affairs, the men are remarkably cheerful. Capt E.P.P. CONNELLAN (Adjt) was taken to Hospital at ALGIERS this evening.

1130 - The Bn was carried by 293 Tp Coy RASC and arrived from 1830-2100 hrs leaving a small rear party under Capt. WILMOT.

The new camp is situated S.W. of FROHA and apart from lack of water, as there is still no tpt to carry it, conditions are much better. The rear party arrived from FLEURUS.

The Bn's tpt has started to arrive at last but so far none of the Bn's heavy baggage has arrived.

Ex ADAM took place; at 1845 hrs 54 WACOs towed by C47s lifted Bde HQ, S.Staffords less A and C Coys, one sec and one sub-sec R.E., one sec RAMC from MATMORE and THEIRSVILLE aerodromes and landed less 4 planes at FROHA at 1744. No handcars or vehs were taken by the Bn.

The Bn is training hard for future operations and the men are getting used to the climate.

All offrs went to THIERSVILLE aerodrome and saw the 1st Border carry out glider Exercise "EVE". The complimentary exercise to our "ADAM". This was not so successful as the landing took 40 mins as opposed to our 20 and 12 gliders landed on the wrong drome.

0100 - 12 WACOs with 6 of our officers and 60 men took off in darkness on the first experimental landing without landing lights and with only the release point indicated. 1 glider failed to take off and 1 landed in the wrong place: the remaining two made a spectacular landing with no moon. The success of this experiment has probably decided our operational landing.

0700 - The Bn has had orders to move to an undisclosed destination. The first party of 52 ORs left to collect the M/Cs and ride them to the new location.

The I.O. and 2 other ranks flew from MATMORE aerodrome to KAUOWAN in a C47 and joined the advance party at the new camp 14 km west of SOUSSE.

27th June 1943 [date written in diary as 7th July, but appears to refer to 27th June]

All operational personnel of the Bn flew to the new location in WACOs and C47s. Two gliders failed to arrive: one crashed near KAUOWAN and C.S.M. Glynn, 2 Glider Pilots and 12 ORs were killed. The other glider with Capt Wright and 6 ORs landed safely after having trouble 250 miles away.

The Bn has settled down in its new camp in an olive grove and Coys are busy preparing mock-ups and training on them for Ex BIGOT.

Most of the equipment of the Bn arrived after a very long train journey of three train loads and various road parties. Coy practiced on "Mock ups" for Ex BIGOT.

General MONTGOMERY visited the Bn at 1030 hrs. He seemed to be very pleased with the appearance of the Bn. With him were General BROWNING, Maj-Gen HOPKINSON, Brig. HICKS and Colonel JONES. The parade became quite informal. In a short talk he gained immediately the confidence of the Bn and raised our spirits even higher. Loading of gliders at airfields took place during the day.

Our last church parade before the Exercise was taken by the Padre - Capt A.A. BUCHANAN. The C.O. addressed the Bn afterwards. At 1510 hrs the Bn started embussing for the move to airfields. See O.O. No. 1.

The operation was planned as part of the invasion of SICILY, and was the first time glider troops had gone into action and the first time an Airborne Bde had operation 'in toto'. The organisation of the Bn for the operation was as follows:-

C.O.

2i/c.

Adjt.

Loading Offr.

O.C. 'S' Coy

Medical Offr.

Padre

Sig Offr.

Mortr Offr.

Liaison Offr.

Int Offr.

Pioneer Offr.

R.S.M.

Lt-Col W.D.H. McCARDIE

Maj M.W. BRENNAN

Capt E.P.P. CONNELLAN

Lieut C.J. AUSTIN

Maj R.L. HARGROVES

Capt J.E. MILLER RAMC

Capt Rev A.A. BUCHANAN CF

Lieut D.R. ASHBURNHAM

Lieut A.H. WILLCOCKS

Lt P.B. WARNEFORD

Lieut G.R. ROBERTS

Lt D.A.S. PARKER

R.S.M. R.P. O'BRIEN

)

Glider Nos.

3, 7, 11,

15, 19, 23,

27, 31, 34,

35, 39.

A Coy

Coy Comd.

2i/c.

Pl Comds.

Maj T.B. LANE

Capt J.B. McCOOKE

Lt R.A. BARRETT

Lt A.R. CLOWES

Lt R.G. WILLIAMS
Sgt V. WILLIAMS

C.S.M. R. WOOLHOUSE

)

4 Horsa Gliders

Nos. 128, 129,

130, 131.

B Coy

Coy Comd.

2i/c.

Pl Comds.

Maj R.H. CAIN

Capt R.S. FOOT

Lt E. DEUCHAR

Lt G.W.J. GOODMAN

Lt T.F. ANDERSON

Lt J.F.K. CHAPMAN

C.S.M. A. PROBERT

)

10 WACO gliders

Nos. 1, 5, 9, 13, 17,

21, 25, 29, 33, 37.

C Coy

Coy Comd.

2i/c.

Pl Comds.

Maj E.G. BALLINGER

Capt E.M. WYSS

Lieut L. WITHERS

Lieut R.S. ROBEY

Lieut H.D. SCOTT

2/Lieut J. BADGER

C.S.M. L. KNIGHT

)

4 HORSA gliders

Nos. 132. 133

134, 135.

D Coy

Coy Comd.

2i/c.

Pl Comds.

Maj J.E. PHILLP

Capt P.R.T. WRIGHT

Lieut E.J. DAVIES

Lieut E.W. BROADBRIDGE

Lieut H.M. BROWN

Lieut E.F. WALTERS

C.S.M. R. HEAPEY

)

10 WACO Gliders

Nos. 4, 8, 12, 16, 20,

24, 28, 32, 36, 40.

E Coy (a composite Coy formed by H Coy and Recce Pl)

Coy Comd.

2i/c.

Pl Comd.

Maj J.A. NEILSON

Capt P.A. DAVIS

Lieut N.E. POLLARD

Lieut W.C. DORRINGTON

2/Lt. G.W. GLASSBOROW

C.S.M. J. EDMONDSON

)

7 WACO Gliders

Nos. 43, 44, 47,

48, 51, 52, 52a.

H Coy (a two gun force of two 6pdr gun detachments)

Comd.

Lieut A.G. GOTTO

)

4 WACO Gliders

Nos. 41, 45, 49, 53.

SIMFORCE (a composite force formed during the few days prior to the operation when more gliders became available)

Comd.

Pl Comd.

C.S.M.

Capt J.M. SIMONDS

Lt J. REYNOLDS

D.P. SLATER

)

3 WACO Gliders

Nos. 53a, 54a, and Z.

Owing to bad weather conditions, errors in navigation, etc, the Bn failed with the exception of one or two gliders to land in any concentration, however, the Bn's objective was captured and held by the few glider loads that landed, and the remainder who landed on over 50 miles of the coast spread such disorganisation amongst the enemy that the seaborne landings had little or no opposition. General MONGTOMERY, Lieut-Gen DEMPSEY, Commanding 13 Corps and the Commanders of 5 and 50 Divs all expressed themselves with acclamation at the way the men had fought.

The main objective was captured by Glider party No.133 - No.15 Pl of the Bn commanded by Lieut Withers. This glider landed at 2245 hrs on the area directly South of the Bridge. He found that the rest of his Coy had failed to reach the landing area and decided immediately to capture the bridge himself. He swam the canal with 5 men and attacked a pillbox on the Northern bank to draw fire while the rest of his platoon attacked the bridge from the South. The attack was successful and Lieut Withers removed the demolition charges and cut the telephone wires thus ensuring that this vital bridge could not be blown. He placed his platoons in defensive positions and held the bridge against determined counter-attacks. It was not until 0430 hrs that the first help reached him which was Glider No.6. Lt Welch of Bde H.Q. defence pl.

L/Cpl G. PRATT assisted materially by his leadership in the capture and holding of the bridge and his action of repelling a counter-attack by 12 men in a lorry, all of whom were killed enabled Lieut Withers to remove the bridge charges.

It is difficult to detail in sequence the individual acts of gallantry of this small party. However, Pte William Henry CHARLESWORTH 15 mins after the capture of the bridge engaged a party of men in a lorry who tried to force the Northern end of the bridge; he accounted for 5 with his Bren and when his magazine ran out, gallantly charged the remainder using his Bren as a club; by so doing he helped to ensure that the work of removing the charges was not interrupted. On another occasion he ran 50 yds under heavy fire with his Bren to neutralize this fire and enabled his section to disengage themselves. During the afternoon of the following day Pte CHARLESWORTH was wounded in the stomach and remained 24 hrs without medical attention, spending his time cleaning and maintaining his Bren. When the bridge was temporarily recaptured by the enemy, he refused to surrender and remained in hiding, later rejoining his platoon.

Pte Reginald Tyrer, platoon medical orderly, and Pte Charles Weate, carried out their duties with commendable bravery throughout the action. Pte James Eden another medical orderly, although wounded, continued to render first aid and undoubtedly saved many lives. At one time, this party was attacked by three armoured cars, armed with cannon and M.Gs. Pte Bernard Jackson engaged them killing the commander of one and causing the remainder to retire. During subsequent actions Pte Jackson acted with complete disregard for his own safety. By 0700 hrs on Jul 10th several other parties had arrived at the bridge, amongst them Lieut-Col Walsh and these parties were organised to defend the bridge against the Italians who were concentrating to the North.

By 0800 hrs the enemy's heavy and accurate mortar fire forced the defenders to retire to the South end of the bridge where they took up positions on the canal bank.

From 1000 hrs to 1500 hrs the defenders were under continuous fire and owing to their shortage of ammunition were scarcely able to return it. At 1500 hrs the defenders on the west of the bridge were forced back, the enemy was able to site an M.G. on the bridge and started to mortar the remainder systematically, who were forced to surrender owing to lack of ammunition. Half an hour later they were freed when the 2nd R.S.F. arrived and recaptured the bridge.

During this time the rest of the Bn gliders which landed were fighting isolated small actions and their story is as follows:-

Bn HQ was carried in 4 WACO gliders, 3 of which landed in the sea. The first glider containing Lieut-Col McCardie, Capt Connellan and Lt Roberts crashed in the sea 2 miles offshore; the party swam ashore losing 2 men drowned and the C.O. and Major Murray, the senior glider pilot after running the gauntlet of enemy patrols and fire reached Ponte Grande which was then held by us. The remainder were picked up by naval craft and taken to Suez. For accounts written by C.O. See Appx 'B'. The second glider carrying the 2nd i/c - Major Brennan, the R.M.O. - Capt Miller and Lt Austin, crashed in the sea 250 yds offshore; Lt Austin was killed by MG fire while on the glider. They swam ashore and Maj Brennan, Capt Miller, the 2 glider Pilots, Lts Impey and Robson and 2 men moved off to join the Bn. This involved a crawl through 20' of barbed wire covered by a pill box; clear then of the beach defences, they marched 10 miles collecting 3 men of an ATk detachment and 6 of E Coy, and captured 2 pillboxes, 21 prisoners, 3 MGs and 1 ATk gun and reached Ponte Grande in the evening. Lt Impey accidentally shot himself with an enemy rifle and subsequently died. The 3rd glider carrying S Coy Comd Maj Hargroves and Capt The Rev A.A. Buchanan landed on Cape Murro di Porco, surrounded by enemy MG posts & were captured [overwritten text, difficult to understand, reads: 1030. 10 Jul to be released by S.A.S at 1200 hrs.] They rejoined the Bn on 11 July. The 4th glider crashed in the sea 4 miles out. Lt Warneford and 2 O.Rs. were drowned. Lieut Ashburnham, the R.S.M. and remainder of the party were picked up by naval craft and taken to Malta.

The Mortar Pl were carried in 4 WACOs, all of which crashed in the sea. One load made their way ashore, were captured, eventually escaped and rejoined the Bn. The remainder including the pl comd - Lt Willcocks were picked up by naval craft.

The Pioneer Pl was carried in 2 WACOs, half under Lt Parker crashed on land and eventually rejoined the Bn. The other half under Sgt Martin crashed in the sea, were picked up by Naval Craft and taken to Suez.

The majority of the Signal Pl were split among the Coy gliders, except one glider load carrying the Signal Stores which landed safely.

'A' COY commanded by Maj T.B. Lane were carried in 4 HORSA gliders, and were to land immediately NW of the rly bdg over the canal and capture the rly bdg. The Coy Comd, Lt Barrett, C.S.M. Woolhouse and No.7 Pl landed in the sea. CSM Woodhouse was drowned. Maj Lane, Lt Barrett and 2 O.Rs. swam ashore, and both they and the rest of the pl left on the glider were picked up by Naval craft next day.

No.8 Pl commanded by Sgt V. Williams with the 2nd in Command, Capt McCooke crashed landed well South of their landing zone; during attempt to find out their position they were engaged by the enemy and Capt McCooke and one man were separated from the Pl; both parties had minor engagements with the enemy round their objective and both were captured at about 1500 hrs. The Pl was eventually freed by 17 Inf Bde and Capt McCooke managed to escape.

No.9 Pl commanded by Lt R.G. Williams landed in the sea off the bay of Syracuse - when the roll was called only 16 men were present on the wings. At daybreak Lt Williams and 6 men set off to swim for shore - the remaining 8 were taken to Syracuse by an Italian launch and four of these were put into hospital by the Italians and were found there when Syracuse was captured, the remainder have not been heard of.

No.10 Pl commanded by Lieut A.R. Cloves was reported by the R.A.F. Tug Pilot to have been released over the landing zone. The Pl has not been heard of.

'B' COY commanded by Maj R.H. Cain were carried in 10 WACO gliders, 7 of which landed, their objective being a strong point 2 miles South of Ponte Grande (Waterloo). The 2i/c Capt Foot with half of No.12 Pl under Sgt Bradley and some of the Border Regt organised an attack on their Coy objective (Bilston) but failed, the position being very strongly held; the party became separated but next morning the position was again attacked by Capt Foot with half of No.11 Pl and some R.E. he had encountered, but again the defence was too strong. The party then made North launched an unsuccessful attack on E Coy's objective and eventually reached Ponte Grande.

Maj Cain and half of Coy H.Q. came down in the sea, swam to a small island, where they remained for 36 hrs being covered by an enemy M.G. on the mainland, they eventually swam ashore captured the M.G. post and rejoined the Bn.

Lieut Goodman with half No.11 Pl crash landed and making for his Coy objective captured 2 pill boxes. Lieut Goodman was wounded.

Lieut Deuchar with half of No.12 Pl landed on the coast, they were envolved with the enemy on landing and made for Ponte Grande where they gallantly assisted in its defence.

Lieut Anderson with half of No.14 Pl also landed in the sea, two other ranks were drowned, and the remainder were picked up by Naval Craft. The remaining half of 14 Pl landed on the coast, were engaged by the enemy of whom they killed 10 and rejoined the Bn.

The 3" Mortar detachment under Sgt Bird landed safely, were involved in minor skirmishes during which they put three enemy posts out of action and rejoined the Bn the next day.

'C' COY commanded by Maj E.G. Ballinger were carried in 4 Horsa gliders - they were to land immediately SW of Ponte Grande (Waterloo) and capture the bridge to enable 17 Inf Bde to pass through to Syracuse next day.

No.17 Pl commanded by Lieut Scott with Maj Ballinger and half Coy H.Q. crashed about 200 yds upstream of the Bridge and burst into flames; there were only three survivors, Lt Scott and 2 O.Rs. all of which were seriously injured, the remainder including Maj Ballinger and A/CSM Knight were killed.

No.18 Pl commanded by Lt Badger with the 2nd in Command Capt Wyss and the remainder of Coy H.Q. crashed landed 6 miles West of the Coy objective. Capt Wyss was injured on landing and together with his Batman was captured and imprisoned in Florida jail, but was released next day when British Forces approached, when he himself released the criminals from the jail with whom he had become friends. The Pl with Lt Badger, who was wounded in the hand, reached the bridge the next day after fighting a few minor engagements.

No.15 Pl commanded by Lt Withers crash landed between the landing zone and the bridge. They attacked the bridge captured it, and held it till dawn, were reinforced by men from B Coy, and eventually, through lack of ammunition after holding the bridge for 16 hrs, had to surrender, but were released half an hour later by 17 Inf Bde.

No.16 Pl under Lieut Robey crash landed 10 miles SW of the objective. Enemy fire was directed on to it and it burst into flames. Lt Robey and 15 other ranks were killed, the remainder of the Pl made their way to the coast where they joined the seaborne forces.

'D' COY commanded by Maj J.E. Phillp had as their task to attack a coastal battery on the main road Syracuse Noto about 3 miles South of the bridge; the Coy was carried in 10 WACO gliders none of which reached the landing zone. Maj Phillp with half Coy H.Q. landed in the sea, swam ashore and rejoined the Bn at 2000 hrs on 10 Jul. Capt Wright with the remainder of Coy H.Q. landed on the SE tip of the Maddalena Peninsula, were engaged in a few minor skirmishes and joined up with seaborne forces reaching the Bn on the 11th.

No.19 Pl (Lt Walters) - Both gliders of this pl landed in the sea and were picked up by naval craft.

No.20 Pl (Lt Brown) half the pl with Lt Brown landed in the sea in the Gulf of Gela, there are only 2 survivors. The other half under Sgt Basten landed near their landing zone, but were unable to pin point their position and rejoined the main body next morning.

No 21 Pl (Lt E.J. Davies) Half the Pl with Lt Davies were reported by the tug pilot to have been cast off near Catania, they have not been heard of since; the other half under Sgt Bowditch landed in the sea and were picked up by naval craft.

No.22 Pl (Lt Broadbridge) Half the Pl under Lt Broadbridge landed 3 miles N of Portopalo, 56 miles West of the landing area: after skirmishes they joined up with the 51st Div and rejoined the Bn at 1700 hrs 12 Jul with their full complement of men weapons and equipment and their handcart.

The 3" Mortar detachment under Sgt Pateman landed near Avola and eventually rejoined the Bn.

'E' COY commanded by Maj J.A. Neilson was a composite Coy formed from H Coy and the Recce Pl; they were carried in 7 WACOs and had as their objective a strong point about a mile south of the bridge. The 2 gliders carrying Maj Neilson and Capt P.A. Davis are missing. Lt N.E. Pollard's glider crashed on landing and exploded, and Lt Pollard and most of his crew were killed. Sgt Caulkin's glider crashed, Sgt Caulkin was injured and his crew rejoined the main body of the Bn next day. Sgt Charlton and his glider load landed at Malta. The glider containing Lt Glassborow and his men crash landed in an orchard 10 miles South of the Landing Zone; they marched North that night having minor engagements, but next morning met heavy opposition, were captured and later freed by 17 Inf Bde.

'H' COY commanded by Lt Gotto was composed of 2 6pdr detachments and was carried in 4 WACOs. The glider carrying Lt Gotto and one of the jeeps failed to take off, was unloaded, took off again at 2030 hrs and after flying 7 hrs landed near Ben Gardane in Tripolitania.

The glider containing the second jeep crashed in some high trees West of the landing zone, the driver was killed and the two remaining men were injured. The first 6pdr gun under Sgt Howes landed 8 miles South of the Landing Zone, the gun was unloaded and left owing to lack of the towing jeep and the gun crew joined up with Maj Brennan. The second 6pdr gun under Cpl Halliwell, landed in the sea ½ mile from shore, the remaining two swam ashore, were captured, and released by the Devons 24 hrs later.

'SIMFORCE' Commanded by Capt Simonds was a force organised only 36 hrs before the operation, when three more gliders became available. Two gliders with Capt Simonds landed in the sea, losing 8 men. The third glider under Lieut Reynolds lost one man by MG fire shortly after landing, marched that night and after meeting some of 'B' Coy moved to Waterloo and assisted in its Defence.

At about 1600 hrs the bridge having been recaptured by 17 Inf Bde, the remainder of the Bn were in all round defence positions at the Bridge.

0900 - SYRACUSE having been occupied by 17 Inf Bde, the previous night, the Bn moved up to the new town area SE of the railway covering the approaches from BELVEDERE.

1200 - A warning order for embarkation was received and of the Bde 800 officers and men embarked on four L.C.Is at SYRACUSE and sailed at approx 2000 hrs.

After a night and day at sea the force arrived at SOUSSE at about 2100 hrs and by 2230 were back in camp.

The discipline and coolness of the men in the gliders who crashed in the sea cannot by emphasised too much, very few had more than a few moments to take off their equipment and make escape holes before the gliders filled. There was no case of panic, and numerous acts of gallantry are reported, amongst them that of Cpl Ottoway (A Coy) who stayed in the body of the glider and got three men out of the fuselage although warned that it was sinking. He was trapped and drowned. Mention must also be made of the number of men who swam ashore and without boots and weapons made their way through the beach defences to rejoin the Bn.

19 Offrs and 269 men are back from SICILY, but it is known that many are scattered but safe. Italian flags and numerous captured weapons are trophies are to be seen in the camp.

Kit deficiencies check were started and the special order of the day was published containing messages of congratulation from General Montgomery, for which see appendix 'C'.

Lieut Ashburnham and R.S.M. O'Brien returned from MALTA with a small party of other ranks.

Church Parade - news was received that approximately 200 men of the Bde are Safe at ALGIERS.

The Brigadier and afterwards the C.O., spoke to the Bn. 'F' Coy was disbanded and the men sent to the Rifle Coys. 'H' Coy was also disbanded, two pls being retained in 'S' Coy.

News was received that Capt Connellan, Lieut Roberts and 66 O.Rs. are safe at SUEZ.

Capt Simonds, Lieut Anderson, Lieut Walters, Lieut Willcocks and a party of Other Ranks arrived back from ALGIERS.

In the absence of the Adjutant, Intelligence Officer, and most of the Bn HQ staff, I have attempted to piece together the story of what happened after the landing had taken place.

Casualties which occurred during the landing were very heavy and cannot, in all cases, be traced. An approximate summary, however, is as follows:-

Took off from strips A & B at El Djem (Tunisia)

Landed in Africa

Landed in Malta

Landed in sea off Sicily

Landed in Sicily

Missing

WACOs

HORSAs

My own glider landed in the sea. The party collected and swam ashore. There were seven survivors after a 2 mile swim.

Maj Murray (Comd 2 Sqn Glider Pilot Regt) and I rested until about 4 a.m. and then made our way barefooted along the beach defences, pretending that we had a strong force moving behind and giving various hand signals to preserve this illusion. Eventually we joined a Commando raid which was going in on the South Coast. We got our feet bandaged up, commandeered a motor cycle and moved up to the Bn R.V. taking three Italian prisoners on the way.

There was no sign that the Bn had ever reached the R.V. except for a few crashed gliders, only one of which landed in the correct place. Accordingly we moved northwards towards our objective. On the way up we ran into the Deputy Bde Comd who had just destroyed a Coastal Battery with a pl of the Border Regt, and was in very good form.

I left Murray at Bde H.Q. in a farm, and went on to try and find the Bn. At a pill box covering cross roads 120248 I found a small party commanded by Lieut Glassborow. I told them to remain where they were and went on up the road where enemy sniping made things rather unpleasant. About a mile on I ran into two pls of B Coy who were fighting a battle for their original objectives - BILSTON defences. Lieut Goodman and Capt Foot were both doing stout work, and Goodman had been wounded. They had the situation well in hand and had taken a lot of prisoners. As it was now midday I felt that I ought to get up to our main objective - WATERLOO BRIDGE. So, taking one man with a Sten gun on the back of my motor cycle, I went on up the road. At WALSALL, 1200 yds to the North, I found a Bn of the Royal Scots Fusiliers fighting an engagement with an Italian Force of about 50 men. Just as I arrived (at about 1400 hrs) the Italians surrendered, and I was able to push through towards the bridge.

At the top of the escarpment I ran into an ambush of about 20 Italians and had to turn round, go back and wait until the R.S.F. advanced guard Coy cleared it for me.

As soon as this had been done I was able to rejoin another of my pls - Lieut Badger of 'C' Coy who had been wounded - and about 20 men of 'B' Coy.

O.C. 2 R.S.F., whom I met on the escarpment, asked me to co-ordinate an attack with one of his Coys and the remnants of my own troops on the high ground West of WATERLOO BRIDGE where two enemy Mortars and three M.Gs. were giving trouble by shooting up the main SYRACUSE Road. This I did. The attack was successful and the R.S.F. pushed on with their main force towards SYRACUSE.

Just after this (about 1630 hrs) I was pleased to see my 2nd in Command, Maj Brennan, coming back over the bridge. Things were rather rushed at the time, and I did not trouble to find out how he had got there. The enemy had by now re-occupied another piece of high ground overlooking the Bridge, so I gave him orders to co-ordinate another attack, and went about my original task of trying to collect the Bn.

I went forward over the bridge and discovered a Pl of 'C' Coy (Lt Withers) who had done a magnificent job of capturing the bridge during the night. They had suffered casualties and were very exhausted. I also found a composite pl of 'B' Coy (Lt Deuchar) who had been assisting them in holding the Bridge.

I then moved the small forces I had managed to locate up to area WALSALL, where I concentrated the Bn in positions of all round defence. Just about this time, The Deputy Bde Comd arrived, and gave me orders for the defence of WATERLOO. He established Bde H.Q. in a farm building overlooking the Bridge, and I established my Bn H.Q. in buildings on WALSALL X roads.

At about 2000 hrs General HOPKINSON arrived in a Jeep to see us. He was very cheerful and confident, and we did not known until later that he had spent most of the night in the sea. Half an hour later, we were equally pleased to see the Bde Comd who had arrived after an adventurous journey by sea and land.

By now, I had collected about 140 Offrs and men, all of whom were in high spirits and very pleased with their day's work. We passed a quiet night, patrolling aggressively and taking one or two prisoners.

At 0845 hrs, the following morning, the Bn was ordered to move to a position 1200 yds to the West of SYRACUSE, where we spent a quiet day repressing civilian looters and re-equipping ourselves with Italian arms, ammunition and stores. Another 150 Offrs and men of the Bn rejoined us - some of them with truly remarkable stories of adventures and misadventures. We buried our dead as far as possible and cared for the wounded. No sign of enemy activity.

The following day we were ordered to move back to AFRICA, and at about 1900 hrs in the evening, we left SYRACUSE Harbour in L.C.Is. with a total strength of 318 all ranks. By midnight on 14 Jul, we had all arrived safely back at SOUSSE Harbour.

Casualties for the operation were heavy, and at the moment of writing are as follows:-

Killed

Wounded

Missing (believed killed)

Missing

Offrs

O.Rs.

196

332

It is hoped that many of the casualties posted as missing will reappear within the next few days.

The timings throughout this narrative are only approximate, as my watch was put out of action by sea water.

Major General G.F. HOPKINSON, Comdr 1st Airborne Division, has sent to us the following message. I feel sure that these words will be read with pride by all ranks of the 80th Foot.

"General Sir Bernard Montgomery, Commanding the 8th Army, asked me to let the Airlanding Brigade know that their contribution to the success of the landing operations had been invaluable. He regretted that the Airborne operation, through no fault of the Brigade, proved more difficult than anticipated but he wished to emphasise the important and gallant part played by all ranks. In spite of all the difficulties and set-backs the main objective had been captured and held. For those responsible for this particular action he was filled with admiration. Others who, by their own initiative, fought isolated actions in various parts of the battlefield, had played no small part in this most successful landing action. Had it not been for the skill and gallantry of the Air Landing Brigade, the port of SYRACUSE would not have fallen until very much later, because the enemy would inevitably have formed a strong defensive line on the canal to the South of the town."

"Lieutenant General M.C. DEMPSEY, Commanding 13th Corps, after giving orders this afternoon for the move of the Air Landing Brigade back to AFRICA, asked me to convey to Brigadier Hicks and the Air Landing Brigade his thanks for the magnificent effort by the Brigade during the night 9/10th July. He was filled with admiration for the fighting spirit and determination of all detachments of the Airborne Troops and particularly for the remarkable fight put up by the small party who captured the bridge and by the others who assisted in holding it. This action he considers, was the key to the subsequent capture of SYRACUSE."

"The Commanders of the 5th and 50th Divisions, whom I saw to-day, were full of praise for the splendid performance of the parties of the Airborne Troops who operated in their areas. General KIRKMAN, who commands the 50th Division, saw Officers and men who, by swimming ashore, took part in the fighting and he was most impressed by their courage and their determination."

Major General Hopkinson concludes by saying "I should like to add my own appreciation of what I consider to be a very fine performance indeed."

The Commanding Officer wishes to express his own admiration for all those Officers and men who, by fighting on in small isolated guerrilla parties, caused the enemy such dislocation behind his lines.

Waterloo Bridge, the Brigade's main objective, was captured intact by the 80th as ordered, in spite of heavy opposition.

The battle for SYRACUSE, in which the 80th Foot did so much to clear the path for the 8th Army, will remain for all time a most gallant episode in the history of the Regiment.

Statement of No.207782 Lieut. E. Davies 2nd Bn The South Staffordshire Regiment - Escaped Prisoner of War

We left the strip at KAIROUAN on time in WACO No.12, fourteen in all with the Glider Pilots. Trip was uneventful. About 2215 hrs we saw the coast of SICILY, made a right bank and went North along the coast. There was a lot of flak, both heavy and light, and we were about 5 miles off shore. I saw a flash and a puff of smoke and then the tow rope was free. I thought it had been cut by an A.A. Shell. We cast off the rope and prepared for a sea landing. When we struck the water, we carried out our ditching drill, the glider then being submerged. I called the roll and all were present. The sea was pretty rough and parts of the Glider gradually broke away, we climbed on to the wings, but men were continually being washed off and Ptes BLANEY, RUTTER and TOON and I dived off and brought them back. As 6 men could not swim I decided to keep the force together, and swim the whole glider into the shore during the night. I had a fighting knife, so we cut paddles for those who could swim a little, and hand holds for those who could not. Four of us who could swim, swam and pushed the glider towards the shore. As the men were beginning to go to sleep and slip off the wing, we started singing. Morale was excellent, and discipline good. We paddled and sang until dawn, when we found ourselves about a mile from the shore. Ptes JUDGE and [?] had had to be held on by men detailed during the last hours of darkness. Ptes RUTTER and BLANEY swam to the shore to see if they could get a boat or contact our troops. On arrival they were taken prisoner. An Italian motor launch came out and took us on board as prisoners (0830 hrs). The boat was covered in Red Crosses and bristling with guns. We found that we were slightly S of AUGUSTA. The Italians thought the wreckage was of an aeroplane but did not know its nationality. In all we were 10 hours in the water.

We were stripped, searched and looted. 2 Spitfires came in and shot up the Seaplane base, and we tried to escape but it was impossible. We were all locked up in the Guard Cells of the aerodrome camp. There I met P/O SAMUELS, R.A.F., who had been a prisoner there for 2 weeks. During an air-raid I tried to escape, but only got chained to P/O SAMUELS for my trouble, I was in chains a few hours only. We were later moved to LENTINI Town prison where I met Lt WILLIAMS 2 S Staffords, and some of his men who had been picked up at sea in SYRACUSE Bay. He was wounded and had had no medical assistance, so I did what I could, including setting his hand which was broken, while some of the men held him down. I went to the latrines and tried to escape over the prison wall, but got hauled back and thoroughly pasted for my efforts, and accorded the honour of a special guard of four men. Later we were moved to another town and interrogated by a board of high ranking Officers. We went in one at a time and I was asked to explain the workings of British grenades, including a 36 and a 77. The men were standing just outside the door and I was able to tell them to keep the exit free, as I meant to leave in a hurry. I told the Italian Interrogating Officer that the best way to explain the 36 Grenades was to take it to pieces, starting by taking the pin out. He was just going to do this, and I was preparing to dive for the door, when another officer stopped him. After an excited discussion they threw us all out, and asked us no more questions.

At the next camp I was separated from the men and placed in solitary confinement. I was joined during the first night by Lt-Col KOUNS of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Div. He had some U.S. gold seal dollars with him and we all but had the Serjeant of the Guard bribed, but he was afraid of the private soldiers, and nothing came of it.

During the day I had been interrogated in style, was taken into a room with the window closed so as to be in twilight. The interrogating officer sat behind a desk and tried all the usual approaches. The two sentries fixed bayonets and loaded their rifles with elaborate flourishes, and because my identity discs had been taken off me on capture he threatened to have me shot as a spy. Later he tried to bribe me and then the effect of flattery and finally that he would have me shot. I told him to go to Hell and get on with it, that I had given my name rank and number and that was all he was going to get. There was a big map on the wall, and I was able to get out of him that we were in PIAZZA ARMERINA.

From PIAZZA ARMERINA we were taken North (WILLIAMS - SAMUELS - COL KOUNS) skirting MT ETNA to MESSINA. Twice on route we were machine gunned by Lightnings. When this happened the Italian guards dived for the ditch covering the trucks with their rifles and threatening to shoot the first man to get off the truck. Luckily we were not hit. Along the route we saw groups of burnt-out vehicles which had been shot up by Allied aircraft. At MESSINA the Germans were ferrying men and vehicles across the Straits, so we were taken S of the town and lodged in a jail. There we were joined by other prisoners. For 24 hours we had had no food or water.

During the trip to MESSINA Col KOUNS and I planned an escape from the vehicles by cutting the canvas and jumping when the trucks slowed down. The hole was discovered and sewn up. We cut it again, and again it was sewn up. The rear truck was brought up to within 30 yards with tommy gunners sitting on the front wings covering us. Two men sat on the front wings of our truck facing backwards with the same task. They looked most uncomfortable with their heads freezing and their backsides burning from the heat of the engine.

The next day we were taken across the Straits in assault craft after nearly being lynched by the civilian population in MESSINA. The trip only took 20 mins and gave us no time to put Col KOUNS plan; to rush the Italian guards and German crew and take over the boat, into operation.

After the crossing we were taken by rail to P.W. camp at CAPUA, where the officers were put in a separate compound. It was then the 16th July, and we remained there until about mid-August. We occupied our time planning escapes, and assembling escape kits, mine consisted of a compass which I had sewn in my shorts in Africa, a map of Sicily which I stole from an Italian guard, and maps of Italy and the Swiss frontier which we made, these were on eight thin sheets of paper sewn in my clothing; a hacksaw blade which was given me (mind had been found during the initial search at CAPUA), a pair of wirecutters which I made from a pair of dental forceps, a water bottle and a pack which I took from the Italian store during an air raid. Concentrated food I saved from our Red Cross Parcels. The Italians punctured all the tinned food, but we immediately covered the holes with sticking plaster.

I obtained the dental forceps by pretending that I was suffering from toothache, my guards took me to the dental room, where the Italian dentist, very third-rate, examined my teeth and told me there was nothing wrong. I insisted that there was, and he hastily drilled four holes in my teeth, and told my guards to bring me back the next day to have them filled. I could see his sets of forceps on the table, so I promptly fainted. They sat me on a form nearby. It was a bit tricky because they stuck in the box, and there were about 15 Italians in the room at the time. When I had them I said I was alright and was marched back. I promptly buried them, and after 2 days I converted them into wirecutters with my hacksaw.

My first serious attempt was with Capt LASH of No.3 Commando through the wire. We managed to cut the main wire during the night intending to go through two nights later and throw a blanket over the outer belt of wire. We camouflaged the hole very carefully but some other Officer made a recce through it during the next night and did not cover it up on his return and the guards discovered it.

The second attempt was by means of a tunnel. It was started by Lts BROOKE-JOHNSON and Capt WEIR S.A.S. (captured in Africa), LASH and I joined in. The entrance to the tunnel was in the canteen, and was intended to go under the wire and emerge by the Guards quarters in the F.A.D. trenches. We worked on it 18 hrs a day for three weeks in shifts of 4. We sank a vertical shaft of 9 ft, and went off at right angles. The earth was put in the roof of the building we were digging in. About the beginning of August Fortresses bombed CAPUA railway station and hit an ammunition train and dump, which went up. It was a mile away but the explosions were so great that they all but wrecked the camp, bringing down doors and windows and splitting the walls and ceilings. The roof of the Canteen and recreation room where we had hidden the excavated earth, collapsed and about a ton of earth poured down. We camouflaged it hastily, and told the Italians that we were so sorry about the bombardment, that we would clean up the very battered officer's compound for them. All the earth was carted away and hidden in the camp area, without the tunnel being discovered, and we set to work again. When the tunnel was 40 or 50 ft long and we had only a few feet to go, we were all moved from the Capua Camp to No.19 Camp BOLOGNA, except for the Americans, who were sent to another camp. Later as a free man I returned to CAPUA, then in the hands of the 5th Army, and found the tunnel still undiscovered, although the Germans had been using it as a prison camp.

There were no real chances on the train to BOLOGNA, because LASH, who was with me, was too ill to jump off the train. At No.19 Camp, BOLOGNA we started planning escape again, but before we could evolve anything concrete ITALY capitulated.

On the 8th September, the day on which Italy packed in, I was still in the Officers Camp Concentranento P.G. 19 at BOLOGNA. In the afternoon our guards appeared without arms, and told us of the capitulation, this information was received by radio. Brigadier MOUNTAIN the senior British Officer immediately demanded our release, but the guards refused this until they received confirmation from their Military Authorities. Finally it was agreed that if no confirmation had been received by 0600 hrs 9th September they would release us. Sometime after midnight or on the morning of the 9th the Italians told us that the Germans had surrounded the camp and taken it over. There were nearly 900 Officer prisoners in the Camp at the time, and most of them decided to make a break for it somehow. I went up to the main gate and found the Germans there so I went to the back of the camp and found a gap in the inner barrier of wire. With me was Lt SHEPHERDSON, Durham Light Infantry who asked if he could come along because he had no compass, maps or plans of his own for escaping. It was agreed that as I had intended to escape before, I should lead the expedition. We reached the outer barrier, covered by arc lamps and Italian guards. We could see no Germans so we sent the Italians down the road to see if there were any Germans there, they returned and told us there were. With the assistance of Brigadier MOUNTAIN who had now come up to the outer wire. We persuaded the Sentry, a private soldier, to open the gate in the wire, by telling him it was the Commandant's order. By now there were 40 or 50 Officers behind us waiting to get out. The gate now being open the Sentries were pushed aside and we were out on to a tarmac road; other Officers were following us. We moved a 100 yds down the road when a machine gun opened up from about 200 yards apparently firing at the men escaping in the glare of the arc lights. We went flat, crawled off the road into a ditch, moved down the ditch and got through a thick hedge into a wood. Other prisoners also got into a wood and the Germans tried to clear it by moving back and forth in extended order, firing Schmeissers from the hip. As the line passed us, we either lay down or stood close to a tree. Eventually we got through the wood and crawled into a vine-yard and then moved North until we hit the railway line. There we bumped into the Germans again who fired at us with automatic weapons as we tried to cross the line, we crawled back and set off East away from the line, and at dawn hid up in a field of high crops. We had now been free about 4 or 5 hours and were about a mile away from the concentration camp.

During the day we heard German Soldiers and Italian voices about 50 yards away from us; we dared hardly move a hand for fear of making a slight noise and being discovered. In the evening we moved off S.E. towards the hills and reached ST. LAZZARO about midnight. There we contacted some Italians who gave us civilian clothes, food and 500 Lire each. Hiding in trees and woods we spent 3 or 4 days in that area, resting and making plans. About this time we met a young Italian couple who were going South to get away from the Germans, they agreed to help us get South. I decided to go to CASTEL DEL RIO so we walked and went by train via IMOLA and MONGHIDORO. We walked most of the way, a short train journey being an experiment of mine and had proved successful. The Italian couple who had agreed to help us didn't move with us but near us, contacting us only when essential. They bought all our train tickets during the escape; it was worked this way. SHEPHERDSON and I waited away from the Station while they went in and bought 4 tickets, they then came out and dropped two tickets as they passed us and we picking them up followed them to the train at a distance of about 100 yards or so. There was no communication between us and them on the train but we made contact again after the journey. From CASTEL DEL RIO we walked and went by train to FIRENZE via FIRENZOUMA and arrived there about 16th September, from FIRENZE we took the train to ROME via ARREZZO after waiting 4 hours which we spent in a large Church or Cathedral, there an Italian verger asked me something and not getting a reply became very insistent so I pretended to be mad and he left me. I returned to SHEPHERDSON whom I had left in another part of the Church and we left too, hurriedly. Outside the Church a German soldier asked us for information about the Church which we explained with a watch and very bad French. We left FIRENZE about 1600 hours changed trains and stations at AREZZO and arrived in ROME in the early hours of the morning. I had not intended to go into the City but to get off outside and make a detour to the railway South of ROME on foot. Unfortunately the train didn't stop before Rome and was moving too fast for us to leave it. North of Rome the railway line and stations had been heavily bombed but the line, of course, was still open. A lot of damage had been done.

In ROME there was a curfew, and as soon as we left the station a German came up to us and asked something. We didn't know what it was and said we could not help him. He then tried Italian and we pointed to a large building and told him he would find everything there. He was definitely suspicious so we walked away quickly. It was very dark and we hid up in the back streets, while our Italian assistants bought tickets for CISTERNA DI LITTORIA. We got off the train a few miles from the station, and made our way into the mountains, with the idea of following down the North East flank towards NAPLES. In the area of PRIVERNO, SHEPHERDSON and I agreed to separate because SHEPHERDSON'S feet were pretty bad and he preferred to lie up with the two Italians and wait for the Allies to pass them. We thought then that they had reached GAETA. I decided to go South through the German lines. I moved down the flank of the mountains following roughly the line CASTRO-PICO-ESPERIA, moving by day, by compass alone as I had no large scale map. I had long since decided that movement by day a 100% better than movement by night. At this time when ever I came to German telephone wires, with the aid of two stones I carried for that purpose, I cut a piece out of the wire about 50 yards long and carried it off with me and hid it. From ESPERIA I went almost due East, swam the river CARIGLIANO North of ST. ANRIA DI VALLEFREDDA. All the bridges were guards it was river too fast to stand up in, about 5 feet deep, 80 yards wide, with steep banks. Thence S.E. to the plain South of the rd junc VAIRANO and into the mountain East of PIETRAMELRA. By now my feet were in a bad state so I lay up for some days and then tried to cross the river VOLTURNO The fighting there was too fierce so I could not get across. Later I heard that the Allies had crossed the river so I went through the German lines and eventually made contacted with the U.S. 3rd Div on the evening of 18th October at STATIGLIANO. There I was able to give some information and they fought a short battle. During my wait for the Allies to cross the River VOLTURNO I kept myself fit by logging and sawing wood, and climbing in the mountains. On the night of the 18th I went back through the German lines to make a recce of ROCCAROMANA - for a possible enemy counter-attack. An Italian I knew told me it was coming. At dawn I found a German Platoon had come up into the hills, and chose to occupy and dig in around the farm I was operating from, East of the town. I was nearly taken prisoner by the Germans but managed to crawl away and returned to the U.S. Lines. The Italian occupants of the house were captured. The farm then received a thorough plastering from the American Artillery.

NOTE. All Italian men are now being picked up by the Germans and made to do forced labour in the front line or where ever they are needed. The women are put into soldiers brothels.

It took me exactly 40 days, from the night I broke out of the Cage at BOLOGNA to reach the Allied lines.

For the first, the quick break and run technique is the best. It is essential to seize every opportunity, and not to wait in vain for the "perfect" one. There isn't such a thing. Failures must not be taken too much to heart. Don't rely on other people, and don't wait for the other man to try it first. An escape kit is not essential.

For the second type, thorough planning and a good escape kit is essential. Again failing must not discourage further attempts and neither must the anti-escape prisoner be allowed to discourage one. It is the standing rule in most cages that all escape plans by submitted to the S.B.O. (Senior British Officer) and Escape Committee if it exists. This rule avoids innocent torpedoing of others plans and provides useful information and co-operation. It is wise to have one man in Command of the escape whose word will be final. Once out it is better to avoid shortcuts; if there are two ways of doing a thing the longest and hardest will prove to be the best. On a long journey one with experience, reaches a stage of depression when one doesn't care if one succeeds or not. Keep going, it's worth it.

During all stages of an escape "IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, TRY, TRY, TRY, AGAIN."

The following information has been brought back by Lieut E.J. DAVIES of P.O.W. in enemy hands.

This glider landed in the sea between SYRACUSE and AUGUSTA, and about half the load (32) were drowned. Lt DAVIES does not know the names of the survivors.