Military Operations in the Marche Region, Italy

Good morning all.

I am a newbie to posting on the site, although I have spent several hours reading many of the fascinating posts on here.

My father Douglas Davidson, was captured in North Africa at the 150th Bde battle in May/June 1942. He was serving with 44 RTR. After sevaeal failed attempts to escape while still held in N Africa he ended up in Italy at Camp 70, Monte Urano. He, along with many others escaped following the armistice in September 1943, and ended up with a group of partisans (Gruppo Roti) in the area between Macerata and Matelica in the Marche region. He was there until late June/early July 1944, when he finally made contact with Allied forces as they moved north. He was returned to the UK in mid July 1944. I have looked but can't find any reports such as MI9 etc.

I wonder if anyone can help me identify which Allied units were operating in that area at that time.

Many thanks

Mike

 

Mike,

Do you have your father's DoB and his Service Number? That will help those whose focus is Italian POW and escapes, when they search lists. Have you applied for his Service Record? Yes, it can take up to a year to appear (details on PM next). Normally there was a POW Escapee interview when with UK forces - this will be separate to his record.

Not being an expert on the Italian campaign, which nationality did he first encounter at Allied lines. that could narrow down the search.

 

Good morning Mike and welcome

Macerata was liberated on 30 June by the CIL - the Italian Co-Belligerent Army. See

https://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx tabid=108&art_id=200&kb_cat_id=18

also

9. Along the Adriatic - Finding Nonno

Here is an extract ftom the second source:

On the 17th June, the Italian contingent once again switched position within the allied forces, leaving the 5th British Army Corps and coming back under the command of the Polish Corps.

Anders immediately set out his next target: the liberation of Ancona and the occupation of its port, which was of huge strategic importance for the allied logistical effort. The plan was for the Polish Corps to head straight for the city, following national road 16 along the coast. The CIL would advance inland, protecting the Polish contingent’s left flank.

To execute the plan, the Nembo Division was immediately launched northwards along national road 81, and on the 18th June entered Ascoli Piceno, breaking through to the Marche, while the fleeing Germans were hindered by particularly threatening and fierce partisan gangs. They would strike the retreating columns, even managing, in a few cases, to take German soldiers prisoner.

Between the 21st and the 22nd June, the CIL finally managed to reach at least a part of the enemy rearguard, forcing it to stop and engage in a series of skirmishes in the province of Macerata, close to the towns of Sarnano and Colbuccaro.

In order to keep up the advance towards Ancona, they would have to take the town of Macerata, which was immediately to the north of the Italian positions. The relatively easy advance of the previous two weeks had lulled them into a false sense of security, however. This time the Germans had actually decided to stop and fight, and had holed up along the Chienti river, just south of the town. On the 26th June, the Nembo Division (paratroopers, part of the CIL) attempted a crossing, but quickly had to give up and withdraw: the enemy opened fire with mortars and machine guns, and easily mowed down the first lines of paratroopers who had gone into the attack.

It was a traumatic blow for the CIL, which then stopped to re-evaluate its plans, having been pinned down for the first time since operations began in the Adriatic sector. Macerata finally fell on the 30th June, simply because the Germans, who were being chased in all directions by the Allies, advancing across all sectors, decided to continue their retreat so as not to be surrounded. Local partisans told the Nembo Division about the enemy retreat and the paratroopers entered the town, engaging the last departing German patrols in battle. Once again, the Italian troops were welcomed joyfully by the liberated civilians.

Escape Reports.
What a nightmare trying to find the person you are looking for. Some of these reports have been digitalised so that a search with name and number might give you what you are looking for. This works with some of the escapees to Switzerland, but again,not all.

For those who reached allied lines in Italy tracking them down is a real problem. The only helpful point of point of departure is this list left by the late, great, Brian Sims (look for him on this site):


Pieces 3298 to 3327 – MI9 escape and evasion reports numbered 1 to 3122, dating from 1940 to 1945
Pieces 3343 to 3345 – 843 miscellaneous interrogation reports from 1945
Pieces 3348 to 3352 – 3,048 escape reports from 1945
Pieces 4238 to 4276 – reports of prisoner of war escapes from Italy to Switzerland 1943-1944
Pieces 4368 to 4371 – sundry additional reports on prisoner of war escapes via Switzerland 1943-1944
Pieces 5393 to 5404 – MI9 reports on escapers and evaders through enemy lines in Italy 1943-1944
Pieces 5582 to 5583 – interrogation reports on repatriated allied prisoner of war escapers and evaders 1942-1946, including some appendices to reports in pieces 3305 to 3327

Don't let the date 'from 1945' delude you. A report I found for a submariner who crossed the lines in June 1944 is in this box.
In other words, you need to search the lot apart from those who made it to Switzerland. A private resarcher is the best idea.

Best of luck,

Vitellino

 

Thank you so much for your help and I will digest this slowly!

Best wishes

Mike

 

In the meantime, Mike, could you please give us your father's number and I will have a proper look for him?

Regards.

Vitellino

 

Hello Mike.

Do you think this may be your father? Can you confirm his Army Number (843717) with anything you already have?

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

(N.b. full pdf courtesy of TNA Kew attached below)









Recommendation for Award for Davidson, Douglas Rank: Trooper Service No: ... | The National Archives

 

Better print of citation below.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.







EDIT: Mike, if you can confirm this is indeed your father he has an interesting service history. Nothing to shy away from; it maketh the man.

Always remember, never forget,

Jim.

 

Can you find him on either of these photos, Mike? They are held in the Baldini Family Archive.

Being bi-lingual helps - I simple entered 'Banda Toti partigiani marchigiani' in the search engine and up came a long article which included them.

(Foto storiche del “Gruppo Roti” Archivio Famiglia Baldini)

Edited to say I meant 'Roti' not 'Toti'.

 

I would lay good money on the chap in your first photo Janet being front row extreme right (squatting down). With the magnifying glass you can see the RTR badge on the left breast (right as you look at it) on his shirt.

Same chap is standing tall in second photo; just to right of centre behind chap with the cap comforter/wooly hat pointing pistol straight at camera.

Kind regards, I'm lost without the magnifying glass now, always,

Jim.