Award MiD 1127225 Gnr. P.I. Butler, 11 Royal Horse Artillery (Escape & Evasion, Italy 1943)

brithm · Feb 8, 2023

Award Mentioned in Despatches Gnr. Pierce Ignatius Butler, 11th Royal Horse Artillery (1127225)

BUTLER was taken prisoner near ANTELAT, LIBYA on 23rd January 1942 and was, at the time of the Italian Armistice, in Camo 52 (CHIAVARI). In June 1943, whilst imprisoned in Camp 65 (GRAVINA) BUTLER cut the wire and was out for three dates before being recaptured. He escaped from Camp 52 in June 1943 by means of a tunnel but was caught the following day.

Camp 52 was taken over by Germans on 10th September 1943 and P/W were moved in batches to GERMANY. BUTLER was entrained in a cattle truck on 15th September 1943; with the aid of a pen knife he made a hole in the floor and prised up the floor boards. When the train was moving slowly North of VERONA he dropped through on to the line. He walked to CAPRINO where he was put in touch with Partisans.

BUTLER stayed with the Partisans for three months, taking part in numerous ambushes against German convoys. On 5th January 1944 he went by train to MILAN and continuing his journey on foot, finally reaches SWITZERLAND on 21st January 1944.
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WO 373/64/561

vitellino · Feb 8, 2023

Will check out his entry to Switzerland details.

Andreas · Sep 5, 2023

On 23 January part of the regiment, part of Baron Column, marching with 1 Spt Grp, fought a rearguard action at Antelat X6757, in which it suffered considerable losses (2 guns with their detachments, a number of officers), when overrun by tanks from Panzerregiment 8, who had a rather good day. Time and location are confirmed.

War diary 15.PD:

16.15 The light platoons of the armored regiment encountered strong enemy with tanks. In a distance of 10 kilometers a strong enemy group with tanks is retreating in flight from southeast to northwest.
16.25 Order to armored regiment 8: leave Group West behind, front towards south.
Task: secure rear and right flank.
In a rapid advance Group East, protected by well-placed artillery fire, broke into the enemy column and in a tough armoured engagement destroyed 30 enemy thanks.
Through a rapidly executed push onto the enemy artillery this, while still firing intensely, was overrun and several batteries were destroyed. The enemy evaded towards the northwest.
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This was Rommel's attempt to close a cauldron around 1st Armoured Division, which failed however.

All the best

Andreas

vitellino · Sep 6, 2023

Back in February I forgot to follow up his escape to Switzerland.

Here's what's in TNA:

WO 208/4243/55

Name: Pierce Ignatius Butler.
Rank: Gunner, 1127225, Royal Horse Artillery.
Captured: Near Antalat, Libya, 23 January 1942.
Escaped or Liberated: from train north of Verona, 15 September 1943.
Arrived in Switzerland: 21 January 1944.
Other names mentioned: Captain Francini.

Presumably Francini was a partisan.

Butler was not in the list of people helped by the Bacciagaluppi organisation.

Vitellino

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Award MiD 1127225 Gnr. P.I. Butler, 11 Royal Horse Artillery (Escape & Evasion, Italy 1943)

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Award MiD 1127225 Gnr. P.I. Butler, 11 Royal Horse Artillery (Escape & Evasion, Italy 1943)

brithm Senior Member

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Andreas Working on two books

vitellino Patron Patron

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