Operation Maple (Thistledown & Driftwood)

WO106/3959 Operation Maple and Baobab
Context: Directorate of Military Operations and Military Intelligence, and predecessors: Correspondence and Papers, WAR OF 1939-1945, ITALY
Scope and content: Operations"Maple and Baobab": Jan., 1944: report by Lieutenant Worcester 2nd Special Air Services Regiment. For additional report on Operation Maple see WO 218/183
Covering dates: 1945 Apr.

WO218/183 Report : Operation Maple
Context: Special Services War Diaries, Second World War
Scope and content: Operation Maple: report. For additional report on Operation Maple see WO 106/3959
Covering dates: 1943 Dec




See also:

• 1595481 Gunner Austin HEHIR, MM, Royal Artillery & SAS: POW, E&E
• 232585 Lieutenant David Grey WORCESTER, MC, 2SAS: POW

 

Air 2/00/586
TOP SECRET

MO 1 (Records)

The attached report on two SAS operations carried out in ITALY early last year may be of interest and may be retained by you if you wish.

Air 2
Ext 1663
30 Apr 45.

 

SUBJECT: SAS Report, Operations MAPLE and BAOBAB.

To: The Under Secretary of State,
The War Office (D Air)

H.Q. Air Corps/TS/2271/6/G(Liaison)

1. The attached report on 2 SAS Regiment operations MAPLE and BAOBAB, which were carried out in ITALY early in 1944, are forwarded for information purposes.

2. It is only recently that the return of escaped Prisoners of War has made it possible to compile the full story.

3. It should be remembered that these operations were carried out when 2 SAS Regiment had only just started to operate in an airborne role. They had none of the signal communications which SAS Troops had on OVERLORD and no close tie-up with the Air Force as with 38 Group. Although, therefore, the ground parties were able to achieve considerable success, the lack of signal communication made their final evacuation impossible.

4. The naval operation BAOBAB was carried out at short notice but was particularly successful, an important bridge being destroyed with no casualties.


Signed Major General, Commander, 1st British Airborne Corps.


Headquarters, 1st British Airborne Corps,
RICKMANSWORTH, Herts.
9 April, 1945.
IGC/MMP.


Copy to: Headquarters, First Allied Airborne Army,
Commander, Airborne Establishments,
G (Ops).

 

OPERATIONS MAPLE AND BAOBAB

During December 1943 the 2nd S.A.S. Regiment was required to prepare plans for interference with enemy communications in Central ITALY in conjunction with the Anzio operation. The West coastal railway from ROME Northwards was already cut by air action, which interdiction was expected to last for a considerable time.

Two plans were produced, one dealing with the railways round ORTE and TERNI and the other with the railway leading from ANCONA to the Plain of LOMBARDY (see map).

Weather conditions were bad both for flying and seaborne work, and there was a thick layer of snow on the higher ground.

On the 7th January, after two false starts due to weather, MAPLE party set out in three Dakotas from the aerodrome at GIOIA DEL COLLE. The first two planes had a Drop Zone North-West of AQUILA for the four parties, code-name MAPLE-THISTLEDOWN, scheduled to attack the railways:-
(a) ORTE - ORVIETI
(b) ORTE - TERNI
(c ) TERNI - PERUGIA
(d) TERNI - FOLIGNO.

The third plane took a party, codename MAPLE-DRIFTWOOD, to a Drop Zone North-West of ANCONA to attack the railways ANCONA - RIMINI and FABRIANO - URBINO.


All groups were briefed to exfiltrate on completion of their tasks and a RendezVous with light coastal craft for three consecutive nights was arranged for DRIFTWOOD. No wireless was carried.

On the 27th of January a further seaborne independent operation (BAOBAB ) was mounted against a railway bridge South of PESARO on the coastal railway between ANCONA and RIMINI. This resulted in the demolition of the bridge which was confirmed by photo-recce to be closed to traffic for six days.


Meanwhile no further news was received from the airborne parties although escaped Prisoners brought in scraps of information. Lieutenant WORCESTER has recently been repatriated to this country and the account of his party's activities is appended. It is clear that considerable dis-organisation was caused, not only by Lieutenant WORCESTER's group but also by those under S.S.M. LLOYD and Sergeant SMOKER. Sergeant SMOKER's party accounted for at least one train and Lieutenant WORCESTER's for 25 vehicles in 10 days.


Captain GUNSTON and his party were last reported at PORTO SAN GIORGIO, 35 miles to the South of his area. The had completed their task and were about to leave by rowing boat. No subsequent news has been received.

Among the factors which contributed to the high casualty rate of Operation MAPLE were:-

(1) The static conditions at ANZIO which made it necessary for all S.A.S. to exfiltrate instead of being overrun.

(2) The precautions which the Germans were taking to effect the recapture of escaped prisoners.

(3) The winter conditions and lack of food in the area immediately North of the line.

(4) The tendency of some of the groups to stay too long in the same area instead of exfiltrating when their tasks were finished and supplies running low.


BAOBAB is interesting as the last of a series of seaborne tasks carried out by the 2nd S.A.S. in ITALY and SICILY. It illustrates that for geographically convenient targets the use of sea transport enables a greater quantity of explosive to be carried, and provides a reliable means of withdrawal for the attacking force.

 

OPERATION MAPLE

REPORT by Lieutenant WORCESTER


Maps used GSGS 4230 Sheet 28,
All map references are Italian Blue Grid (R).


The Party, consisting of:-

Lieutenant WORCESTER
Sergeant SMOTHER
Corporal PHILLIPS
Lance-Corporal LAWRENCE
Pct. HENIR

dropped at approximately 23.30 hours on the night of 7/8th January 1944 at B 3232. This was to the North of the planned Drop Zone but was a very similar bowl in the hills. We landed successfully in about three feet of snow and had no difficulty in collecting the panniers which had been kicked out of the plane before the stick. It was very cold - about 15 degrees Fahrenheit below Zero. Although the Drop Zone was a large one, about one and a half miles long by half a mile broad, it was not easy as there were half covered rocks in the snow. There was no sign of Lieutenant PARKER's stick and we thought he could not have dropped although his plane was quite close to ours just before the planes circled over the Drop Zone.

We joined with S.S.M. LLOYD's party, which had dropped from the same plane, and moved off North-West over difficult country. After three days we reached the main road, two miles South of POSTA, B 2536. The party was very exhausted as our packs weighed about 45 lbs and the wind-proof suits which we wore over our battle dress overburdened us with clothing. We obtained a meal at an Italian's house where we stayed the night.

At POSTA S.S.M. LLOYD's party left us. Before we separated S.S.M. LLOYD and I decided that if Lieutenant PARKER had not dropped we would attack all the railways between us. When I last heard of S.S.M. LLOYD at the end of February he was doing well according to information received from an ex-Prisoner of War.

My intention was to cross the TERNI - RIETI valley to CANTOLICE, B 0930, and it took us a further three days to reach this plain as heavy snow was falling.

At CANTOLICE we stayed two days and then moved on towards GRECCIO, A 9827. According to information from prisoners the route South of the lakes was heavily guarded and therefore extremely hazardous, so we decided to travel North of the lakes to GRECCIO.

At COTTANELLO, A 9223, we met an ex-Prisoner of War named WILLIAMS of the 7th TANKS who had been captured South of TOBRUK. We met him again later and he and a South African named McCORMICK also joined the party together with a SHERWOOD FORESTER named COBLEY. We gave uniforms to them all and they stayed with us.

There was very little transport to be seen on the roads apart from ambulances and there were very few trains on the railway from NARNI to TERNI and Southwards to RIETI. Traffic was observed more frequently on the ROME - ORVIETO line. Tunnels and bridges were well guarded and there were sentries posted here and there at sub-stations.

We had arranged a RendezVous North of SORA. I made our Headquarters at a point A 9525 by a small village called MONASTERO, North of the two roads from GRECCIO to CONFIGNI, A 8825. Our food supplies had lasted nineteen days and were supplemented slightly by bread which we obtained from the Italians.


… [?missing page]


in detail. One staff car was stopped and ditched with four rounds from a .455 revolver. My party was hidden in the ditch beside the road and fired from point blank range. On another occasion we were about to cross the TERNI - ROME road when a staff car came up suddenly. Pct. HEHIR drew his two revolvers and walked up the road firing at the car which was approaching at about 30 m.p.h. The car stopped and both its occupants were killed.

The total confirmed damage inflicted on the enemy during a period of ten days was 25 vehicles, both in day and night attacks, most of which were destroyed by throwing the bombs in at the back as the vehicles passed (the snow on the ground made them travel slowly). The bombs were detonated by short lengths of safety fuse which was fired as the traffic approached.

There were only one or two trains every day and I decided against attacking the railway again as the results would not justify having to move from the otherwise good operational area in which we were. Food supplies were running short and the whole party was in poor condition. Corporal PHILLIPS was suffering from very violent fits.

Sergeant SMOKER was extremely efficient and managed to obtain various remedies for the sick. In addition, as he speaks reasonably good Italian, he gathered a great deal of local information and on one occasion, while in civilian clothes, talked to four Germans from a convalescent camp in the neighbourhood.

There were 72 Italians with us by this time but they were not reliable.

Our supply of explosives was getting low and we had to decide whether to go back or to stay on in the hope of being able to do further damage to the enemy. On the decision to stay, Sergeant SMOKER, Corporal LAWRENCE, and Pct. HEHIR were sent off to recce in the direction of CIVITAVECCHIA, as we considered the eventual possibility of returning by boat from that area. On the way they heard of and saw the German 1st Para Division moving down to CASSINO but were unable to pass the information back as they had no W/T. They reported that this enemy column did not suffer any attacks from the air although they moved by day.

The recce party got to within 15/20 miles of the coast but found it impossible to continue because of lack of cover for movement through the area which was apparently a training ground for paratroops. The returned to our Headquarters at MONASTERO towards the end of February after being out five days.

Meanwhile we who had remained had been inactive. The Germamn H.Q. at RIETI had moved over to MAGLIANO, 1 8518, as TERNI was being accurately bombed almost daily. The Germans were now concentrating on recapturing escaped Prisoners of War and in one small area they caught 45 in one day.

At the end of February we decided to return as the weather was improving and our chances of crossing the line in the CASTEL DI SANGRO area seemed better. We split into three parties:-


Sergeant SMOKER
Corporal PHILLIPS
an ex-Prisoner of War from DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY


Corporal LAWRENCE
WILLIAMS - South African ex-Prisoner of War
McCORMICK - South African ex-Prisoner of War


Lieutenant WORCESTER
Pct. HEHIR
Lance-Corporal COBLEY - ex-Prisoner of War


I heard subsequently in a Prison Camp that Sergeant SMOKER made an attack on the East - West railway near AQUILA and was then surprised and captured by the Germans. (This is confirmed by other information received).

My party of three tried to get to SORA and then to CASTEL DI SANGRO. We were very short of food but in spite of this we did some hard marching, covering about 25 miles a day (on one day we covered 38 miles). The valley was thick with troops and there were Anti-Aircraft emplacements on the hill slopes defending the AVEZZANO Basin which was a concentration area for troops, and it was difficult to move along the edge of the mountains. Trying to get through down the valley we encountered Germans and had a short skirmish. We turned back to CASTELVECCHIO, G 4592, where we arrived at about 20.00 hours and decided to lit up.

On the 4th March I was rudely awakened at 02.30 hours to find myself covered with a Schmeisser. I was taken next door and asked for my papers, then stripped of everything worth taking. We were generally treated fairly well during this examination. HEHIR, COBLEY and I were left in a room with five Germans to guard us. At about 06.00 hours I noticed that the enemy, who were middle aged, were becoming drowsy so I asked for some water. A bottle of wine and a glass were produced and I threw these at the first two Germans. We then made an attempt to escape. I was hit in the leg by Schmeisser fire early in the scrap and I saw COBLEY go down in the corner with two Germans on top of him. HEHIR was hit twice, first in the arm and then in the leg, but kept fighting and eventually a German stood over him as he lay on the floor and emptied the whole magazine from his Schmeisser at him. Fortunately only four bullets hit him in the stomach. My leg was useless and I though HEHIR was dying. We were laid on the bed and I managed to give HEHIR a shot of morphine which made him lose consciousness. We were not moved until approximately 16.30 hours and we were then carried about three miles on ladders. At SANTA MARIA, G 3489, all the inhabitants, totalling about 400, turned out to see us carried through. From there we were taken by ambulance to CARSOLI, G 3489, where we stayed for 16 days. Thence by varying stages we were moved Northwards towards GERMANY.

 

OPERATION BAOBAB


Summary of Operation.

On the 29th January 1944 the detachment of the 2nd S.A.S. Regiment, forming the main party, embarked in H.M. Destroyer TROUBRIDGE at MOLFETTA at 15.00 hours and proceeded to MANFREDONIA. That night a rehearsal which included manning the boats and returning to the ship was carried out.

Previously on the same day, at 14.00 hours, Lieutenant LAWS and Signalman DOWELL were embarked in the motor schooner M.F.V. 2041 at MOLFETTA. They were landed North of PESARO instead of to the South owing to heavy fog, at 00.30 hours on the following day at Map Ref S 075845. They hid the folboat, climbed the cliff face, and hid in a cave inland.

At 08.00 hours on the 30th of January, Lieutenant LAWS signalled by wireless that he had landed. The signal was received. Subsequently he made a reconnaissance in daylight. Moving across country to the South of PESARO he noticed a body of nine Germans who were marching down the road from PESARO to FANO. At 14.00 hours he sent a signal that the area was patrolled and that the landing should not be made before 23.00 hours. Near there he saw another patrol of Germans moving down the road towards FANO. A house near the bridge had been reported as a possible barracks of Carabinieri. Lieutenant LAWS opened the door and looked in; inside were 19 men, 7 in Carabinieri uniform and the remainder in shirtsleeves. He shut the door, which opened outwards, without being noticed, and placed a stone against it to jam it and prevent it from being opened. At 23.15 hours he began to signal the boats in.

In the meantime H.M. Destroyer TROUBRIDGE in company with H.M. Destroyer TENACIOUS, had left MANFREDONIA at noon on the 30th of January. They arrived off target at about 22.00 hours. The standard of navigation was so high that the destroyer arrived at the exact RendezVous.

As the signal had been received from Lieutenant LAWS not to land until 23.00 hours no action was taken until that time. At 23.15 hours Lieutenant LAWS' signal was seen very faintly and a bearing taken. As the headlights of cars which could be seen passing up and down the road made the definite identification of the signal difficult, Captain POWER, at 23/38 hours, decided to send Captain CAMERON inshore, and the boats were manned. This action had been provided for in the operation order should no signal be received from Lieutenant LAWS.

The dories left the destroyer at 23.50 hours and reached the beach where Lieutenant LAWS was standing at 00.15 hours. Lieutenant LAWS led the demolition party to the bridge and the defence party to the positions which he had selected. The laying of the charges occupied about half an hour. The charge was laid in one strip across the bridge under both tracks from where the ballast was removed. By the time this was completed the Italians in the Carabinieri barracks had succeeded in opening the door from which they debouched and challenged. Corporal McGUIRE replied in Italian that a working party was repairing the line and they remained quiet for a few minutes. Meanwhile the main party had been drawn to the dories and Lieutenant MILLER was preparing to set off the charges, which had a ten minute delay, when the Italians opened fire. He completed his task, jumped over the bridge, and returned to the dory. The boats then put out to sea and for the first 400 yards the Italians fired in their direction. The fire appeared to be coming from on the bridge and in its neighbourhood. The light of a torch directed downward could be seen as though a search was being made of the bridge. Twelve minutes after Lieutenant MILLER had left the bridge a violent explosion occurred at 01.12 hours; it resembled the petals of an orange coloured flower opening, while fragments of incandescent material were thrown through the air. It is reasonable to assume that a considerable proportion of the Carabinieri were amounts this debris as they were last seen on the bridge. Blue flashes came from the overhead electric power lines which must have also been damaged.

At 01.33 hours the dories returned to the destroyer and were hoisted inboard. The destroyer then returned to MOLFETTA, where the S.A.S. detachment was landed on the afternoon of the 31st of January.


Damage inflicted on the enemy

1. Railway bridge destroyed:-

EXTRACT FROM IMMEDIATE DAMAGE REPORT

M.A.P.R.C. - AI/188 - 2nd February 1944

CASMA DI FINANZA R/R Bridge four miles North of FANO.
Since 21st January R/R Bridge over small stream destroyed apparently by sabotage, and both lines cut. Activity suggests that repairs are in progress. No craters are seen in the vicinity.

Prints: 4015, 4016.
Comparative: P/50.
3109 - 10.


2. A number of Carabinieri, Fascist Militia and Customs Guards, not exceeding 19, killed and injured by the explosion.


Own Casualties - Nil.


Lessons.
1. The operation would have failed had the Navy not been able to navigate with such accuracy.

2. A dress rehearsal was invaluable.

3. Signals worked very satisfactorily and proved that in capable hands contribute considerably to the successful carrying out of an operation.

4. Detailed intelligence work with a model has proved its value.

 

WO218/183 Report : Operation Maple
Context: Special Services War Diaries, Second World War
Scope and content: Operation Maple: report. For additional report on Operation Maple see WO 106/3959
Covering dates: 1943 Dec



OPERATION MAPLE

CONTENTS

Operation Maple:
Page 1 Planning, Mounting and Summary of Operation, and casualties.


Operation Maple Thistledown
Page 4 - Party 1. Lieutenant WORCESTER
Page 7 - Party 2. S.S.M. LLOYD
Page 9 - Party 3. Lieutenant PARKER
Page 10. - Sergeant HILL


Operation Maple Driftwood
Page 11


Appendix A
- Aircraft dropping report


Maps
Location
Operational (1/250,000)

 

Captured

1. Sergeant HILL 4th February 1944 ARTENA
2. Corporal DAVIS 1st March 1944 NESPOLO
3. Lieutenant WORCESTER 4th March 1944 CASTELVECCHIO
4. Lieutenant PARKER 21st March 1944 East of COLLELONGO
5. Sergeant SMOKER 4th April 1944 PISCENA
6. Corporal PHILLIPS 13th April 1944 PESCO - FALCONE (Mt)
7. S.S.M. LLOYD 24th April 1944 North of APRILLIA
8. Lance-Corporal LAWRENCE 1st June 1944 ARTENA

 

-1-
OPERATION MAPLE

During December 1943 the 2nd S.A.S. Regiment was required to prepare plans for interference with enemy rail communications in Central ITALY in conjunction with the proposed landing at ANZIO.

The West coastal railway from ROME Northwards was already cut by air action, which interdiction was expected to last for a considerable time.

Two plans were produced, one dealing with the railways in the ORTE (R 6730) - TERNI (R 8841) area through which all traffic from the North to ROME and the South had to pass, and the other with the line leading from ANCONA, S 6048, to the plain of LOMBARDY (see map). These plans were submitted to 15th ARMY GROUP on the 10th December 1943 and permission to proceed was received on the 17th December.

Weather conditions were bad both for flying and for seaborne work, and there was a thick layer of snow on the higher ground. For this reason it was impossible to drop on the 18th December, the last day of the moon period.

On the 7th January 1944, after two false starts again due to weather, MAPLE party set out in three Dakotas from the aerodrome at GIOIA DEL COLLE, P 4847. The first two planes had a Drop Zone North-West of AQUILA at COLLE FUTA, B 3228, for the four parties comprising MAPLE THISTLEDOWN. The third plane took a party - MAPLE DRIFTWOOD - to a Drop Zone North-East of ANCONA (For aircraft report see Appendix A).

Composition and tasks of parties is tabulated below. All charges to be laid on the night of the 13/14th January to gain the maximum effect.



MAPLE THISTLEDOWN

Party No. 1

Composition
Lieutenant WORCESTER
Sergeant SMOKER
Corporal PHILLIPS
Lance-Corporal LAWRENCE
Pct. HEHIR

Rail sabotage task
Line ORTE (A 6730) - TERNI (A 8841)


Party No. 2

Composition
S.S.M. LLOYD
Corporal DAVIS
Pct. PEPPER
Pct. TODD

Rail sabotage task
Line ORVIETO (A 4659) - ORTE (A 6730)


Party No. 3

Composition
Lieutenant PARKER
Lance-Corporal BENNET
Pct. CLARIDGE
Pct. MONK

Rail sabotage task
Line TERNI (A 8841) - FOLIGNO (A 9595)


Party No. 4

Composition
Sergeant HILL
Lance-Corporal ROBERTS
Pct. MEDLIN
Lance-Corporal HUGHES

Rail sabotage task
Line TERNI (A 8841) - PERUGIA (W 6893)


The above four parties were carried by Dakota aircraft 439 and 681.



MAPLE DRIFTWOOD
The following two parties were carried by Dakota aircraft 391.


-2-



Party No. 5

Composition
Captain GUNSTON
Corporal PUGH
Pct. DODDS
Pct. LOOSEMORE

Rail sabotage task
Line URBINO (R 8860) - FABRIANO (S 1117)


Party No. 6

Composition
Sergeant BENSON
Sergeant GLEN
Pct. LOCKERIDGE
Pct. EVANS

Rail sabotage task
Line ANCONA (S 6048) - RIMINI (R 8597)


It had been planned to reinforce MAPLE DRIFTWOOD 6 by a seaborne party which could carry sufficient explosive to demolish a bridge between FANO and PESARO on their target railway. This was prevented, however, by weather, and the operation (which was completely successful) was mounted independently at the end of January (See BAOBAB report).

All groups were briefed to exfiltrate on the completion of their tasks and a RendezVous with light coastal craft was arranged for three consecutive nights for DRIFTWOOD PARTY. No wireless was carried.


Dropping
Parties 1 and 4 were dropped on the Drop Zone selected at COLLE FUTA, B 3228, from a height of about 800 feet in bright moonlight at about midnight. Unfortunately the two planes dropped their loads some distance from each other and contact was not established between the group consisting of Parties 1 and 2 and that consisting of Parties 3 and 4. There was four feet of snow on the Drop Zone, which aided the concealment of parachutes and panniers. There was only one dropping casualty: Lieutenant WORCESTER sustained slight concussion.


Course of the Operation
Progress was a first slow on account of the deep snow but Parties 2, 3 and 4 of MAPLE THISTLEDOWN reached their objectives and laid charges on the railways, Party 2 successfully accomplishing their task on the 16th January whilst Parties 3 and 4 reached their objectives on the night 13/14th January as scheduled. Party 1 found that their objective had already been put out of action by Allied bombing raids but later attacked the TERNI - RIETI line.

According to a German interrogation Officer, accidents were caused on the lines concerned, which information is substantiated by local reports. In addition, Lieutenant WORCESTER's party operated against the roads and destroyed 25 vehicles in a period of 10 days.

A number of factors increased the difficulties which had to be overcome on the return journey. The weather in the early spring of 1944 was stormy and cold. The snow on the ground still made the going arduous and tracks were visible. A large number of ex-Prisoners of War were known to be attempting to cross through the line, which led to extra enemy vigilance and razzias in the villages were they were sheltering. The ANZIO bridgehead had not expanded as quickly as had been expected when this operation was planned; it was then considered possible that our men would be overrun rather than that they should have to undertake the long return march through a static enemy line in bad weather conditions.


-3-



Partly because of these factors and partly because not sufficient care was taken to guards again Italian informers, all members of Parties 1 to 4 were taken Prisoner on dates between the 4th February and the 1st June 1944. It is natural that after two months in enemy territory precautions should be relaxed, and the small size of the Parties prohibited continual guards when the men were exhausted by hard marching. It is considered more probable too that the MAPLE Parties would have succeeded in returning had they not split up into small groups of S.A.S men each with some ex-Prisoners of War. The exfiltration of ex-Prisoners of War was not the object of the operation and, as has been shown in Operation JONQUIL, the ex-Prisoners in the main added considerably to the difficulties of movement and evasion of capture. Also, as they were unarmed, they were powerless to resist even the smallest enemy force.


Damage inflicted on the enemy.

Charges laid on the following lines:-
ORTE - ORVIETO : at A 5848
TERNI - SPOLETO : at three separate points - A 9145, A 889499, A 9143
TERNI - PERUGIA : at A 818477
TERNI - RIETI : at A 9240

25 enemy M.T. destroyed.


Own Casualties

Prisoner of War: 17 (Two of this number were never reported by the enemy but there is clear evidence that they were taken Prisoner of War)

Missing: 8 (Parties 5 and 6 - MAPLE DRIFTWOOD)

 

-4-



MAPLE THISTLEDOWN

Parties 1 and 2

On the 8th January these two parties made contact on the Drop Zone as already described in the paragraph on dropping. Party 2 (S.S.M. LLOYD) overtook Lieutenant WORCESTER's Party and they proceeded together for three days towards the North-West over a winding route.

The combined group sheltered at a house on the POSTA (B 2536) - ANTRODOCO (B 2524) road, after which they separated on the 10h January for the approach march to their targets.


PARTY 1

This Party moved on the 11th January to cross the TERNI - RIETI valley where heavy snow was falling, and reached the village of CANTOLICE, B 0929, on the 15th. There they stayed two days before moving to GRECCIO, A 9827. At COTTANELLO, A 9223, an ex-Prisoner of War named WILTSHIRE contacted them. He and two other ex-Prisoners of War, Lance-Corporal COBLEY and a South African named McDERMOD, rejoined the S.A.S. Party a day later at A 9525 where Lieutenant WORCESTER had made his H.Q. near the small village of LE CAPANNACCIE.

On the 22nd of January, Lieutenant WORCESTER detailed two parties to attack the railways. Accompanied by McDERMOD and Pct. HEHIR, he recce'd the railway bridge at ORTE and found it was too heavily guarded to permit approach. At the end of January the other party, consisting of Sergeant SMOKER, Lance-Corporal LAWRENCE and an Italian Officer who claimed to have been a driver to a general on the Russian Front, succeeded in derailing a goods train on the TERNI - RIETI line at a point A 9240.

During the month of February, Lieutenant WORCESTER found that a considerable number of partisans came to contact him at his H.Q. These were organised into some form of military order and given tasks to carry out. A close watch was kept on the TERNI - RIETI and TERNI - ORTE lines but no further traffic was observed in the course of a week. Lieutenant WORCESTER then decided to use the remainder of his 60 lbs. of plastic against road transport, and the explosive was made up into 1 lb bombs.

An attempted raid on the German airfield and petrol dump at RIETI, B 0623, about the 12th February was unsuccessful as the S.A.S. party was challenged. The party evaded the ensuing search and returned to LA CAPANNACCIE. This was a very convenient base for operations against transport on the TERNI - ROME road and a large number of attacks were made. Two of these attacks are worth mentioning in detail. One staff car was stopped and ditched by four rounds from a .45 revolver. On another occasion, when a staff car came suddenly on the party on the TERNI - ROME road, Pct. HEHIR drew his two revolvers and walked up to the road firing at the car which was approaching at 30 m.p.h. The car was stopped and the two Officer passengers killed.


-5-

The total confirmed damage caused to the enemy during a period of 10 days was 25 vehicles. They were destroyed in both day and night attacks mainly by throwing bombs in the back as the vehicles passed (the snow on the ground made them travel slowly). The bombs were detonated by short lengths of safety fused which was fired as the traffic approached.

On about the 20th February, Lieutenant WORCESTER sent Sergeant SMOKER with an Italian civilian to reconnoitre a route towards CITITAVECCHIA, F 1790, as he considered the eventual possibility of returning by boat from that area. Sergeant SMOKER reached a point near the village of CARBOGNANO, A 5716, about 30 miles from the coast, but then found it impossible to continue because of lack of cover for movement through an area which was apparently a training or resting area for German paratroops. He returned after an absence of five days.

At the end of February, as Lieutenant WORCESTER considered that they would have a better chance of successful exfiltration in smaller parties, he divided his party into three groups:-


Party 1 (a)
Lieutenant WORCESTER
Pct. HEHIR
Ex-Prisoner of War Lance-Corporal COBLEY

Party 1 (b)
Sergeant SMOKER
Corporal PHILLIPS
Ex-Prisoner of War JACKSON (DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY)
Ex-Prisoner of War EDWARDS (U.S. PILOT)

Party 1 (c)
Lance-Corporal LAWRENCE
Ex-Prisoner of War Trooper WILTSHIRE
Ex-Prisoner of War McDERMOD (SOUTH AFRICAN)


Party 1 (a) - After separation

About the 1st of March, Lieutenant WORCESTER with his small party made for CASTEL DI SANGRO, H 1053. They were very short of food but in spite of this did some hard marching, covering an average of some 25 miles a day.

There were many German troops in the SORA (G 6847) - BORGOCOLLEFEGATO (G 3799) valley, and Anti-Aircraft emplacements were sited on the hill slopes commanding the AVEZZANO basin which was a concentration area for enemy troops. After a short encounter with a German patrol, Lieutenant WORCESTER turned back to CASTELVECCHIO, G 3492, where it was decided to stay the night.

At 02.30 hours the following morning, the 4th of March, the party was surprised and taken prisoner. Towards dawn they attacked their guard in an attempt to escape and in the resulting hand to hand fighting Lieutenant WORCESTER was shot in the leg and Pct. HEHIR wounded by six bullets but subsequently recovered in a Prisoner of War camp.


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Party 1 (b) - After Separation

Sergeant SMOKER set out on the 29th March. He had been unable to leave earlier as Corporal PHILLIPS had not sufficiently recovered.

They followed the following route:
COTTANELLO, A 9223,
COLLE BACCARO, A 9822,
POGGIO FIDONI, A 9919,
PRIME VILLE, B 0715, and
LUCCOLI.

Corporal PHILLIPS and JACKSON lost contact between CASEAMAINA, G 6090, and CELANO, G 6388, whilst heading for SCANNO.

On the 4th April, Sergeant SMOKER with ex-Prisoners of War ran into a group of Germans on the railway at PISCENA and was taken Prisoner.

Corporal PHILLIPS, JACKSON and EDWARDS, made for the MAIELLA where they joined a number of ex-Prisoners of War. They party was too large and was surprised and taken Prisoner of War on the 13th April by German mountain troops.


Party 1 (c) - After separation

Lance-Corporal LAWRENCE's party started from POGGIO BUSTONE at the same time as Lieutenant WORCESTER's. Heavy snow caused them to remain a fortnight at MARANO, G 3992, where three other ex-Prisoners of War (2 South African and 1 British) joined them. Lance-Corporal LAWRENCE and McDERMOD continued alone to VILLA VALLELONGA, G 6863, through deep snow. As they were short of food and the area was closely guarded by German soldiers, these two returned Northwards to MORRO, B 0637, a distance of 60 miles. The presence of these two soldiers at the end of March appears to have heartened the local partisans to carry out a series of ambushes on German road transport. This caused the Germans to search the area, and as a result LAWRENCE and McDERMOD decided to go South. They were eventually captured at ARTENA on the 1st June 1944 at the same place where Sergeant HILL three months previously had been given away by civilians, and in the same circumstances.

 

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PARTY 2

After separating from Lieutenant WORCESTER at the house on the POSTA - ANTRODOCO road on the 10th January, S.S.M. LLOYD led his party to a point A 8841 overlooking TERNI, and discovered that they were being followed by men with dogs. When they came uncomfortably close, however, a single shot caused them to scatter and make off. The party reached FAVISCHIO, B 2336, and the following day they lay up at SAN CLEMENTE, B 187398, (through which Parties 3 and 4 had passed the previous day). Pct. TODD had fallen sick but managed to keep up.

The party then continued by way of mountain tracks North of LEONESSA, and after a brush with at German patrol which they managed to evade by crossing a tributary of the River TIBER, reached their objective at A 5848 on the 16th January. Here charges were placed at the approach to a tunnel with a two day delay in case the pressure switches failed to operate.

On the return journey, S.S.M. LLOYD placed a further charge on the TERNI - SPOLETO line at A 9143.

On or about the 19th January they met Lieutenant PARKER's party, No. 3, at FAVISCHIO. It was here that they heard from a Greek, who appeared to be well informed, that all railway traffic had ceased in the target areas.

The following day the parties separated and S.S.M. LLOYD set out towards TUFO, G 2795. On the way there the S.A.S. party held up some Italian carabinieri, destroyed their rifles and took their boots away for the use of three escaped Prisoners of War (2 South Africans and 1 American) who had joined them. Perhaps it was because of this that German patrols were active on the way, but they were all successfully evaded.

At TUFO, S.S.M. LLOYD met an escaped Prisoner of War, a South African Medical Captain, who was in contact with a Sicilian said to be operating a wireless transmitter. LLOYD gave him details of a petrol and ammunitions dump near SASSA for transmission.

Owing to the large number of German troops concentrated in the TUFO area, S.S.M. LLOYD decided to split the party for the next stage and to RendezVous at MARCELLINA, G 1081, on the 1st February. The main party was divided as follows:-

Party 2 (a)
S.S.M. LLOYD
Ex-Prisoner of War (SOUTH AFRICAN)

Party 2 (b)
Corporal DAVIS
Ex-Prisoner of War (AMERICAN)

Party 2 (c)
Pct. TODD
Pct. PEPPER
Ex-Prisoner of War MULLER (SOUTH AFRICAN)

These parties were to leave at 24-hour intervals in the order given.


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Party 2 (a) - After separation

S.S.M. LLOYD waited at the RendezVous on the 1st and 2nd February but did not contact the remainder. He then set out for ROME which he reached the same evening. There he was sheltered until the 22nd April.

In ROME he made contact with some Italian partisans in conjunction with whom he organised various attacks. These led to the killing of a few Germans and the destruction by fire of a garage containing German army transport.

On the 22nd April, S.S.M. LLOYD set out to cross the lines at APRILIA, area F 830. By the evening of the 24th he had crawled to within sight of the English outposts. He had with him a sketch map which he had made of the German defences through which he had passed. Unfortunately he was observed by the English and came under heavy machine-gun fire. That night both English and German patrols were active in no-man's-land, and shortly after being discovered by an English patrol, S.S.M. LLOYD was captured by the enemy in company with a member of the English patrol he had contacted.


Parties 2 (b) and 2 (c) - After separation

These two parties set out at the intervals ordered but were unable to find S.S.M. LLOYD at MARCELLINA. They returned independently to NESPOLO, G 2395, where they regained contact. They were all suffering from influenza, and while sheltering in an empty house in NESPOLO they were surrounded and captured at 05.00 hours on 1st March.

 

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PARTIES 3 (Lieutenant PARKER) and 4 (Sergeant HILL)

These two parties which were dropped some distance from Parties 1 and 2 on the COLLE FUTA Drop Zone, B 3228, made their way Northwards together by way of BORBONA, B 2935, FAVISHIO, B 2336, and SALTO CIECO, B 0745. At a farmhouse at A 979452 they obtained guides for each party and separated on the 11th January.


PARTY 3

Lieutenant PARKER led his party to the target area on the railway between TERNI and SPOLETO on the night 13/14th and laid an 8 lb charge with a 24-hour delay time pencil in case the pressure switch did not operate. They returned by the same route to the farmhouse at SALTO DEL CIECO where they recontacted Party 4. Here Lieutenant PARKER briefed and equipped the partisans to carry out a similar raid on the railway when it should start working again. On the evening of 15/16th January Lieutenant PARKER st ou with his party and three escaped Prisoners of War who had joined them (S.S.M. McINTOSH, Sergeant SCHOBER, South Africa, and Sergeant McCORMICK, New Zealand).

At FAVISCHIO, on the 18th January, Party 3 met Party 4 again. A RendezVous was arranged for three days later at the original Drop Zone at COLLE FUTA. The parties then separated on the 19th January and Lieutenant PARKER continued Southwards with his party and the ex-Prisoners of War to VALLEPIETRA, G 3769, which they reached on the 28th January. Here BENNETT and MONK fell sick. A return of bad weather conditions with heavy falls and drifts of snow immobilised the party for a month in an abandoned house on the MONTE AURORE. During this time they cared for 17 ex-Prisoners of War.

On the 7th March when the weather had improved sufficiently to set off again, Lieutenant PARKER decided to cross the lines. The party was divided into the following groups:-

(i) Lieutenant PARKER and ex-Prisoner of War F/O H.A. JOWETT, R.A.A.F. []
(ii) Lance-Corporal BENNETT, Pct. CLARIDGE, and Pct. MONK.

Both parties arrived at COLLELONGO, G 6664, without incident. Meanwhile Lieutenant PARKER had recovered the pilot of a Spitfire who had been seen to bale out. His name was F/O PITOUT, SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE.

On the 20th March, as a party of 50 Italian Fascists had been seen approaching the hut near COLLELONGO in which the party was living, they moved off to the South in two parties, Lieutenant PARKER with Pct. MONK and F/O JOWETT starting out first, leaving Lance-Corporal BENNETT, Pct. CLARIDGE and F/O PITOUT to follow 24 hours later.

On the 21st March, while making for CASTEL DI SANGRO, H 1053, Lieutenant PARKER's party was challenged and surrounded by Germans at the bend at H 7869 on the road from GIOIA DI MARSI, H 7772 to ALFEDENA, H 0348.


Lance-Corporal BENNET, Pct. CLARIDGE and F/O PITOUT are known to have been captured in the MAIELLA on the 6th May 1944. F/O PITOUT has been reported as Prisoner of War but no further news of BENNETT or CLARIDGE has been received.


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PARTY 4

On the 12th January, Sergeant HILL left Lieutenant PARKER and set out with his own party for the railway target. They rested for the night 12/13th at a farmhouse at A 865481.

In the evening of 13/14th January, guided by the farmer's son, they reached the railway and laid two scissor charges in a tunnel at A 818477 on the line from TERNI to PERUGIA. Lance-Corporal ROBERTS remained on guard outside and sowed A.P. switches in the area. The party then returned to the same farmhouse at A 865481.

The next day, the 14th January, Sergeant HILL's party laid a further charge on the railway line from TERNI to SPOLETO at A 889499 with a 24-hour time pencil as Lieutenant PARKER had blown this line the night before and no trains were running. A.P. switches were again laid in the area.

They travelled Southwards by way of SOMMA, A 960520, and BELVEDERE and stayed at a monastery at B 025498.

On January 18th, Parties 3 and 4 again met at FAVISCHIO, B 235366, and the following day Sergeant HILL set off with his party for the original Drop Zone at COLLE FUTA. Here they remained until the 21st January.

From then until the 2nd February they followed a route via CASTELLO DI CORNO, B 2922, where they heard for the first time of the ANZIO landing which induced them to give up their plan of crossing the lines on the central front and make for ANZIO. They marched via PIETRA SECCA, G 2793, MONTE SABINESE, G 2788, ROCCA DI BOTTE, G 2482, CERVARA, G 2477, and VIENOLA, G 2572. On the way they met and took with them three ex-Prisoners of War - two South Africans, Sergeant BROMWELL and Corporal PROCTOR, and an American, Sergeant MINTZ.

On February 3rd this party of seven left VIENOLA with the intention of crossing the lines near VELLETRI, F 9843. After a march of 15 miles through a thunderstorm they sheltered in a barn outside ARTENA, G 0948. The following morning they were surrounded and captured by Germans whom Sergeant HILL saw paying the reward to the farmer who had betrayed them.

 

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MAPLE DRIFTWOOD


PARTIES 5 and 6

Parties 5 and 6 were dropped on a Drop Zone at S 2643, 8 miles West-North-West of IESI, on the 7th of January 1944. A RendezVou was fixed at X 8596, 5 miles South-West of FERMO, near TORRE DI PALME, for the night 25/26th January for evacuation by sea. The parties did not arrive. Thereafter there is only news at secondhand.

Pct. COOK, 2nd S.A.S., while escaping, met Captain GUNSTON near FERMO at the beginning of February 1944. Captain GUNSTON told COOK that he still had a further task to complete and then would evacuate his party by sea.

The following is an extract from a report by Captain MATTHEWS, 2 Div Sigs Company, S.A.C.S.:-

On 4th February 1944 in FERMO I met a girl named ADIA who helped Prisoners of War at the hospital in that town. She told me that a parachutist and some others were leaving that night by sea. Her cousin guided me to the RendezVous where I met Captain GUNSTON. The latter said that he was leaving by sea for the Allied lines with 8 parachutists and Captain CLUBB, N.Z.E.F., and one other man.

On 7th March Captain GUNSTON'S party left by boat from a point a little South of PORTO SAN GIORGIO, X 8999, in a 22-ft boat. I never heard of their safe arrival and no message was subsequently received from them.

(Admiralty weather report for the ADRIATIC coastline 7th March 1944 was wind strength 5 - 6 Easterly veering South-East, moderating towards midday).

There seems to be little reason to doubt the above extract. Captain GUNSTON's party may either have been attacked by Allied aircraft (who were instructed to fire on craft off the enemy coast) or have been capsized some distance from the shore.

There is also the possibility that they were forced to land again in enemy occupied territory. In this connection it is noteworthy that a German Intelligence Officer read out the names of Captain GUNSTON, Sergeant BENSON and Pct. LOOSEMAN, as S.A.S. captured in ITALY when interrogating three S.A.S. Prisoners in 1944.

 

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APPENDIX A

[Missing page]


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APPENDIX A (Continued)

5. Weather information obtained from TAF Met. Clearance and warning out arranged through TAF Operation.

6. Original plan calling for 12 men in A/C going to ANTRODOC Drop Zone changed so that these two A/C carried total of 17 men. ANCONA Drop Zone total 8 men unchanged.

7. At time of submission of this report no information available concerning men dropped or their activities.


For the Squadron Commander:


Signed Abraham GROSSMAN
Captain, Air Corps.
Intelligence Officer.

 

MAPLE THISTLEDOWN
No. 1 Lieutenant WORCESTER's party - PURPLE
No. 2 S.S.M. LLOYD's party - GREEN
No. 3 Lieutenant PARKER's party - BROWN
No. 3 Sergeant HILL's party - YELLOW & BLACK

 

MAPLE THISTLEDOWN
No. 1 Lieutenant WORCESTER's party - PURPLE
No. 2 S.S.M. LLOYD's party - GREEN
No. 3 Lieutenant PARKER's party - BROWN
No. 3 Sergeant HILL's party - YELLOW & BLACK