Award Military Cross Lt. C. Paddock, 46th Royal Tank Regiment, RAC Escaper

brithm · Sep 9, 2021

123546 Lt. Colin Paddock, Royal Armoured Corps 46th Royal Tank Regiment awarded the Military Cross for Escapes made in North Africa

Lt. Paddock was captured at EL ALAMEIN on 22.7.42 when his tank was knocked out by enemy fire. He threw away his papers and badges of rank and posed as a private. That night they were kept near EL DABA, but he escaped with a N.Z. private. They walked towards the front line with the help of the compass. Lt. Paddock had hidden while being searched.
They were nearly caught the second evening taking water from an Italian water lorry. Ten German trucks came up, but pretending they were Italians they served the Germans with water then beat a hasty retreat. The third night they passed through the Italian lines and struck off no-man's land. Lt. Paddock reckoned that they were within half a mile of British troops when an Italian patrol approached. They fell on their faces and lay still but were so tired that they dropped off to sleep and woke in the morning to find an Italian picquet round them.
They were taken to the Italian lines, then DABA, where after two days work on the bakery the German officer in charge found Lt. Paddock was an officer and he was sent West in a lorry. Late in the afternoon, East of SOLLUM, Lt. Paddock and a P/O. jumped off the back of the truck and set off for MATRUH. For two days they found food and water on abandoned trucks, then for two days they had nothing. They reached a fig grove further South where they found two Italians. They said they were Germans and wanted food and drink. The Italians took them to their camp but as they were crossing the road, they unfortunately met a German staff car, which the Italians stopped. They were recognised as British and sent to TOBRUK.
From there they were moved to DERNA, where they were locked in the civilian prison on bread and water for 3 days. They then went to BARCE, where Lt. Paddock went to hospital with dysentery. At the end of August he was moved to BENGHAZI. On 8.9.42 he was told at midday that he would be flown to ITALY in twenty minutes. He got the cook Sgt. to entice one of the guards away with some food and while the other was not looking, passed the wire and escaped on the back of a lorry. The alarm was given so he jumped off and mixed himself with a part of Indians working nearby. He returned to their camp with them and then to the European camp.
An identification parade was then held. Lt. Paddock escaped detection by cutting off his hair, wearing glasses and padding out his lips and cheeks with strips of handkerchief. The Italians still thought he was in the camp, so he dug a trench in one of the tents and climbed into it when the guards came round on a search, covering himself with boards and a ground sheet. Escape by ordinary methods was impossible from this camp (there were double rows of barbed wire and guards between) so Lt. Paddock and several others started to make a tunnel, work at night. Unfortunately they were moved before it was finished.
In October, they started to move P/W again, so lt. Paddock returned to hospital, where, with C.S.M. McBride and C.Q.M.S. Holmes, nos. 2688210 and 2928482, both Cameron Highlanders, who have been recommended for awards, he made a hole in a disused latrine. He re they buried themselves till dug out by two British officers who entered Benghazi with the advance. A most excellent example of spirit and unswerving determination to escape at all costs and highly deserving recognition.
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WO 373/46/65
'A MAN THE ENEMY COULD NOT HOLD' Lieut. Paddock, who is now convalescing after his experiences in and out of enemy hands (IWM E20106) 9th December 1942 Sgt. Mott

Chris C · Sep 4, 2021

That is QUITE the series of adventures!

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Award Military Cross Lt. C. Paddock, 46th Royal Tank Regiment, RAC Escaper

brithm Senior Member

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Lt Paddock convalescing POW escapee Cyrenaica 9.12.42 (1).jpg

Chris C Canadian Patron

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Award Military Cross Lt. C. Paddock, 46th Royal Tank Regiment, RAC Escaper

brithm Senior Member

Attached Files:

Lt Paddock convalescing POW escapee Cyrenaica 9.12.42 (1).jpg

Chris C Canadian Patron

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