Fortunato Picchi - Non Commemorated Special Forces

Discussion in 'Non-Commemorated War Dead' started by chrisharley9, Mar 4, 2009.

  1. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    This Italian Citizen who was a member of the British Armed Forces took part in Operation Colossus the attack on the aqueduct at Tragino - he was employed as an Italian interpreter on the operation - he was captured & later shot by the Italians

    The only possible date I can come with for his death is Palm Sunday 1941 (April)

    I strongly believe that he should be commemorated by the CWGC

    Does anyone have any authorative sources on this operation which gives his name or any possible alias that he may have used

    Chris
     
  2. Capt.Sensible

    Capt.Sensible Well-Known Member

  3. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    Thanks for that I will give it a good look

    Chris
     
  4. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    He has a personal file at the National Archives which shows his alias as Peter Dupont
     
  5. AndyBaldEagle

    AndyBaldEagle Very Senior Member

    Chris
    As a matter of interest do you know where he is buried/commemorated?
    I will have a look through my stuff at the weekend to see what I've got!!

    Andy
     
  6. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    Andy

    at present all I now is that is was shot in Rome - would be grateful for anything you might be able to find

    Chris
     
  7. airborne medic

    airborne medic Very Senior Member

    He was also a member of SOE.....there will be a bit on him in the book 'Striking Back' which has three chapters on the Tragino raid.....not sure he was shot in Rome....he certainly was in Naples prison with the other captured memebers of Colossus.....
     
  8. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  9. airborne medic

    airborne medic Very Senior Member

    Chris,
    Having read your first post properly....the answers are he will be 'officially' mentioned in the Operation Colossus files in the DEFE series at the NA......my immediate response to getting him CWGC recognition would be very difficult....he had not as far as I am aware changed his nationality to English and so can't be commemorated by the CWGC......my next thought would be the Italian war graves commission if they have such a body....a question for the forum.....how are Italians who changed sides after the 'general surrender' in September 1943 and died fighting with the Allies commemorated?
    Also I guess in most official bodies eyes he was a civilian and so getting the military involved will again be difficult.....and finally 'shot as a traitor'......
     
  10. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    That is something that I have been giving some thought to - as he was a naturalized British citizen he should at least make the CWGC Civilian Roll Of Honour; however I think that the answer to his status will be in his SOE file at the NA

    Chris
     
  11. airborne medic

    airborne medic Very Senior Member

    Chris,

    Well done...he had got British citizenship but I guess this wouldn't cut much ice with the Italians once he'd been captured.....
     
  12. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    No I dont suppose that Italians gave a stuff about his status

    Chris
     
  13. izzy

    izzy Senior Member

    Im sure there was an article about this raid in After The Battle. May give further information.
     
  14. James Daly

    James Daly Senior Member

    The After the Battle article is every extensive, I have it somewhere in my files
     
  15. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    James

    I have got a copy of that article

    Chris
     
  16. Stephen Nulty

    Stephen Nulty Member

    From The Times, Saturday 12th June 1943
     

    Attached Files:

  17. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    Stephen

    thanks for the Times extract

    Have just got a copy of his SOE file & it confirms that he was a British soldier

    Chris
     
  18. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    Actually the file has muddied the waters with regard to his military status; however he has been submitted to CWGC for recognition
     

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