Bill Fraser - L Detachments Forgotten Hero - War Diary 1939 - … · 2019. 3. 5. · Title: Bill...
Transcript of Bill Fraser - L Detachments Forgotten Hero - War Diary 1939 - … · 2019. 3. 5. · Title: Bill...
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Major William (Bill) Fraser MC 1917–1975
1stBattaliontheGordonHighlanders
No.11(ScottishCommando
LDetachmentSpecialAirServiceBrigade
SpecialRaidingSquadron
1S.A.S.
Military Cross with Bar
Croix de Guerre with Palm
Africa Star
Italy Star
France and Germany Star
1939-45 Star
War Medal 1939-45
19 - January 2008
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Bill Fraser ’s War Diary.
Contents.
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Prologue
Steadfast France
September 1939 – June 1940
The Black Hackle
August 1940 – June 1941
Operation Exporter
9th June 1941 – 10th June 1941
L Detachment
18th August 1941 – 16th November 1941
Operation No. 1
Squatter the Rendezvous Party
17th November 1941 – 25th November 1941
Operation No.3
Agedabia
19th December 1941 – 23rd December 1941
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Operation No.5
Marble Arch
27th December 1941- 9th January 1942
Operation No.7
Barce 16th March 1942 – 28th March 1942
Operation No.12
Fuka (Green Room)
July 1942 – August 1942
Benghazi and Beyond
August 1942 – January 1943
A Change in Direction
Sicily July 1943
Cape Murro di Porco
10th July 1943 – 12th July 1943
Augusta
12th July 1943 – 13th July 1943
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Bagnara
3rd September 1943 – 12th September 1943
Termoli
3rd October 1943 – 12th October 1943
Operation Houndsworth
10th June 1944 – 6th September 1944
Operation Gaff
18th July 1944
Operation Archway
25th March 1945 – 27th March 1945
Operation Howard
29th April 1945 – 4th May 1945
Post Script
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Prologue.AScotsmanbybirthWilliam‘Bill’Fraserwasbornintoamilitaryfamilyonthe4thJanuary1917inAberdeenwithbothhisfatherservingandgrandfatherservedasseniornoncommissionedofficersintheGordonHighlanders.Hewasfivefeet
eightinchestall,freshfacedandwithbrownhair.Thiswastheregimenthechosetojoinwhenheenlistedandwasthefirstofhisfamilytoholdtherankofa
commissionedofficer.
HeenlistedintotheranksofthisRegimentonthe27thMay1936andduring1940hewaspromotedtotherankof2ndLieutenant,heheldthisrankuntil1941when
hewaspromotedtoLieutenant.
Heservedwiththe1stBattalion,theGordonHighlanderswiththeBritishExpeditionaryForceinFrancein1940andwassuccessfullyevacuated.InJuneof
1940,hewaspostedtoNo.11(Scottish)CommandounderthecommandofLt.Col.DickPedderoftheHighlandLightInfantryandherehebecametheofficerincommandofBSection,8Troop,atroopmadeupmainlyoffellowGordon’s.
AspartofForceZorbetterknownasLayforcehesailedfortheMiddleEastinJanuaryof1941.
OriginallyNo.11(Scottish)CommandowastohavetakenpartinOperationAdditionalongwithNo.7Commandoand4TroopsofNo.8(Guards)CommandobutthisoperationwascancelledandthemenfromNo.11(Scottish)Commando
disembarkedfromtheirlandingship.
TheScottishCommandowasnowsenttogarrisontheislandofCyprusandpreparefortheirpartintheforthcomingOperationExporter,theinvasionofSyria.
Throughoutthefirst2weeksofMay8TroopgarrisonedLefkonikoandonthe3rdweekofMayalongwith7TrooptheymovedtoKondeauntilinJunetheysailedfor
Syria.
8TroopformedpartofYPartyalongwith1and7TroopsunderthecommandofPedderandwerethecentrepartyofthe3assaultingwaves.
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DuringhispartintheLitaniRiveroperationBillFraser’shelmetchinstrapwasstruckbyabulletwhichconcussedhimandhehadtotemporarilyhandover
commandtoSergeantJohnCheynebeforehewasabletoresumecommandatalatertime.
AftertheconclusionoftheoperationNo.11(Scottish)CommandoreturnedtotheirgarrisondutiesonCyprusawaitingofficialdisbandment.
BillFraserdecidedtoanswerStirling’scall.
Hebecametheofficerincommandof1Troop,1Sectionwhichincluded12menfromA,BandCGroups.
Duringtrainingheconcentratedonthenavigationalaspectandtaughtthemenashehimselflearned.
AnaccidentduringtraininginwhichhesustainedabrokenarmkepthimoutofOperationSquatterinNovember,LDetachmentsfirstoperationbuthedidtakecommandofthetrucksoftherendezvouspartywhichwouldcarrythosewho
returnedhome.
HetookpartinoperationsfromDecember1941untiltheendofthewarinthedesertsofNorthAfricain1943bywhichtimehehadbeenpromotedtotherank
ofCaptainandwasatroopcommanderinATroop.
Afterreorganisationof1S.A.S.hetookpartinoperationsduringOperationHusky,theAlliedinvasionofSicily.
TherewouldbefurtheractionintheItaliancampaignwiththeSpecialRaidingSquadronthenewtitlefor1S.A.S.afterthefinaldaysoftheAfricancampaign.
AtTermolihewaswoundedwhenanenemyshellexplodedandkilledmanyofthemenfromthetroopthathecommanded.
By1944theS.R.S.andreturnedtotheUnitedKingdomandrevertedbacktobeing1S.A.S.hetookpartinoperationstosupporttheAlliedinvasionofFranceandwouldalsobeengagedinthefightinginGermanywhenagainhewouldbe
woundedclosetotheendofthewar.
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Steadfast.
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FranceSeptember1939–June1940.
BillFrasers1stBattalionoftheGordonHighlanderswasoneofthefirstbattalionstogotoFrancein1939atthestartoftheSecondWorldWar,theywerepartofthe2ndBrigadeofthe1stDivision.ByOctoberofthatfirstyearofthewartheywereinforwardpositionsbutasthisperiodbeforetheGermansstruckinMay
1940muchoftheirtimewouldbespentdrillingandtraininganddiggingdefences.TheyliketheirfathersbeforethemfoundthemselvesinastaticwarwaitingforanoffensivewhichwouldbreaktheGermanlinesandbringaswiftresult.WithnoendinsighttothisPhoneyWarBillFrasersBattalionweretransferredtothe51st(Highland)DivisionunderthecommandofMaj.Gen.VictorFortune.Theaimwas
tostiffenthisTerritorialDivisionwithregulartroops;theybecamepartofBrigadierG.T.Burney’s153Brigade.The51stwhointhepreviouswarwereknown
as‘HarpersDud’s’basedaroundtheDivisionalsignHDandaftertheircommandingofficerGen.Harper,HDlaterinthewarwouldbecomeHighwayDriversasonecouldnotgotoofarwithoutseeingthefamousHDsigninthe
WesternDesertcampaign.
Aftertheirtransferonthe13thApril1940theDivisionwaschosentogainexperienceholdingpartoftheMaginotLine.WhenfinallytheGermansattackedthe1stGordon’swereinreservebutwouldsoonfindthemselvesengagedin
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fightingtheenemyinanareaof4woods,Spitzwald,Hartsbuch,GrossenwaldandWinkelmerter.ThefightinginthisareathatFraser’scompanytookpartinbecame
knownastheBattleofRemeling.
AsthegeneralsituationwentagainsttheAlliestheDivisionwasforcedtowithdrawandbythe20thMaywereheldinreserveatEtain20milesnorthwestof
Metz,heretheywereattachedtotheFrench2ndArmyinpositionsaroundGrandpreandVarennesthedatenowbeingthe25th.Thefollowingdaytheycame
underthecontrolof3ArmyGroupandGroupementAandweretonholddefensivepositionsalongtheriverSomme,positionsthatwouldeventuallyextendtothecoast.TheunrelentingGermanattackforcedfurtherwithdrawalsandbythe2ndJunetheywereinpositionsontheriverBreslearoundGouyandMoyennville.
TheFrenchproposedacounterattackandthe1stGordon’smadetheircontributionquitesuccessfullyatGradBoiswestofCambronbutwasforcedto
giveuptheirgainsaftertheFrenchfailedtofollowupwiththeirpromisedsupport.
Furtherwithdrawalsfollowedandbythe9thJunetheywereintheplacewhichwouldgodowninthehistoryoftheDivisionastheirgreatestsacrifice,St.Valery-en-Caux.The1stGordon’sheldpositionsontheeastsideoftheriverDurdent
closetothevillagesofSt.Riquier-Le-PlainsandIngouville.HeretheDivisionwasforcedtosurrendertoGeneralIrwinRommelastherewasnorealisticchanceofevacuationalthoughsomedidmanagetoescapethebulkwouldspendtherestof
thewarasprisonersofwar.
BillFraserwasoneoftheluckyoneshemadeitbackthoughfromwhereisnotknownsomereportshavesaidfromDunkirk,itmaybethathewaswounded
earlieronintheshortcampaignandwasevacuatedasacasualtythoughitcouldnothavebeentooseriousasonlywalkingwoundedweretakenespeciallytowards
theendinFrance.
IntheU.K.the1stGordon’sweretobere-raisedandlifeinthedepotasthenewmenweretrainedintheartofsoldieringandthetraditionsoftheRegimentBillFraseransweredthecallforvolunteersforSpecialServicewiththenewlyformedCommandos.HewaswithhisexperienceinbattleacceptedandpostedtoNo.11
(Scottish)CommandoinAugust1940thenmusteringatNetherdaleMills.
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TheBlackHackle.
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August1940–June1941.
ThisCommandorecruitedfromallelevenScottishregimentsmainlyfromthosewithinScottishCommandbutconsistedofonlytentroops,theirnumberswerefilledupfromTheWiltshireRegimentandalsotheManchesterRegiment.AtthetimetheywerebeingmusteredatNetherdaleMillsinAyrshire,heretheywerebilletedinanolddisusedmillwhereconditionswereextremelyspartanwithnorunningwaterorheatingfacilities.Thefoodwasconsideredbymostasappallingbuttheysettleddownandbegantrainingconsistingofrouteandspeedmarchestogettheirphysicalfitnessuptorequirement.Nightexerciseswereundertakenandmuchemphasiswasputonweaponry.BySeptembertheunitwasreadyforamoveandsodebussingatGalashielsthevolunteersweretoldthattheywould
havetomarchtoAyrwhichasthecrowflieswasaboutonehundredmilesaway.Truckswereprovidedbutanyoneusingthisoptionwasreturnedtounit.Theyalsohadtocarrytheirownkitbutanyunwanteditemscouldbeleftattherailway
station.WithbagpipesplayingtheybegantheirmarchanditwouldnotbeuntilthesixthnightthattheyfinallybeddeddownatAyrracecourse,eachtrooptooktheleadinrotationwiththepiperswhichhadbeenborrowedfromtheCameronHighlanderspipedthemalong,allthattherewastofeedthemwasthestapledietofbullybeefandbiscuits,waterforwashinganddrinkingwastakenfromstreams,sleeping
arrangementswerequitesimplybeddownwhereyoucanwhichmeantthatmostnightstheywouldsleepintheopenairtakingwhatevercovertheycouldfindwhichincludedsleepinginthehedgerows.Thosethatfelloutduringthemarch
andhadusedthetransporthadlaughedandjeeredatthemarchingmenbutnowtheyreceivedtravelwarrantsandreturnedtotheirparentunitsasunsuitablematerial.Mosttroopsweremadeupofmembersfromeachregiment,the4thbeingTheWiltshire’s,6TroopfromtheSeaforthHighlanders,8Troopknownas
theGordonTroopandwithintheirnumberwasLt.BillFraserwhocommandedtheTroopsBSection,TheCameron’sbeing10Troopalthoughmenfrommanyotherregimentsfilledouttheranks,somecomingfromTheLondonRifleBrigade,The
SouthLancashire’s,TheKingsOwn,theYorkandLanc’s,theLincolnshire’s,Dukeof
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Cornwall’sLightInfantry,RoyalArtilleryandofcourseallthesupportunitssoitwasn’tasthenamesuggestspurelyaScottishunit.
Onthe9thSeptembertheymovedtoLamlashontheIsleofArranbyspecialtrainboardingtheGlenSannoxatFairlietobeginamphibioustrainingunderthe
commandofLt.Col.R.R.(Dick)PedderofTheHighlandLightInfantryandweretobecomethefirstoperationalCommando.Theywerebilletedwiththeislanders
andeachmanwasgivenadailyallowanceofsixshillingsandeightpencetocoverhisfoodandlodgings.Themenwerebilletedinindividualdwellingsandwere
extremelywelllookedafterbytheirlandladieswhoprovidedthemwithuptofourmealsadayandtheycouldhaveabathatleastonceaweek.Theywouldalsodrythetroop’ssoddenclothesafteradayinthefieldwherethemenalwaysseemed
tobeperpetuallysoaked.
Thetrainingwasintenseincorporatingmapreading,routemarchesbothdayandnight,mockexercises,weaponstraining,climbingonGoatFell,crosscountryruns,
demolition,fieldcraft,unarmedcombat,andhowtopicklocksandtoblowsafe's,andofcourseseabornelandings,speedmarchesandroute
marches,swimminginfullkitwasalsoincluded,itdidappearthatatonetimetheywouldbeusedonanoperationandwereevenembarkedaboardavesselbutthisinturnwascancelledforonereasonoranother,thiscouldpossiblyhavebeenOperation"Brisk"whichwastoseizeTheAzores.Duringtheautumnwiththe
threatofinvasionfromNorwaythecommandowasmovedtotheareaofFalkirktodefenditfromanyAxisattackbutapartfromafewairraidsnothingcameof
thisandtheysoonreturnedtotheIsleofArranandcontinuedthetrainingprogrammeassetdownbyLt.Col.Pedder.
Therewastohavebeenanotheroperationwhichwascalled"Workshop",aproposedattackandcaptureoftheMediterraneanislandofPantelleriawhichwassituatedbetweenTunisandSicilyanditspositioncontrolledtheGibraltar,MaltaandAlexandriaconvoyroutesandcouldbecomeaseriousthorninthesidesofAllies.Theislandwasapproximatelytenmileslongandfivemileswideand
boasteditsownairfieldwithundergroundhangarsandheldabouteightyaircraft.BayswerealsocreatedforaflotillaofGermanE-Boats.Itwasalsoprotectedby
abouteightygunsofvariouscalibresandgarrisonedbyaroundeleventhousandItaliantroops.ThecommandowastakenfromLochranzaonArranby
theRoyalScotsmanandrumourwasrifeonebeingtheywereheadingforNorwaybutwasscotchedbytheauthoritieswhotoldthemitwasonlyanexercisebutthepreparationtheyhadgonethroughseverelydoubtedtheofficialtaketheythenreturnedtoArrananddisembarked,thisoperationdideventuallygoaheadbutit
wasnottobeuntil1943.
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ButthewheelswereindeedturningandGeneralWavellonhearingoftheCommandosdevisedaplansothathecouldutilisethem.Thiswouldhave
beentheproposedplantoinvadeCyrenaicabutduetothesuccessofOperation"Compass”wasinturnyetagaincancelled.Wavellwaslatertohavesaidontheir
eventualarrivalthathedidnotknowwhytheyhadsentthesementohiscommand.ButindeedtheydidgototheMiddleEast,No.7,No.8(Guards),andNo.11(Scottish)Commandoswerejoinedtogethertoform"Layforce"underthe
commandofBrigadierLaycocktheofficercommandingNo.8(Guards)Commando.No.7CommandowasdrawnfromEasternCommandandbythetime
it’sranksweredeemedfulltherewere58differentCorpsorRegimentsrepresentedwithintheirranks,theybecameknownasanundisciplinedunittheoppositetoNo.11(Scottish)whoweredeemedinsomequarterstobeover
disciplinedwhiletheGuardsCommandowereTheGuardsalthoughsomethoughtthattheirofficerswerecomprisedofquiteafew‘goodtimeCharlie’s’whoseemedtobepartofa‘club’whomspentmuchoftheirsparetimedrinkingandgambling.
DuringthemonthofOctobertheywereamalgamatedwithNo.9Commandoand6Companyfromthe9th(Scottish)Divisionandwith7Companyfromthe15th
(Scottish)Divisiontoformtheshortlived2SpecialServiceBattalioninwhichtheybecametwo,fivehundredmancompaniesbutwereeventuallytoreturntotheiroriginaldesignation.TheirScottishnesswasfurtherenhancedbythewearingofa
BlackHackleontheirglengarriesthissignifiedthat"Theyhadaquarrelwithsomeone".
Onthe14thJanuarytheyweregivenoneweeksleaveandintheweekaftertheyreturnedtheyplannedandcarriedoutasuccessfulmockraidonanaerodrome.TheguardsweredistractedbytwooftheCommandosdressedaswomenwhileotherscuttheperimeterfenceandgainentrancetothesitewheretheycarried
outasimulatedattackontheOfficer’sMesswithun-primedMill’sbombs.Onthe31stJanuary1941theysetsailfromGourockontheFirthofClydewiththecommandosplitbetweentheInfantryLandingShipsGlenroyandGlenearn,The
Glengylecarriedtheothercommandos,thesewereconvertedforthetaskinhandfromshipsfromtheGlenLinewhichhadbeenbuiltbetweentheyearsof1938and1939.Theywerewellprotectedandhadfortheirfirepowereighttwopounderpompoms,fourtwopoundergunsandeighttwentymillimetreOerlikons.TheycarriedthreeL.C.M'sandtwentyfourL.C.A.s/lL.C.S.(M)'sandwerecapableof
carryingbetweensevenhundredandelevenhundredtroops.LeavingtheFirthofClydetheysteamedwestoutintotheAtlanticandintoaForce9galeandmostoftheoccupantssufferedaccordingly.OnthefirstofFebruarythe
convoywasjoinedbytheS.S.Georgieandbythe17ththecruisersH.M.S.’s
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Devonshire,ForesterandFaulknerwasalsoonstation.TheysailedwayoutintotheAtlantictoavoidknownGermanU-Boatpatrolareas.Afterthreedays
steamingwiththeQueenMaryalsointheconvoytheyfinallyheadedsouth.TheystoppedoveratFreetowninSierraLeonetopickupsuppliesandleaving
heretheyfoundthemselvesinmuchcalmerwatersandwereabletoseedolphins,flyingfishandevenanalbatross.Fromtheirboatsthoughtheycouldsmellquite
easilythestenchofrottingvegetationandhumanwasteasitdriftedonthebreezetotheirnostrilsmadeworsebythehotandhumidconditions,thisbeingformostofthoseonboardtheirfirsttasteofconditionsoutsideoftheUnitedKingdom,
wouldthisbeatasteofwhatwastocome?Theyandtheirescortseventuallysetsailfromthe‘WhiteMan’sGrave’arrivedoffTableBayonthe19thFebruaryandforsecurityreasonstheyweredesignatedthetitle"C"Battalionandthe7thand8thbecame"A"and"B"respectively.OnarrivalatCapetowntheC.O.putthemthroughafourhourroutemarchinfullkitandafterspendingsomanyweeksonboardshipwhereexercisewouldbelimitedtotheship’sdeckthiswouldhavebeenablessingindisguise,tofeelsolidearthunderfootandnottofeeltherollingoftheshipwouldIshouldimaginehave
madethemfeelonehundredpercent,plustheycouldshowtheirownswaggertothecrowdswhoturnedouttowatchthemmarchtotheswirlofthepipes.Therewasalsoanoutbreakofdiarrhoeawhichsweptthroughtheranks.TheothertwocommandosNo.7andNo.8(Guards)wereallowedaperiodoflibertytoenjoy
whatthecityhadonofferbutPedder’sdisciplineneverbentthisfar.FormanyoftheotherCommandosofLayforcethisshortperiodoflibertythattheyenjoyedsawthemabletovisitthelocallandmarksandmixwiththelocalpopulationwholookedafterthemextremelywell,invitingthemtotheirhomesandsharingfood
anddrinkwiththem.Forothers,theyvisitedthebarsandagainmademostwelcomeespeciallyafterthepreviousconvoycarryingAustraliantroopstoEgypthadwellandtrulygoneofftrackandhadwreckedmanyplaces.Theyalsocame
intocontactwithwhatwastocontinuetoblightSouthAfricafordecadestocome,segregation.Manywereamazedtoseethisandthemanynoticeboardsbearing
thelegend‘White’sOnly’LeavingCapetowntheyshippedtoCairoviatheSuezcanalbutbeforetheyarrived
heretheyreceivedareportoftheAdmiralScheeraGermancapitalshipwasoperatingintheareaandsotheconvoyswiftlyheadedforDurbanandsentH.M.S.DorsetshireandH.M.S.Glasgowbothcruiserstoinvestigate,alsoonstationbythistimewereH.M.S.’sKandaharandFlamingo.ThereportswereunfoundedandtheywereabletocontinuethevoyagetakingthemthroughtheRedSeawhichduetotheconditionsthattheyhadtoendureontheshipswhichhadnoairconditioningtheychristenedthe‘SweatSea’andarrivedhereonthetwenty-fifthandwere
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musteredatGeneifaontheSinaiPeninsulabeforeheadingtobebilletedatAbbassiaBarracksandwereimmediatelygrantedleave.Onthe28thMarchaftercompletingtheiracclimatisationperiodthreeweeksaftertheWesternDesert
ForcehadbeenorderedtodispatchanExpeditionaryForcecomprisingofprobablytheirbestandmostexperiencedtoGreeceaspartofOperationLustretopropuptheGreekforces,LaycockhopedthatthewholeofLayforcewouldbefoundaroletoplaybutanyproposalsthathehadwereswiftlypoohpoohedbyWavellandhisstaffinsteadtheymovedtoGeneifaandinturntravelledtoPortSaidbytheninthofApril.BeforethiseventthoughorderswerereceivedonthesecondofApril
relatingtothe‘RacecoursePlan’whichwasabrigadeexerciseinvolvedA,B,CandDBattalionsandwassuccessfullycompletedbylunchtimeonthe4thApril
althoughitonlylastedseveralhours.Afurtherschemescheduledforthe5thstillwithintheframeworkofthe‘RacecoursePlan’wasthoughcancelled.Onthe6thApriltheyreceivedorderstomovefromCamp42toCamp47butaswasthenorm
thiswasdulycancelledanditwouldnotbeuntilthesevenththatthemoveactuallytookplace,transportdifficultieswerecitedasthereasonasonlysix15cwttruckscouldbefoundbutonlyforashorttimewhenthenumberoftruckswouldbereducedtotwo.Alsoduringthisperioditbecameapparentthatallrankswerestilllikelytogodownwithillnessmoreseriousthantheusual‘gippytummy’of
whichmosthadtheunfortunatepleasureofcontracting.2ndLieutenantLancasterwasdiagnosedwithspinalmeningitisandwasimmediatelyquarantinedin
hospital,aremindertothemallthatserviceabroadhelditsdangersnotonlyfromenemyaction.FromherethenonthefourteenththeyembarkedontheirlandingshipforaproposedraidonBardiawhichhadbeengiventhecodename‘Addition’withNo.7Commandoandsetsailbutduetoadverseweatherconditionsduringthevoyagetheraidwascancelledandtheyreturnedtoport.Therepartintheraidwastobeknownas“ProjectB”andtheyweretoattacktheSollum–SidiBarranihighwayeastofTobruk.Itwashopedthatheretheywouldattackanddestroyany
motortransportthattheycameacrossandalsototakeprisoners.Itwasalsohopedthattheywouldbeinapositiontodestroyastoresdepotwhichlayinthevicinitytothewest,thedurationoftheraidwastolastaroundthreehours.6Troopweregiventhetaskofunloadingalloftheirstoresfromthelandingshipintolightersreadyfortransporttothedockfrontajobthatwascompletedby20.30hrs.HeretowhileawaythehoursbeforetheycouldbereturnedtotheircampLt.Col.Pedderhadthemmarcharoundthedocksuntilthetransportwas
found.Theyalsohadthefirstpostdeliveredtothemfromhomewhichwashugelywelcomed,atimelyreminderthattheywerenotforgottennowtheywereonactiveservice.Afewdayslatertheraiddidtakeplacebutwassomewhatscaled
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downandNo.11(Scottish)playednopartinit.Theraidwasnotdeemedtobeagreatsuccess.
AfterdebussingfromtheirtransporttheymovedtoAlexandriaviathetransitcampnumber3atAmiriyaandthenonthe23rdApriltheyentrainedandtravelledtoHaifacrossingtheSuezCanalatKantaraandentrainingagainatKantaraEast
andproceededtoHaifainPalestinecrossingthefrontierat19.30hoursandonthe30ththeyembarkedforCyprusontheS.S.Warsawza.
ArrivingatFamagusta8TroopwassenttoLefkonicoonthe1stMayandheretheyguardedthecoastagainstahalfexpectedAxisattack,theysetupfieldsoffireanddugslittrenchesandalsopreparedbuildingsfordemolition.Onthe23rdMaytheymovedtoAkhyritoualongwith7Troopwho’dmovedfromKondea.Theyalong
withabattalionoftheNorfolkRegimentandtheusualancillaryunitswouldbetheonlydefenceavailableifanattackdidcomebutallitamountedtowasa
considerableamountofnuisanceraidsbytheAxisairforces.
FivehundredtroopsfromtheNewZealandExpeditionaryForcewhichhadarrivedaftertheGreekdebaclewereofferedthechanceofjoiningtheCommandoonthe4thMaytohelpbolstertheirnumbersbutonlyoneofficeracceptedandhedulyjoinedontheeighteenth.Onthe14thMayHisExcellencyTheGovernorofCyprusinspectedtheCommandowith9TroopactingastheGuardofHonour.TheywerealsopreparingforanotherofWavell’splans,thiswastobethecaptureoftheislandofRhodescalledOperationCorditeandshippinghadbeengathered
togetheratAlexandriabutduetothedeterioratingsituationinGreeceandtheeventualevacuationoftheExpeditionaryForcebythe28thAprilinwhichallthreeofLayforce'sshipswereactivelyinvolvedagainledtoyetanothercancellation.
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Thetroopsnowhadbythistimebecomebored,theywerealsodeemedtobeoverdisciplinedandallthroughtheirvoyageandtimeonlandtheyhadtrained
indefatigably.ThepromisegivenbyChurchillinhisrequestforvolunteershadcontainedtheline"toButcherandthenbolt"andinrealitybecomechibbleandmeander.Manymenafterninemonthsoffalsepromiseshadrequestedthattheybereturnedtotheirparentunitorpostedtoabattalioninthefrontline,thebarsandbrothelsofNicosiaandFamagustafacedmoretroublethantheAxisforces
did.OnethingthoughcouldnotbedeniedundertheleadershipofLt.Col.Pedderandhisjuniorofficerswhoseaverageagewasonlytwentyonethewelfareoftherankandfilewasofparamountimportanceandtheywerewelllookedafterbutall
thiscouldnothidethefactthatduetothelackofactivitymoralewaslow.PlanswerenowbeingmadefortheinvasionofSyriawhichatthistimewascontrolledbytheVichyFrenchandwereallowingtheGermansuseoftheir
airfieldsandairspace.TheattackwastobemadebyanAustraliandivisionaidedbyYeomanryregimentsoftheCavalryDivisionwhowerestillmountedon
horsebackatthistime.No.11'sroleinOperation"Exporter"theyhadbythistimerevertedbacktotheiroriginaltitlewastobeaseabornelandingatthemouthoftheLitaniriverandtoseizethebridgesatKafrBaddaandQuasmiyeandtoallowtheadvancing7th
AustralianDivisiontocrosstheriverandcontinuetheirattack.Onthe7thJunetheyembarkedaboardtheGlengyleeachmanwearingkhakishirtsandshorts,ropesoledbootsandcamouflagedsteelhelmetandthosewiththeLeeEnfieldrifleahundredandtenroundsofammunition,theyalsocarriedgrenades
andsparemagazinesfortheBrenlightmachineguns,andescortedbythedestroyersH.M.S'sHotspurandIlexsetsailbutonarrivingoffthedesignated
landingareatheoperationwascancelledduetoheavyswellsonNavaladvice.Itwouldhavebeentooperiloustolaunchthelandingcraftastheheavyseaswould
haveswampedthem,endangeringlivesunnecessarily.TheVichynavywasalsospottedonthehorizonanditwasassumedthattheyhad
beenspottedastheynowhadinformationstatingthattheVichyforceshadknowledgeoftheimpendingattack.Thelandingforcewhichnowincludedthe15thCruiserSquadronwhichconsistedofH.M.S'sAjax,Phoebe,CoventryandH.M.A.S.PerthalongwiththedestroyersH.M.S,sKandahar,Kimberley,JanusandJackalsteamedtoPortSaidandhereLt.Col.Peddersuccessfullyarguedthecaseto
proceedwiththeoperation,althoughthelandforceshadstartedtheoperationontimesothiswouldputthematadisadvantageastheplanwouldbetwentyfoursoldwhentheywouldthemselvesbecomeengaged.OntheninthofJunetheysetsailagainbutduetoashortageoflandingcraft6troopweretoremainaboardthe
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GlengyleandcontroltheantiaircraftdutiesusingBrengunsandLewisgunsothersdidthesametaskonthelandingcraft,butcontrarytotheofficialW.O.report
manyfromthistroopdadincludedwerecrammedaboardtheavailablecraftanddidindeedtakepart,someofthistroopdidpaythefullpriceforthisactionand
remaininSyriatothisday.
OperationExporter.
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09-06-1941–10-06-1941.
BillFraser
BSection,8TroopTheLitaniriverwouldbethesceneofwhatcouldbedescribedasthefirstfullcombinedforcesoperationoftheSecondWorldWarwhereair,landandseaforcesactedtogetherinOperationExporter,theAlliedinvasionofSyria.
Lt.BillFraserandthemenhecommandedfromBSection,8TroopofNo.11(Scottish)CommandopartofLayforcewouldplayaconsiderablerollinits
execution.
ToallowthegroundforcesoftheattackingAustralian21stInfantryBrigadefromtheir7thDivisionthecommandosweretolandbehindthelinesandseizeandhold2bridgestoenabletheAustralianstocontinuetheiradvancebutitdidn’tgetthestartitexpectedwiththecommandosunabletolandontheoriginaldateduetonavalinterventionwhotoldLt.Col.DickPedderthatthesurfwouldcausetheirlandingcrafttoflounderandsoaswithsomanyotherLayforceoperationsit
seemeditwouldbecancelled.Layforceseemedtobeyetagainlivinguptoonewag’sdescriptionofthemBe-Layforce.
Pedderthoughwasabletoarguefortherecommencementoftheoperationandthoughlateitwouldnowmaketheirlandingonthemorningofthe9thJune1941.
BillFraser’sBTroopwaspartofYPartywhichalsoincludedtheH.Q.Troopandalso1and7Troops.Ataround03.30hrsBillFraserandhismenboardedthe
AssaultLandingCraftfromtheirtransportshipH.M.S.Glengyleandlandedsome600yardsnorthoftheriversmouthat04.20hrs.TheH.Q.Troopand1and7troopsfacedmortar,machinegunandsmallarmsfirebut8Troopwereabletomaketheirlandingwithdryfeetandnoneoftheabove.ThemainaimofYpartywastoactasareserveforXPartybutastheirradiowasunusabletheywouldnowhavetoactindependently.The2sectionsof8TroopunderthecommandofCapt.IanGlenniemadetheirwayquicklyoffthebeachfindingthattheywereslightlynorthofwheretheyshouldhavelandedbutquicklyadjustedtheirpositionandheadedtotheeast.Fraser’sBSectiontooktheleadwithASectionfollowingin
22
reserve,BSectionthenmadecontactwith7Troopandwereabletooffertheirsupportintheiroperationsandat05.15hrssuccessfullyattackedenemypositionsaroundaroadbutwerenowoutofcontactwiththerestoftheirtroop.ASectionwasencounteringtheirowntroublesandcameundersomeconsiderablyheavythoughsomewhatinaccuratefire.Fraserandhissectionadvancedfurthereastintothehillsandsuccessfullyreachedthecrestmeetingnoseriousopposition.AdetachmentofFrenchSpahisfightingun-mountedhadtakenpositionsamongstalineoftreeandnowcommencedtoopenfireonFraser’ssection.ThefightwouldbeashortoneafterinitiallygoingtogroundtoavoidthesmallarmsfiretheyengagedtheFrenchcausingsomecasualtiesbutalsotakingaround30ofthe
enemyasprisoners.Theywerenowjoinedbyasubsectionof4Troopandafterleavingasmallguardontheirprisonerstheyheadedinasoutherlydirectionalongthelieofthehillsmeetingnofurtherenemyresistance.FromthetopofthelineofhillstheywereabletoseetheLitaniriverwheretheAustralianswereunderfirefromtheFrenchpositions.NotwishingtobeseenbytheenemyFraserwisely
withdrewoutoftheenemiessightlocatingthemselvesbeyondthecrestandtookupdefensivepositionsheretheywerejoinedbyLt.RichardsandhisASectionfrom10TroopofXParty.FraserandRichardsdrewupplansonhowtostoptheenemyfromshellingtheAustraliansclosetooneoftheiroriginallyintendedaims,theQasmiyebridgealthoughthisbridgehadbynowbeendestroyedbytheFrenchdefenders.Joiningupa1sectiontheybegananattackontheenemytakingthemfromtherear,Fraserandhismenattackedtheenemyforcesonthesouthern
slopeofthehillandquicklyandefficientlydealtwith3machinegunpostscausingconsiderablecasualtiestotheenemytheyalsoagaintookanumberofprisonerPartywere,theyfacedlittleoppositionandwhattheydidfacewasdealtwithefficientlywhilstothersmeltedawaynotwishingtosufferthesamefate.
By17.30hrscontactwasmadewithZPartyandtheywereorderedtotakeupdefensivepositionsattheKafrBaddabridgeagainoneoftheiroriginalaims.
BythistimeBillFraserhadbeensufferingconcussionafterhischinstraponhishelmetwashitbyanenemybulletandwasleftwithnooptiontohandover
commandtofellowGordonSgt.JohnCheyne.
Whilstmanningthesepositionstheywerefinallyorderedtoaffectawithdrawalacrosstheriverat20.00hrs.Havingdisengagedfromtheirpositionstheyheaded
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easttowardsthehillswhichtheysucceededindoingwithnocasualties.Withnoenemyforcestoharassthemtheymovedsoutheasttotrytocrosstheriver
somewheretoleftofknownenemypositionshereagaintheymetupwithtroopsfrom7Troopat00.30hrs.HeretheytooksomewellearnedrestwhilstSgt’s.JohnCheyneandCharlesNicolsearchedforasuitablespotforthemtocross.Both
swamtheriverandlocatedalikelycrossingpointandwiththehelpofaropetheywereabletogettheirmentformachainandsuccessfullymaketheircrossing.
Threemenhadbeenleftbehind,thesehadbeenguardingtheprisonersthathadbeentakenbuttheywouldthemselveseventuallycrossandmakecontactwith
theirsectionagain.
Bymid-dayonthe10thitwasallprettymuchovertheAustralianshadfinallymadetheircrossingandwerenowadvancingthroughthepositionswhichwereheldbyGeoffreyKeyes’sXPartyandNo.11(Scottish)CommandospartinOperation
ExportercametoanendwiththemmakingtheirwayintransportlaidonforthemtoatransitcampatHaifainPalestine.WarCorrespondentAlanMoorheadwouldrecallseeingtheJocks,exhaustedbutnearlyallsmokingandenquiringabouttheir
comradesastheymadetheirjourneypickingupstragglersonthewayandmourningtheirdead.
AfteraperiodofleaveinHaifatheysetsailforCyprusat18.50hrsonthe14thJuneontheS.S.RodireachingFamagustathefollowingmorningat07.00hrsand
disembarkedat08.30hrs.
OperatorExporterwasasuccessofsortsandlessonswouldbelearntsadlythecasualtiesamongstthecommandoswerehighwithnearly130killed,woundedor
missingincludingtheirC.O.DickPedder.
BillFraserwouldsayofSgt’s.CheyneandNichol“whoduringthewholeactionbehavedwithconsiderablecoolnessunderfire”andthatitwastheywhohad
successfullyorganisedthewithdrawalacrosstheriver.
TheJockswouldnowspendaperiodoftimereorganisingthemselveswithtroopsamalgamatingbuttheendforNo.11(Scottish)Commandowasinsight,withthelossestheyhadincurredtherewasnoreplacementsbutthatwasimmaterialasthedecisiontodisbandLayforcehadalreadybeentaken.Attheendoftheir
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garrisondutiestheyreturnedtoEgyptwithBillFraseroneofthelastofftheislandofCyprusasofficerincommandofthebaggageparty.
SomeafterallofthemisfortunewhichhadbefallenLayforcewouldhavegivenupwithSpecialForcesbutBillalongwithEoinMcGonigalof4Troopand12otherrankswouldeventuallyjoinwithDavidStirlingandhisnewlyformedunit,LDetachmentSpecialAirService,anotherexNo.11wouldeventuallybeits
commandingofficer,7Troop’sRobertBlairMayne.
LDetachment.
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18-08-1941–16-11-1941.
ThosemenwhohadbeenselectedtobecometheoriginalLDetachment,mostfromtheNo.8GuardsCommandowhofollowedStirlingfrom3TroopwhiletherestfromNo’s.7and11(Scottish)Commandowentthroughaselectionprocess
whichwasabriefinterviewinatentintheirrespectivecampswithinthesprawlingInfantryBaseDepotatGeneifawithStirlingwhoaskedeachonewhatwastheir
feelingsonparachutejumping?Didtheyhavethebasicneedsthatwererequired?Initiative?Anaptitudetostretchthemselvesfurtherthantheyhadbeenstretchedbefore?arrivedatvariousstagesthroughoutlateAugustandearlySeptemberonlytobegreetedbyadesolatesite,KabritlayninetymileseastofCairoontheedgeofTheGreatBitterLake,therewasawindthatblewinoverthecampfromthewaterswhichinvadedeverywhere,everynookandcrannywascovered.Ifthat
wasn’tenoughtherewerealwaystheeverpresentfliestocontendwith.AlthoughabarrenplacetherewasalsointhevicinityanR.A.F.AirbaseR.A.F.KabritandalsotothenorthwasR.A.F.KasfareetandtothesouthR.A.F.ElShallufaandonthe
banksofthelakestoodH.M.S.SaunderswhichwasthefirstCombinedOperationsTrainingCentretobeestablishedoutsideoftheUnitedKingdom.AllwereinthevicinityofthelargeandsprawlingFayidArmyBase.TherewasnocampforthemassuchapartfromonelargemarqueetentwhichservedastheQuarter-mastersstoreandtheQ.M.GerryWardhimselfsleptwithinit,alsotobefoundwerethree
EPI’s.TheseweretentsmadeinIndiaforEuropeanpersonnel.Theywereinstructedthatiftheywantedacamptheywouldhavetomakeitthemselvesand
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sowiththefewtentsavailabletheyweretaskedwithdiggingtheminanderectingthembuttherewasdiscordintheranksastheN.C.O'smainlyfromtheGuardsCommandooversawthis.ManyrefusedandrequestedthattheybereturnedtotheirparentunitsviatheCommandoBaseDepotatGeneifabutthiswasrefusedandsotheyreluctantlycarriedonafterJockLeweshadclimbedontoatableand
addressedthementellingthemthatwhatevertheybelievedtherewasanapparentmethodtothismadnessandtheywouldhavetodealwithiteven
incitingnearopenrebellionbydeclaringthemtobecowardswithalongstreakofyellowdowntheirbacks.SomeofthosefromNo.’s7and11(Scottish)
Commandosbelievedthattheirvolunteeringwasabitmorethanthegambletheyhadanticipated.AsM.E.H.Q.wasdoingallthatitcouldtoscupper‘L’DetachmentmostoftheotherrequirementswereliftedfromaNewZealandcampnearby,theywereatthetimeengagingoutinthedesertonatrainingexercisenotthattheyreallyneededtrainingastheyweredeemedtobethefinishfightinginfantrywithinthewholeoftheWesternDesertForcealthoughtherewaspartsofthecampstilloccupied,blaggingtheirwaypasttheIndianguardsthosemenwho
weremainlyfromtheGuardsCommandoincludingJimBlakeney,DaveKershaw,BobLilley,JohnnyRose,BobBennett,PatRileyandJohnAlmondstookwhattheyneededoverthreetripsinathreetonnerincludingapianoofallthings,TheyhadwiththehelpofGerryWardmadeafullindentofwhatwastoberequiredtoget
upandrunning.TheyhadoneluckyescapewhentheywereapproachedbyanM.P.butwereabletoappeasehimbygivinghimalighttohiscigarettetellinghimthattheirC.O.believedeveryhourofthedayornightwasaworkinghourandtheyfinally
returnedtotheircampsitequitesatisfiedwiththeirnightswork.SomeofthemenwereabitconcernedaboutthisexerciseastheyhadahighregardfortheNewZealandersbutitwasjustasimplecaseoftheyhaveandweneeditregardlessoftherespectthattheyhadforthem.Overtheyearsmuchwouldbemadeofthis
episodealthoughitdoesappearthatapartfromthepianowhichmanyyearslatertheNewZealandersaskedforitsreturntheyonlytookwhattheyactuallyneeded.TheywouldalsoraidalocalRoyalEngineersDumptostealmaterialstoenhancethecamp.BrickswerestolenfromaRoyalAirForcecampandabarbuiltandrun
byIsrael‘Cockney’KaufmanlateoftheQueen’sRoyalRegimentandNo.7Commandoandwastheenvyoftheofficerswhohadonlyatent.Kaufman
howeverwouldnotlastthecourseandwasoneofthefirsttobereturnedtohisparentunitsupplementedtheirsuppliesbystealingfromArmystoresandsellingitontothelocalsorbarteringinthetimehonouredEgyptiantraditiontoacquirewhattheyneededtosupplementtheirallottedrationswhichonthewholewerepoorandtherewastheconstantpromiseofafullplateatthenextfeedingtime
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butthiswouldbegreetedwiththesameresponse,‘betterfoodtomorrow’,ofcoursetomorrowcamebutbetterfood?Tomorrow!BillFraseronmorethanoneoccasionwouldbeaskedthesequestionsandalwaysgavethatsameresponse,
althoughononeoccasionhedidarrangeagoodfeedforoneofthemen.
Bullybeef,biscuits,herringsandporridgehardlythefareforwhattheywereexpectedtodo.Butdissentwasstillrearingitsuglyheadassomewerestillwerenothappywiththeirlotandbrokecampandfoundalocalbarandhadafewdrinks.Intheiropiniontheyweren’ttheretobetreatedaslabourersbuttobesoldiers.Theyreturnedwithafewmorebottlesofbeerbutwereeventuallycoaxedintoputtingthecamptogetherandsoallwassoonforgot.Sixwere
allocatedtoeachofthetentsandforthetimebeingthemenstuckwiththeirunitsandthementhattheyhadalreadysoldieredwithandhadgrowntolikeandtrust.KabritwaslocatedonaheadlandonthewesternshoreoftheGreatBitterLakeneartoitsjunctionwiththeSuezCanal,eastofCairoandasimilardistancesouthofPortSaid,nearbytheR.A.F.KabritairfieldwhichflewBlenheimlightbombersandreceivedquitealotofattentionfromtheAxisairforce’ssothedigginginofthetentsprovedbeneficial.TheSuezCanalwasalsobombedandmined.WiththeAxisthreatofadvancealwaysaconstantdangersentrieshadtobeseteachnightandofcoursedaysotheywerealwaysalerttothepossibilitiesofdanger.Somewaghaderectedasignoutsideofthemaingateintothecampbearingthelegend
‘Stirling’sRestCamp’butthetruthwasfarfromthat.CaptainStirling,asixfootfiveincharistocraticScotwithhisgentlestoopandquietvoicewhoneverseemedtoorderanyonetodoanythingbutseemtosuggesttothemthat‘periapt’sthiswouldbeagoodidea’or‘couldyoupossiblydothis?’ofcourseiftherequestwasn’tmettothefulltheoutcomewouldthathewhohadbeenaskedwouldbeunceremoniouslyreturnedtounit.Knownamongst‘hisset’as‘TheGiantSloth’gatheredthemalltogetherandsetouthisrequirementsfortheunitwhichincludeddisciplineontheparadegroundastightasthatoftheGuardswhomadeupthebulkofthemen,althoughsalutingeverytimeaotherrankcameintocontactwithanofficerwaswaived.TheArmiesritualofcleaning
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theirpersonalweaponsfortheparadegroundandinspectionwasputtoonesidetothereliefofall.TheymustlearntothinkforthemselvesandthattheycouldnotexpecttobespoonfedbyM.E.H.Q.ThebulkoftheunitwasmadeupofNo.8(Guards)Commandomainlyfrom3Troop,mostofthisCommandohadseenno
significantactionalthoughelementswerepresentinTobruk,onehundredoftheirnumberservedhereinasupportroleforaperioduntiltheywerewithdrawninAugustwhileafurthertwohundredmenweretobeengagedinanattackat
GazalainApril.ThemenboardedtheRoyalNavalgunboat“Apris”andsetsailonlytobeattackedontheirvoyagebyStukasoftheLuftwaffeandtwomenwere
woundedandtheenginesdamagedforcingthemtoreturnhome.Thefinalbatchofthosefrom8(Guards)CommandoarrivedduringThursdaythefourthof
September,thesewerethementhathadfoughtinTobrukandhadrecentlybeenrelieved.ThesecondhighestwasthosefromNo.11(Scottish)Commandowho
originallyweretohavebeenpartoftheraidonBardiawithNo.7Commandobutafteritsinitialpostponementduetoinclementweatherwereexcludedwhentheraiddidfinallytakeplace.AfterbeingongarrisondutiesinCyprushadtakenpartinOperationExportertheinvasionofSyriawheretheysufferedconsiderableloss’sincludingtheirC.O.Lt.ColonelDickPedder,nextfollowedNo.7CommandowhohadseenactionatalandingonthecoastatBardiaandalsotheycoveredthewithdrawaloftheAlliedforcesfromtheIslandofCretealthoughtheywereoriginallysentthereasreinforcementstobolstertheislandsdefencesbutthesituationchangedsorapidlythattheirrolewasquicklychangedtothatofrear
guardandfinallybythosefromoutsideoftheoriginalLayforceandmostlikelytohavecomefromNo’s.50and52CommandowhoalongwithNo.51wasknownastheMiddleEastCommandoandhadbeenraisedinitiallyintheMiddleEastandhadpreviouslyseenactioninEritreaduringtheEastAfricancampaignandalsoaswithNo.7CommandoduringtheCretedebacle.InMarchBrigadierLaycockon
learningthattheWesternDesertForceweretocommitprobablyit’sbesttrainedandmostexperiencedtroopstothedefenceofGreeceunderOperationLustrerequestedthatarolebefoundforhisLayforceCommandosbutthisfellonthe
deafearsofWavellandhisstaffinCairomuchtohisgreatdismay.OriginallyDavidStirlinghadaskedthathebeabletorecruittwohundredmenfromtheranksof
LayforcebutthiswascutdowntoatotalofsixtyfivebytheauthoritiesinCairo.‘L’DetachmentcameunderthecommandoftheoldLayforcecommanderBob
LaycockwhowasdoinghisutmosttoreconstitutetheCommandosintheMiddleEastasduetoshortagesofmanpowerwereintheprocessofbeingdisbandedbut
thiswasonlytobetemporary.TrainingwastobeharderthanthatoftheCommandosbutonoperationsdisciplinewouldbeofamorerelaxednature.OnthefourthofSeptemberDavidStirlinghadparadedhismenandtoldthemthathe
29
expectedofthemselfdiscipline,personalmotivation,modestyandthehigheststandardofturnoutandbehaviourandahundredpercentdevotiontohavinga
crackattheHun.No.8(Guards)CommandoweredeemedtypicaloftheGuards,aclubtobeenjoyedbytheofficersoverdinner,pinkgin’sandcocktailsby‘thegoodtime
Charlie’s’whoseemedtofilltheirranks,manyhadgambledawaytheirmoneyonthevoyageoverthesea’sandStirlingembracedthisoccupationwithrelishwhileNo.11(Scottish)CommandowassaidtobeoverdisciplinedandovertrainedandbringinguptherearwasNo.7Commandothecompleteoppositetotheprevious,undertrainedandwithnodiscipline.Whateverwastruethesemenwhoallhadonethingincommontobeabletofighttheenemywouldhavetoforgetogetherandforgetanydifferencesorrivalriesthatmayhaveexistedtobecomeaunit.AlloftheOfficersapartfromBoningtoncamefromLayforce,StirlingwasaScotsGuardafailedartstudentwhohadreturnedtoEnglandontheoutbreakofwarfromAmericawhereintheRockymountainshewasintrainingforanexpeditiontoclimbMountEverest,LewesfromtheWelshGuardsafterspendingtimeinthe1stBattalionofTowerHamletRiflesaTerritorialRegimentfromtheEastEndofLondon,astrangeplacetofindagraduateofOxfordUniversityandamemberoftheirwinningBoatRaceteamfrom1937whowasborninCalcutta,IndiatoEnglish
parentsbutgrewupinAustralia.Bothcamefrom8(Guards)Commando.BillFraserwasaGordonfromNo.11(Scottish)andwasinFrancein1940beforetheevacuationandeventualfallofFranceandwaswoundedinaction,hewould
appeartohavebeentheonlyRegularOfficerontheirstrength.Fraserthoughdidnotcomefromtheofficerclassthatthearmysodesired,bothhisfatherandgrandfatherservedintheGordon’sasSergeants,BillFraserthoughbrokethe
mouldandwascommissionedintothefamilyregiment.HewouldthoughneverbetrulyacceptedbyhispeersfromwithinwhatStirlingwantedtocreate,aclasslessunit.Fraserpreferredhisowncompanyandthatofhispetdachshund‘Withers’.EoinMcGonigalfromthesouthofIrelandandwaspre-waraSolicitorwholiked
Rugby,MaynewasfromtheNorthernIrelandandalsowasaSolicitorwhorepresentedtheBritishLionsduringthe1938SouthAfricantour,hewasalsotheIrelandUniversitiesHeavyweightBoxingChampionandafinalistintheBritish
Universitieschampionship.Bothweregreatfriendswhodisregardedthetensionsbetweentheirtwocountries.BothenlistedintotheTerritorialArmy,the5thL.A.A.RegimentR.A.beforetheytransferredtotheRoyalUlsterRifles,theybothappliedforanattachmenttotheCameronian’s(ScottishRifles)beforejoining11(Scottish)Commando.BothsawconsiderableactionduringtheLitaniriveroperationinJune1940.EoinMcGonigalhadremainedwithNo.11(Scottish)CommandobutMaynehadleftthemandwasatthetimeawaitingconfirmationofhispostingtoMilitary
30
Mission204intheFarEastandnotasoneofthegreatestlegendarymisnomersevercreated.ItwassaidthathewaslanguishinginjailchargedwithstrikinghisCommandingOfficerGeoffreyKeyeswhotookoverafterthedeathofPedderattheLitaniRiverandpendingCourtMartial.TheclosesttothetruthispossiblyormostlikelyprobablyisthatMaynewhenhestarteddrinkingcouldbecomequiteuncontrollableandfrequentlywouldbecomeviolent.OnoneparticularoccasiononArranhewhileundertheinfluencestruckGeraldBryanafellowofficerinNo.11(Scottish)Commandowhowasbilletedwithhim,onwakingthefollowingdayandsawtheblackeyehewassportingaskedtotellhimwhohaddoneitandhewouldsoughthimoutshowingthathehadnorecollectiononwhathadgoneonthenightbefore.Sadlythoughlaterduringa‘GuestsNight’intheOfficersMessinCyprushehadgotdrunkand‘verybolshie’sothatMajorCharlesNapierhadtoaskhimtoleave.LaterNapierwasassaultedinhistentbya‘hugeunknownassailant’andseverelybeaten.OnthisbeingreportedtothethenActingCommandingOfficerMajorGeoffreyKeyesheassumedthatduetothedescriptiongivenMaynecouldbetheonlysuspectandreportedthemattertotheislandsDivisionalCommanderBrigadierRodwellwhoimmediatelyhadhimreturnedtounitwhichresultedinhimbeingsenttotheCommandosBaseDepotinGeneifa,Egypt.HerehewentdownwithaboutofmalariaandwasconfinedtoNo.19GeneralHospital,Canal
Zonetorecover.CharlesBoningtonwasanadventurerwholefthiswifeandchildinScotlandtotraveltoAustraliawhereheworkedasajournalist,ontheoutbreakofwarhe
joinedtheAustralianArmyandservedasaSergeantbeforebeingcommissionedontotheGeneralList,heservedastheIntelligenceOfficerforthe1stCheshire’s.DuringaperiodofsickleavehemetupwithDavidStirlingwhohadsharedthesameschoolashimandthrewhislotinwithhim.OriginallyhisnamewasBonigwhichcamefromhisGermanfatherbuthechangedhisnamebeforemarryingin
Scotland.OnefurtherofficerwasattachedtotheunitfromtheverystartaMajorF.C.ThompsonoftheFrontierForceRifles,IndianArmy.HewastoactasaH.Q.observerandtooverseetheinitialcampadministrationactinginawayasan
Adjutant.Headquartershadobviouslydecidedthattheywasn’tgoingtoleaveitalltoonemantoraiseandorganisetheproceedings,italsogavethemtheirown
maninthecampaswell.DisciplinewastobeoverseenbyLieutenantBlairMayneandanydefaultersweretobetreatedtoauniqueformofpunishment,iftheoffendingsoldierafterbeingparadedacceptedMayne'sawardhewaspromptlytakentoaboxingringandfacedMaynewhowasaskilledheavyweightboxerwhoadministeredthepunishmentoverseveralrounds.Aftertheeventualdefeatofthesoldierall
31
wasquicklyforgottenandthesubjectwasnevertobementionedagain.IfthoughtheoffendercouldofferagoodexcusewhichfortheenjoymentofMaynewouldbearathertallcockandbulltaleanditsuitablyamusedhimthennoactionwastakenthoughhewouldknowaswellasMaynethathehadjustaboutgotawaywithit.Onesuchstorywhichcamelaterinvolvedasoldierwhowaslatebacktocampandheofferedthestoryforhisdefencethathehadheadedbacktocampwithplentyoftimeinhandandwhenhetriedtolightacigarettethewindprovedtobesostrongandsoheturnedhisbackintothewindtocompletehistask,oncehisfagwasalightheheadedononlytofindthathe'dforgottenthathe'dturnedaboutoncehehadarrivedbackfromwherehehadstartedfrom.Anamused
Mayneknowingitwaspurebullandimmediatelydismissedtherelievedsoldier.Therewastobeno‘pissingabout’likewhatwastobefoundinthenormal
regimentedarmywiththosewhodidnotreachthedesiredrequirement,ifyoudidn’tmeetthemarkyouwouldbereturnedtotheirunitssomethingthatisstillabadmarkagainstyoueventodaybutthereweresomeamongsttheirrankstoalthoughdidn’tquitemakethemarkratherthanbeingreturnedtotheirparentunittheywerekepton,oneGunnerTommyCorpsoftheRoyalArtilleryfromNewcastleonTynebecameLieutenantMayne’sbatmananddriverwhilst
GuardsmanLeitchfromtheScotsGuardstookonthedutiesintheofficersmess.StirlinghadCompanySergeantMajorGeorge‘Bill’YatesandSergeantErnieBondactingasPlatoonSergeanttohelpoverseedevelopments.TheQuartermasterside
waslookedafterbytheableGerry‘Daddy’Wardassistedbytwootherranks.TrainingcouldnowbeginitwasFridaythe5thSeptember,thoughDavidStirlingwouldbeabsentfromthisformuchofthetimebeingatM.E.H.Qtryingtocajolewithhisquietinfluencetogaintherequiredresource’sforhismen.ThephysicaltraininginstructorwasCSM‘Gus’GlazefromthearmiesPhysicalTrainingCorps
butLieutenantJockLeweswasinoverallcommandoftheirtrainingwhichincludedroutemarchesbothdayandnightcoveringdistancesbetweentenandthirtymilescarryingpacksfullofstones,someemptiedsomeouttolightentheirloadsbuthesooncaughtontothisandhadthestonesnumberedthusfoilinganyattempttomakelifeeasier.Aseachmorningbrokethemenwererousedandwhilestilldarktheirfirsttaskofthedaywasaroutemarchoralongdistancerun.FollowingthistheyengagedinagameofRugbyinwhichbothsectionsAandBwouldbasicallyknockeachotheraboutabitsomethingthatPaddyMaynecertainlyexcelledat.IntheCommandostheyhadtrainedtoachieveamarchingspeedinfullequipmentoftwoandahalfmilesperhouroveradistanceofthirtyfivemiles.Theylearnttorecognisesoundssothatitbecamesecondnature.Themenwerenowbecomingtheeliteoftheeliteandwouldsoonsurpassthat.Threedayexercisescomprisingofasixtymilehikecoveringtwentymileseachnightandlyingupduringtheday.
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Eachmanwouldscrapeahollowinthedesertsandandlayinitcoveredbytheirsmocks;foodwasminimalcomprisingofdatesandhardrationsplustheirpersonal
waterbottles.Layinguptheywouldhopethatsleepwouldcomeeasy.Mapreadingandcompassworkwasessentialfortheirproposedworkinthedesertaswouldhavetobetheirmedicalknowledge,theirtrainingevenincludedhowtoperformanamputation.StirlinghadclashedwithLewesabouthowmanymen
shouldmakeupasection;LewesfavouredtenortwelvewhileStirlingpreferredasectionoffive.
AcompromisewaseventuallyreachedwhichwouldhavefavouredStirling.Theyhadfinallysettledonafourmansectionwhichwouldbeknownasapatrol,eachmemberofthepatrolwouldbea‘Specialist’eitheradriver/mechanicoramedic,anavigatororademolitionexpert.Eachpatrolwouldthenbemutuallydependantoneachother,theywouldbefurthersplitintotwopairsof‘muckers’sonomanwaseveronhisown.TheclassicKim'sgamewasalsousedtohelptraintheir
memoryastheywouldhavetomemorisemapreferencesandotherthingsastheywouldnotbeabletotakewritteninformationwiththem.Weapons’trainingwasessentialasallrankshadtobefullyconversantwithallweaponsbelongingnot
onlytotheirarmybutalsothoseoftheGermansandItalian’s,theywerealsoabletomaketheirownchoiceofpersonalweapons.InstructioninthisfieldwasoverseenbyLt.McGonigal.NavigationcameundertheexperiencedeyeofBillFraser,
whilePaddyMaynealsolookedafterP.T.alongwithGusGlaze.Languageswouldalsoplayapartoftheireducation,operatingbehindthelinesas
theywouldtheywouldneedtohavesomeunderstandingoftheirenemieslanguagetogetbyandtheywouldspendsometimelearningtherudimentaries.
Waterdisciplinewasofhighimportancenomanwasallowedtosharetheirbottlesandtheywouldonlybeallowedtodrinkwhentheorderwasgiven,itwas
expectedthatwhentheyreturnedfromamarchtheirbottleswouldstillbefull;somebelieveditwasthecomfortoftheknowledgethattheyhadwateriftheyneededitwhichhelpedthemgetthroughit.Onemancouldn’tdowithouthis
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waterandalthoughhemadethegradeineverythingelsewaterwastobehisdownfallandhefoundhimselfreturnedtohisunit.Lt.Leweshadhowevermadeanerrorofjudgementduringtrainingregardingwaterconsumption,hewronglybelievedthatthemencouldgoforlongperiodswithoutreplenishingthemselvesbutluckilynolastingharmcametothemeninvolvedandthewaterdisciplinewas
relaxedslightly,butallmenknewthatwhenthechipsweredowntheyhadacquiredtheirownpersonaldisciplinetoovercomeproblemsofthirst.ToalleviatetheeffectsofdehydrationduringthemanymarchestheyundertooksomeofthemlightenedtheloadsthattheywerecarryingbutJockLewessooncottonedontowhatwasgoingonandhetookstepstoendtheirlittleruse.Therepackswouldcontainrockseachnumberedsothatattheendoftheexerciseeachmanwouldhavetoproducetherequiredamountofrocksinhispackwhichwouldweigh
aroundsixtypoundsandonoccasionsfarinexcessofthis.CunningmayhavebeenanessentialrequirementfortheSpecialAirServicebutLewesquiterightlysawthisactasdetrimentaltotheirtrainingandcouldcompromisethematalater
date.Theywerealsoblindfoldedandrequiredtoperformvarioustasksbothatnight
andduringthedaysothattheywouldbeabletoperformanygiventaskregardlessofthecircumstances.Languages,motortransportandtheuseofthewirelesswerealsoincludedintheirtraining.Attheendofeachdaystrainingthemenwouldreturntotheirtentsandinexercisebookssuppliedtothemthey
wouldwriteupnotesontheday’sactivitiesandinturnthesewouldbecheckedatvarioustimesbyJockLewestoseehowwellthelessonshadbeenlearntandhow
welltheprinciplesthatwerebeinginstilledintothemhadbeenabsorbed.SchemesweresetuptostartatnightafterafulldaystrainingandafterabeerwiththeirfoodtheywouldbecalledouttoparticipateinwhateverLeweshad
plannedforthem.Theyeventuallyworkeduptoaninetyfivethreedayandfournightexerciseandtheexperiencethattheygainedfromthiswouldsoonbeputtouse.Lessonsinexplosivesledthementodemolishlocalbuildingsandallwouldbecomeexpertsindestruction.Leweswouldattimesgoadthemencallingthem‘yellow’andtheseinsultsmadethemenshowthattheywereworthyofinclusioninLDetachment.Leweswouldneveraskhismentodoanythingthathehimselfcouldn’tdoandonmanyoccasionshewouldcompleteaschemeonhisownandtweakitwherehethoughtitwasrequiredbeforecallingonhismentoperformit.Muchemphasiswasputonnight-workandtheexercisesconductedduringtheseperiodsgraduallybecameeasierasDavidStirlingquiterightlybelievedthatthe
keytosuccessfulnightfightingwasinasoldiersselfconfidence.DuringdemolitiontrainingtheywerejoinedbyaEgyptianrailwaysemployeewhoshowedthemthebestplacestoplantexplosivestogetthebestresultsindestroyingtrainandtrack
34
andthatacurveinthetrackwasthebestplaceasthiswouldalmostcertainlycausederailmentbutalsocausemoreproblemstoreplaceacurvedpieceoftrack
ratherthanastraightpiece.Bythetimetheirtrainingexpandedtheyhadbeenputintogroupsawayfromtheirregimentsorcommandounit,thesewouldbethesquadsthattheywouldoperate
within.Thetrainingintensifiedreadyforparachutetraining.Oneofthefirstexerciseswasjumpingintoasandpitsothattheycouldpracticerolling.
JockLewesbecameawarethatlyingunusedinanoldquarrywasanarrowgaugerailwayandtheeverinventiveofficerthoughtthathecouldmakeuseofit.
Accompaniedbyaboutfivemenina3tonnertheywenttoseewhatwasonoffer.About80yardsoftrackandsleeperswereliftedalongwithoneofthehoppersand
takenbacktotheirbase.Thesleepersandtrackwerere-laiddownthesideofasanddune,deckingwas
addedtothehoppersothatthemancouldbalanceonthetopofit.Thiswassetinmotionbythemenastheypushedthehoppertotheedgeandthehopperand
manontophurtledtothebottomofthedune,asthehopperhitthefarsideofthedunethemanonboardjumpedoffandwouldtrytolandsafelywithaforward
roll,injurieswerecommonplacewithbrokencollarbonestopofthelist.Leweshadtheideaofjumpingbackwardsoffthebackofalorryatvariousspeedstosimulatelandingbutwithmostofthemsufferingsomesortofinjuryincludingvariousbreakagesthiswaseventuallystopped.Amongstthosewhosuccumbedto
theseinjuriesandwouldforaperiodrequirehospitaltreatmentwereJeffDuVivier,JimmyBrough,JohnnyOrton,JohnnyByrneandBillFraser.
JimAlmondsbuiltaframeforjumpingfromvariousheightsandthishelpedreadythemfortheirfirstjumpsproper.Almondsprettymuchbuiltallofthetraining
facilitieshimselfbutattimeshewasabletocallonthehelpofItalianprisonersofwarandwhentheoccasionneededitapartyofRoyalEngineers.TheyhadacquiredtheuseofaBombayTroopCarrierfromR.A.F.TransportCommand
basedatthenearbyairfieldofKhanka,LieutenantPeterWarroftheEastSurreyshadbeensentoutfromEnglandtooverseetheirinstructionandarrivedinearlyNovemberbuttoolatetohaveanyimpactontheirinitialtrainingprogrammeand
soontheywerejumpingfromthisnearobsoleteaircraft.Aholewascutintothebottomofthefuselagetoallowthemtoexittheplanebutduetothesizeoftheholeandtheparachutepackontheirbacksmosttooka
heftyblowtotheirfaces,therewasalsothepossibilitythattheycouldgetcaughtuponthetailwheelsoitwasnotsuchaneasyexercisetoperform.Thestaticlinesusedtoopentheir'chuteswereconnectedtoabarwhichranalongthebottomofthefuselageastheyexitedthe'planethelinewouldopenthe'chute,sadlyonthesecondstickduringthisstageoftheirtrainingKenWarburton'schutefailedto
35
open,thenextinlineJoeDuffywouldhaveseenthishappenbutnottheJumpInstructorwhourgedhimon,hejumpedandhislinefailedtoopenhis'chuteandhetoplungedtohisdeath,whentheyfoundhisbodytheycouldseethatfacedwithimminentdeathhismindwasstillworkingandhehadtriedtoclawopenhis
packbutalastonoavail.ThethirdtojumpwasBillMorrisandfollowinghimwasJohnnyOrtonbuttheywereheldbackbythedispatcherFlightSergeantTedPaceyandtheaircraft
returnedtobase.WhentheyrecoveredthebodiesofDuffyandWarburtontheyfoundthatduringthedescentDuffyhadtriedtomanuallyopenhis‘chuteandhad
verynearlysucceededbuttheheightwassuchthatheneverhadthetimealthoughhehadmanagedtopullouthalfofthe‘chute.
Onlandingtheproblemwasdiagnosedasafaultintheclipandnewone'sweresoughtandfitted,asimilarproblemhadoccurredatRingwayinEnglandbuttheyhadnotpassedthisinformationonsosomeresponsibilityforthedeathsofthe
parachutistsbothwhowereSeaforthHighlandersandbothhadservedin6Troop,No.11(Scottish)Commandomustfallontheirshoulders.
Theclipwasasnaplinksimilartothosefoundonadogleadwhichwasthenattachedtothedog’scollar.DougieArnoldandAlexWestwaterhadbeendetailedtogointoCairoandpickupabatch.Thelinkwasattachedtoabarweldedintotheaircraftsfuselagewiththeparachute’sstaticlinealreadyattached.Itwasgovernedbyitsbreakingstrain,whenthemanexitedtheaircraftandbecamefullyextended
itwouldbreakthusreleasingtheparachute.StirlingwhowasaM.E.H.Q.inCairoatthetime,afivestoreybuildingofanart
decofashionlocatedat10TonbaletstreetintheGardenDistrictofCairoknownas‘GreyPillars’orsimply‘No.10’receivedasignalfromKabrittellinghimofthe
disaster,Stirling’sreactionwasthattheyshouldsuspendactivitiesforthedayandstandthemendownpendinganinvestigationbuttheyshouldbereadytoresume
trainingthefollowingday.Therestofthedaythenwasspentincontemplationaboutthetragedyandmanynervoushandssmokedcountless
cigaretteswhichhadbeenissuedfree.Priortothejumpmanyofthemhadputonthepretenceofbraverybutknowtheyweredifferentwiththerealisationthat
whattheyweredoingcouldseriouslyinjurethemandpossiblyleadtoanuntimelydeath.Thenextmorningat05.30hourstheyallwentbackandsuccessfully
jumpedbeingledbyJockLewesfollowedbyPatRiley,notamanrefusedshowingthehighdegreeofmoralewhichwasnowtobefoundwithinthem.
Allthoughinviewofwhathadoccurredthepreviousdaywasgiventheoptionofstandingdown.TheywereduetodofourdayandtwonightjumpsandonealsointotheSuezCanalbutintheendtheydidfivedayandonenightjumps.Themen
36
weretobeknownshortlyas‘Stirling’sParashots’althoughthiswascrudelymodifiedbytheL.R.D.G.to‘Stirling’sParashite’s’.
SomeofthescepticalmiddlerankingofficersatHeadquarterssarcasticallynamedthemthe‘ShortRangeDesertGroup’thinkingthattheypreferredtheclose
proximityofCairoanditsextensiverangeofbars.Oneproblemthattooksometimetoovercomewasabombtodestroyaircraft,whatwasavailabletothemwasafivepoundexplosivedevicebutthisprovednotuptothejobinquestionandalsotheweightissuewouldmeanthattheycould
notcarryenough,aftersomeweeksJockLewesfoundthesolutionandthe‘Lewes’bombbecamepartofS.A.S.folklore.Leweshadearnedthenicknamebyof‘The
Wizard’.TheLewesbombwasbasicallyplasticexplosiveandthermiterolltogetherinengineoilwithaNo.27detonator,aninstantaneousfuseandatimepencil.Thetimepencillookedlikeabiropen,itwasaglasstubewithaspringloadedstrikerheldinplacebyapieceofcopperwire.Atthetopwasaglassphialcontainingacid
whichwasgentlysqueezedtobreakit.Theacidthenatethroughthewiretoreleasethestriker.Thethickerthewire,thelongerthedelay.Thetimepencils
werecolourcodedaccordingtothelengthoffuse.Anaircraftproductionmantoldthemthatwhentheyplantedtheirbombstheywerealwaystoensurethattheyplacedthemonthesamewingastheenemylikethem-selveskeptquantityofeachwingassparesbutifsamewingwasusedtheywouldsoonrunoutthus
renderingmoreaircraftasnonoperational.ByOctober1941theirtraininghadprogressedfarenoughforStirlingtobeabletooffera£10betthathismencouldsimulateanattackonHeliopolisairfieldwhowouldbewarnedofthe"attack",theymarchedfromKabrittoCairoandthen
acrossthedesertadistanceofroughlyonehundredmiles,theycarriedfourwaterbottles,apoundofdates,halfapoundofboiledsweetsandsomearmybiscuits,theyusedItalianhaversackswhichwerefarbetterthanthestandardissueBritishonesandalsoapieceofhessianwithwhichtheycouldcamouflagethemselvesfromthepryingeyesoftheaircraftwhichwereuplookingforthem.Tosimulatethebombloadthattheywouldbeexpectedtocarryonoperationsstoneswere
oncemoreused,andwereputintothehaversacksofthemen,withmostcarryingaroundeightstoneswhichwouldequatetoeightLewesbombswhichweighedaroundonepoundapiece.Therewastobefivegroupseachsplitintotenmansectionsfurthersplitdowntotwo’s,eachgroupwascommandedbyoneofthefiveofficers,BillFraser,Mayne,Lewes,McGonigalandBoningtonwhowouldontheforthcomingoperationbeincommandfortherealthingexceptforBillFraserwhoduetoaninjurysustainedlaterinanexercisewouldtakecommandoftherendezvouspartywithStirlingtakinghisplace.Theymarchedbynightandlayup
duringthehotdays.Onthefourthnighttheywereallinpositionandbroke
37
throughtheperimeterwireandsuccessfullyplantedstickersonalloftheaircraft,onfurtherinvestigationitwasfoundthatsomeoftheaircrafthadmorethanone
stickeron!ThebetwasdulypaidandthementhenmarchedtoAbbabasyiaBarrackswiththeirfourdaybeardgrowth,unwashedanddishevelledandwiththeirItalianhaversackstheywereatfirsttakentobePrisonersofWarbutafter
slakingtheirthirst’stheymadetheiridentitiesknownandtheOfficercommandingarrangedtohavethemtransportedbacktobaseatKabrithappythoughexhaustedwiththeknowledgethattheirexercisewasaresoundingsuccess.Onlyonemanfromthewholeunitfelloutduringtheexerciseandhewasdulyreturnedtohis
unit.FollowingtheirreturnCaptainStirlingorganisedacompetitiontocomeupwithabadgeandamottofortheunit,thebasisofthebadgewasdesignedbyBobTaitandfurthermodifiedbyJockLewesbeforebeingaccepted,themottowasfinallycoinedbyStirlinghimselfalthoughoneofthoseproposedwas‘SeekandDestroy’or‘StrikeandDestroy’whichaptlydescribedwhattheunitwasallaboutbut‘WhoDaresWins’wasfinallyadopted.Althoughmanyoptionswereavailableonebeing‘WeDescendToAvenge’.ThiswouldovercomeoneoftheproblemsthathadaffectedtheCommando’sfromthestartthattheyhadnocommonbadgeto
identifythem.Thebadgebringsaboutregimentalprideandnowtheyhadoneanditmadeallthedifferenceintheworld.ThisandtheirParachuteWingswouldbemanufacturedinCairo.Abadgeandamottothattheycouldbeproudof.Theyalsoneededonemorething;alloftheotherranksallsportedvariousheadwearfromFieldServiceCaps,TamoShantersandtheGuardswiththeirpeakedServiceCaps.Whattheynowneededwasacommonhatthatwouldunifythemandwhattheygotwasawhiteberet!Thesemayhavebeenblacktankersberetswashedinpetrolandthenbleachedwhiteinthehotdesertsun,butwhite?Thesewere
adoptedafterSquatterandwerefirstwornwhentheyweregivenafewdaysleaveinCairo.TheyfoundthattheywerewolfwhistledandgenerallyribbedbyallandsundryespeciallythoseNewZealanders,SouthAfricansandAustralianswhomtheycameintocontactwith,understandablythiscausedtroubleandoncetheirleavewasovertheyquicklydroppedthemandreturnedtowearingtheirusualheaddress.ForaperiodkhakiFieldServiceCapsknownasForeandAftswerewornthesethoughhavingdarkbluefacingswhichwouldhavenormallybeenwalkingoutcapswerewornuntilthenowfamiliarsandcolouredberetwas
adoptedasthestandardheaddress.Theyweregiventheoptionofwearingthewingstheyhadbeenawardedfortheir
parachutejumpseithernowontheshoulderoraftertheyreturnedfromtheoperationontheirbreast.Theyalloptedforthelatter,formanythoughthisoptionneverbecamearealityandincreasedthevalueofthesewingstothose
38
whogottowearthemlater.SeveralofthemenwerehospitalisedforvariousreasonsandoneJohnnyOrtonlanguishedhereforaperiodwithabadlyinfectedfootpickedupfromatrainingaccidentbutwiththeknowledgeofanimpendingoperationhedischargedhimselfonthetwelfthofNovemberhavingbeentheresincethetwentyninthofOctoberandreturnedtohisunit.OperationCrusader
wasduetostartonthe18thNovember;originallyitwastohavebegunonthe11thbutwaspostponeduntilthe15thandagainputbacktothe18th.RommelwasduetostarthisownoffensivetofinallyendthestubbornresistanceoftheTobrukgarrisononthe20thsonofurtherdelaycouldbeallowed.TheirpartinitwastoattackthreeAxisairfieldsatGazalaandtwoatTmimi,fivepartiesinfiveaircraftweretobedroppedneartotheairfieldswheretheywouldthenattackthemandhopefullydestroyasmanyoftheenemyplanesastheycouldbeforeheadingforarendezvouswithapatroloftheLongRangeDesertGroupwhowouldthenreturnthemtotheAlliedLines.CrusaderwastobetheattempttorelievethegarrisonencircledatTobrukandthenforceRommelintoageneralretreatandsothe
destructionoftheseenemyaircraftwascritical.8thArmyOperationOrderNumber16whichDavidStirlingreceivedonthe10thNovemberinstructedhimthatfiftyfourmenandhimselfweretoparachutebehindtheenemylinesandtoco-
ordinatetheirattacksontheairfieldssothateachgroupsbombswentoffatthesametime,allcontactwiththeenemywastobeavoidedunlessitdidnot
compromisetheirmission.TheprioritywastobethedestructionofGermanaircraft;ME109’sbeingthemostimportantfollowedbyME110’s,HE111’s,StukaJU87’sandfinallyJU88’s.TheItaliansprioritiesweretobeG50’s,Macchi200’s,CR42’s,BR20’sandS79’s.TheWesternDesertAir-forcewouldalsocarryoutvariousraidsontheairfieldsonD-1andD1usingWellingtonbombersand
Albacorebi-planeswhichweresimilartotheFaireySwordfishandjustasobsoletetodropflarestoguidetheWellingtonsin,hewasinstructedtoarrangeforthree‘L’DetachmenttrucksalongwithoneofficerandthreeotherranksplusprovisionstoaccompanytheL.R.D.G.patroltotherendezvoustoreturnthementoAlliedlinesalthoughtherewereonlytwo15CWTBedfordtrucksavailableatthetime
andsotheorderswereamendedbeforetheirfinalissue.BeforetheymovedoffforthemissiontheywerevisitedbyGeneralClaude
AuchinleckatKabritandhewatchedastheywentthroughtheirpacesandJockLewesandastickofmendroppedinademonstrationfortheC.O.ofthearmytoseehowwelltheyhadprogressed.CaptainStirlingwasalsoquitecraftyduringthisvisitandalthoughthecapbadgehadnotyetbeenadoptedofficiallybythearmybywearinghiscapbadgeandbeingsalutedby‘TheAuk’thisgavethemuchneededsealofapproval.Duringthetrainingperiodthecamphadbeenvisited
39
severaltimesbyMajorGeneralRichiethemantowhomStirlinghadfirstplacedhisproposalstoandhehadtakenquiteaninterestintheirdevelopment.OnthefifteenthofNovemberthosethatwereselectedfortheraidwere
transportedfromKhankatoaforwardairfieldatMa'atenBagoushairfieldinreadiness.HerethesealedOperationalOrderswereopenedandthemenstudiedthemsothattheywerefullyconversantwithwhattheoperationentailed,bythetimetheywerefinishedeachmanknewbyheartwhatwasexpectedofthem.TheR.A.F.treatedthemtoatopratemealbelievingthatthesemenwereona
suicidemissionandsodeservedsuchafeast,theythenbrokeintotheliquorstoreoftheOfficerCommandingtheairfieldandstolehissupplyandgot
themselvesingloriouslydrunk,duringthistheOfficerCommandingchanceduponthemandaskedwheretheyhadgotthedrinkfromandwasabletotellthemitwashisdrinkbringingtheimpromptupartytoaprematureend.Thefollowing
morningtheyweredealtwithbyJockLeweswhofoundthewholeepisodeseriousandgavethemagrandrollickingbutwithadegreeofhumourembedded.
‘Habitualcriminalsorcongenitalidiots’ishowLewesdescribedthemandtosomeextentitshockedthemenoutoftheirhangoversastheyrealisedtheresultof
theiractions.TheyknewthatintheimminentoperationtheycouldnotaffordtolethimdownortherestofLDetachmentsomethingthattheyachievedadmirably.Themenwereassembledandthefullplanwasexplainedtothemandtheyquicklysetthemselvesdowntomemorisingalloftheinformationandstudiedthemaps
sotheyknewallthatwouldbeneededtoknowtocompleteasuccessfuloperation.
Theweatheratthispointwasdeterioratingtosuchanextentthatduetothirtyfiveanhourwindswhichwasmorethantwicetherecommendedspeedforajump
itwasthoughtthattheymighthavetocanceltheoperation.NovemberintheWesternDesertwasthewetseasonandalthoughraincouldobviouslybeexpectedalongwithhighwindswhichinturncouldwhipupduststorm’sor‘khamsin’s’thenightsstillremainedbitterlycoldbitthedayscouldhavetemperaturesreachingashighasthirtydegreesCelsius,eightysixdegrees
Fahrenheit.ThosedoughtersatM.E.C.gavethemeveryopportunitytopulloutbutaftera
conferencebetweentheLDetachmentofficersandtheR.A.F.theydecidedthatindueofallthepreviouscancellationstheyhadmetduringtheirtimeinLayforcethe
op.mustgoon,whichwastobetmetwithabsoluteapprovalbyalltheotherranks.BillYateswastoldtoassemblethementogethersothatStirlingcouldletthemknowwhatwashappening.TheBrigadier,GeneralStaffCo-ordinatorhadalsoadvisedDavidStirlingthoughtocanceltheoperationbuthiswordswent
unheeded.Themenassembledallbackedwholeheartedlyhisdecisiontogoahead
40
withtheoperation.Thesemenwerenot‘GungHo’theyjustwantedtogetonwiththejobinhand,ajobthattheyhadtrainedsohardtoachievetheexacting
standardsthatwasdemandedofthem.ItwouldalsohelptohealthememoriesofthetwofatalitiesfromtheparachutetrainingaccidentonemonthpreviouslyandalsotheitwouldmakeworthwhilealloftheinjuriesthatsomanyofthemhadsustainedandtofinallyputtobedtheconstantcancellationsofoperationsthattheyhadenduredduringthebriefbuttroubledexistenceofLayforce.Theywereyoung,fitandwelltrainedtheyhadnofearjustabeliefthattheywouldcome
throughunscathed.Theweatherthoughdidimprovesomewhatandbythetimetheaircraftwereduetotakeofftheconditionswererecordedas‘clearandstill’
butthiswastochangequitedramatically.Afinalbriefingwasheldwithallthosewhoweretogoandherevirtuallyatthelast
minutethefivestickswerechangedfromelevenmenperstickandaircraftprobablyduetotheamountofequipmentstowedonboardtheaircraft,Stirling’sstickwastobehimselfandsevenotherranksthethreeotherswhowereunabletogoonthisflightwereinduecourseallocatedplaceswithMcGonigal’sandLewesstick’s.Mayne’sandBonington’sremainedprettymuchintact.InoverallcommandoftheoperationwasStirlinghimselfwithLewesincommandof1and2Sectionsand3and4sectionsbyPaddyMayne.ThirtyminutesbeforethefirstaircraftwasduetotakeoffthemenclimbedaboardR.A.F.trucksandmadetheirwaytotheawaitingaircraftonthedispersalarea.Onarrivalthemendebussedandheadedfortheirrespectivetransport.Theychattedandhadafinalsmokeandbade
cheerio’stotherestofthemenintheothersticks,theynoticedthatthewindwasstartingtochange.
OperationNo.1.
Squatter.
41
TheRendezvousParty.17-11-1941–26-11-1941.
BillFraser
3OtherRanks
8thArmyOperationalInstructionNo.16issuedonthe10thNovember1941laidout
therequirementsforLDetachmentsfirstoperation,theraidsontheenemyairfieldsintheGazala/Tmimiareaandtodestroyasmanyaspossiblethemany
typesofaircraftthatwouldbefoundthere.DavidStirlinghadpreviouslytookpartinanaerialreconnaissanceoftheareaandknewwhattoexpect.
Onthenighttheoperationcommenced5Bombaytransportaircraftof216SquadronoftheR.A.F.wouldparachute5sticksofS.A.S.menintotheareaonceregroupedtheywouldmaketheirwayindependentlytotheintendedtargetsand
attack.Itseemssimpleenoughtogettherebuthowwouldtheygetback?
StirlinghadearlierconsideredexfiltratinghismenbysubmarinebutthismethodwasquicklydroppedduetothescantresourcesoftheRoyalNavyandtheobvious
problemsthiswouldcause.
Thealternativewasequallyassimpleasgoingin,oncetheirmissionwascompletedtheyweretoheadforarendezvousandmeetupwiththeLongRangeDesertGroupwhowouldonceallthosewhoreturnedhadbeenassembledwouldthenheadforasecondrendezvouswheretruckscrewedbytheS.A.S.wouldhelp
inthereturntoSiwathecurrentbaseatthetimeoftheL.R.D.G.
TherendezvouspartyneededanofficertocommanditandthisfelltoBillFraserwhoifnothadbeeninjuredinatrainingaccidentlikesomanyoftheLDetachmentmenwouldundoubtedlybeenpartofthemainattack.
42
Billwouldtakehismenandtheonly2trucksthatbelongedtothefledglingS.A.S.fromtheirbaseatKabritanddrivetoSiwawheretheywouldmeetupwiththe
L.R.D.G.andwouldaccompanythemtothe2ndrendezvousinreadiness.
Beforethe16thNovemberFrasersetoutfromKabritin2Bedford15cwttruckstoaprearrangedrendezvouswiththeL.R.D.G.whowouldtheguidethemtoSiwawheretheywouldmaketheirfinalpreparationsandrestockingofsuppliesin
readinessfortheirdesertjourney.Theyweretocarryenoughsuppliestocaterfor55menforaperiodof6days,food,water,medicalneeds,mostimportantlypetroltolastfor6days;theythemselveswouldneedtocaterforthemselvesforuptoaperiodof10days.Thetruckswouldbeladennotonlywiththisbutalsotheusualrequirementsforoperatingoutinthedesert,blankets,greatcoats,camouflage
nettingandweaponsandammunitionandsparetyres.TheL.R.D.G.gavethemtheloanofa3tonnertohelpwiththeloadasthe2truckswouldnothavebeenupto
thetaskthatlayahead.
Onthenightofthe16th/17thofNovemberStirling’smentookoffontheirmissionandthefollowingmorningthe17thBillFraserandhismensetoutforthe
rendezvousareaat05.30hrs.TheL.R.D.G.patrolR1wascommandedbyJakeEasonsmithwhowashighlyexperiencedinoperatingbehindtheenemylinesso
theywereinverygoodhandsbutsadlythetruckloanedtoBillandhispartydidn’tmeettheirexpectationsandwhilsttheyjourneyedonthatfirstdayoutitblewagasketandwasunusableandwasdulyleftbehindaftertheyhadtransferredallof
theequipmentandstoresontotheothervehicles.
Ittookthemuntil08.00hrsonthemorningofthe19thNovemberbeforetheyreachedWadi-el-Mrawhichwasthelocationofthesecondrendezvous,hereFraserandhismenconcealedtheirvehiclescoveringthemwiththenettingto
avoidthepossibilityofdetectionfromtheairbyanypassingaircraftandselectedaconcealedspottolayupreadytoreceiveStirlingandhismen.Theweatherhadturnedfortheworseduringthelastfewdayswithhighwindsandthunderstormswhichturnedouttobetheworstweatherexperiencedinthisregioninliving
memorysomethingwhichwastoplaysuchhavocwithStirling’smen.
EasonsmithandhispatrolpulledoutfromhereandheadedforGaretMerieminaNNEdirectionandtherendezvouswithStirling.Thiswaslocatedclosetoalowhill
43
neartotheTrighCappuzothetrackthatStirling’smenwouldusetofindtherendezvous.
TheplanforEasonsmithwhilstBillFraserandhismenwaitedfortheirreturnwastospreadoutandremainconcealeduntiltheparachutist’smadetheirreturntheywouldthenawaitaradiotransmissionforfurtherinstructionsbeforecommencing
onthereturnjourney.
Theyoverstayedtheirallottedtimebysome8hourshopingthatmoreoftheparachutistswouldreachthembutsadly2stickscommandedbyLtEoin
McGonigalandLt.CharlesBoningtonnevermadeitback,bothofthesepartiestookcasualtieswhilstthebulkofthembecameprisonersofwar.Lt.BlairMayneandLt.JockLewesbroughtintheirpartiesprettymuchintactbuttheyalsohadcasualtiesleavingthemnooptionbuttoleavetheseunfortunatemenbehindtofendforthemselves.Capt.Stirling’salsoencounteredsimilarproblemslosing1manonthedropwhilsttheotherapartfromhimandBobTaitbecameprisoners
ofwarafterStirlingsenttheminsearchoftherendezvous.
BillFraserwasunawareobviouslyofthedisasterthathadbefallentheirmissionastheywaitedforthemtoreturnstayingconcealedintheirhideupasenemyair
activityincreased,theyhopedthatitwasasignofthesuccessoftheoperationbutinrealitynoaircraftweredestroyedandtheseflightswereallpartoftheGerman
responsetothecommencementofOperationCrusader.
Bythe22ndtNovemberhavingreceivedinstructionsforhispatroltoheadforBirTenedgerandwiththerealisationthattherewouldbenomoreofStirling’smenreturningthedepletedbandsetoff,oncereachingthisdestinationtheS.A.S.menjoinwithR2patrolwhowouldthenreturnthemtoSiwa.Thejourneyherethough
wasmetbyanattackbyanItalianSavoia70bomberwhichcausedoneofthetruckstooverturnbuttherewerenoinjuriessaveforafewbruisesandthetruckwassoonrightedandthejourneycouldcontinue.TheItalianaircraftthoughhadradioedtohisbaseoftheirfindingsandsoonaGermanHeinkelHE111wassoononthescenesearchingforthembuttheL.R.D.G.werethemastersofthedesertandavoideddetection,theGermansthoughdidlocatesomederelicttrucksandcontentedthemselveswithbombingtheseprobablythinkingthattheyweretheir
intendedtarget.
44
TheL.R.D.G.andtheS.A.S.campedhereforthenightsome3milesfromtheirdestinationandthefollowingmorningtheirmovementwasfurtherrestrictedby
enemyaircraftalthoughtheyremainedunseen,theycouldnotthoughlocatetheR2patrolwhoprobablyremainedhiddentoavoiddetection.
AllthewhilebackatthesecondrendezvousBillFraserandhismenwaitedanxiouslyconstantlyscanningthedesertfloorforthearrivaloftheircomradesandalwayskeepingawatchfuleyetotheskiesandforanyenemyaircraftwhothey
themselveshadnoticedseemedtobemoreprevalentthanbefore.
EasonsmithmadetherendezvousandthetwopartiesfromLDetachmentwerere-unitedbutitwouldbewithgreatsadnessthatmetFraserandhismenwhenthegravityofthesituationandthefullstoryemerged,anunmitigateddisasterhadbefallenthemwithsofewjust22menreturningsomanyoftheircomradeswho
hadsharedthehardshipsanddeprivitationshadnotcomeback.
ForBillFraserthesadnesswasincreasedbythelossofhisfellowGordonandstalwartfromBSectionof8TroopfromNo.11(Scottish)CommandoSgt.JohnCheynewhohadtookcommandofthesectionattheLitaniriverinSyriaandledthewithdrawalofthesectionacrosstheriversosuccessfullyafterBillhadhandedovercommandtohimaftersufferingconcussionfromabulletthathadhithishelmetstrap.SadlyJohnCheynehadtobeleftbehindashehadbadlydamaged
hisbackonhislandingandwasinnoconditiontocontinue,heliestodaysomewherewithinthebarrendesertwastelandwithnoknowngrave.
BillwouldhavemissedanotherofhisJockswithDougieKeithnotreturning,hebecameaprisonerofwarbutwaslostwhentheSebastanoVenierwasattackedoffthecoastofGreeceinDecemberofthatyearasittransportedprisonersto
mainlandItaly.
TheystillthoughhadtoreturntoSiwaandafterreachingJarabubbymid-dayonthe25thNovembertheyfinallyreachedSiwaby07.00hrsonthe26th.
ThusendedLDetachmentsfirstoperationandtheywouldquicklyovercometheirlossesanddisappointmentsandwouldsoonmakeM.E.H.Q.noticethem;Bill
FraserwouldbeattheforefrontofthisandwouldbecomeoneofmostinfluentialofallS.A.S.officers.
45
OperationNo.3.
Agedabia.
46
19-12-1941–23-12-1941.
W.Fraser.D.R.Tait,J.DuVivier,J.V.Bryne,A.Phillips.
ForLieutenantBillFrasertheAgedabiaoperationwouldbehisfirsthavingmissedoutonthedebacleofOperationSquatterduetoabrokenarmsustainedduringthelaterstagesofLDetachmentstrainingandpreparationsalthoughasseenhe
wastheofficerincommandoftherendezvouspartysohehadsomeknowledgeoflifebehindtheenemylines.
Parachutist’sArthurPhillipsandJohnnyByrnewouldalsobegoingontheirfirstbutwouldbeaccompaniedbytwoofthosewhohadreturned,BobTaitwhohadjumpedwithDavidStirlingwhoweretheonlytwotoreturnfromthisstick,fivebecomingprisonersofwarandonebeinglostonthedropitselfandJeffDuVivierwhowaspartofJockLewes’sstickwhohadonlylostman,JohnCheynewhohadearliertakencommandofFraserssecondattheLitaniriver.AllbarPhillipshad
comefromNo.11(Scottish)Commando,ArthurPhillipswasaRoyalWarwickfrom7CommandoandhadfoughtintherearguardactionontheislandofCreteinMay
1941.
StirlinghadplannedtheraidontheairfieldwhenBrigadierReidofEForcehadaskedhimtoputinaraidsothathisforcecouldmoveoutonthe22ndDecembertolinkupMarriot’sforces,withenemyaircraftactivitythiswouldbecomedifficultandpossiblyverycostlyiftheywerecaughtintheopensoStirlingdevisedtheraidtodestroyasmuchaspossibleonAgedabiaairfieldtolimittheenemiesactivities.
Theysetoutonthe19thDecember1941withS1PatrolunderthecommandofLieutenantCharlesHollimancommonlyknownasGusoftheL.R.D.G.onatripof
around150milestotheirtargetarea.
TheyarrivedatAinNagainWadielFaregharound40milessouthofJedabyaonthenightof19th/20thandjoinedupwithLieutenantOlivey’sS2Patrol.Earlythefollowingmorningonthe20that01.00hrstheywereabout16milesfromJedabyaontheroadtoElHaseiat.HereFraserandhissectionpartedcompanybeinggiven
47
acompassbearingandthepositionoftherendezvousaftertheconclusionoftheiroperation.Theymarchedofftowardstheirtargetladenwithweapons,bombs,rationsandequipmentuntiltheywereabout3milesfromtheairfieldbutduetotherebeingtoomuchenemytransportactivitytheywereunabletofindasuitable
positiontolieupandsomovedofftofindaplacewheretheycouldremainconcealedfromanypryingeyes.
Havingmovedafewmoremilestheyfinallyfoundalocationwhichwouldgivethemcoverandpreparedforthebreakofthedaysothattheycouldbegin
observingtheairfield.
AtdaylighttheysawseveralhundredGermansdiggingdefenceshalfamiletotheirnorthandscanningaroundtheirpositiontheycouldalsoseesimilaractivitytotheeastandwest.Theirpositionwasabout8milesfromtheirintendedtargetandthroughbinocularstheymadecarefulobservationsregardingthedispositionsofthedefencesandtheaircraftweatherpermitting.Throughoutthedaytherewereseveralrainstormswhichforcedthemtotakewhatshelterfromtheelementsthattheycouldfind.TheyknewthattheonethingLDetachmentneededwasamajorsuccessandsocarefullynotedthepositionsoftheaircraftonthelandingsitetheymadetheirfinalplans,howtogetontheairfieldandmoreimportantlyhowtoget
offtoenablethemtoreachtheirrendezvouswiththetrucksoftheL.R.D.G.
Dressedinthesandbleachedoverallsthatcoveredtheirbattledressandwiththeminimumofequipmentwhichincludedtheirrevolvers,asparemagazinefor
JohnnyByrnesThompsonmachinegunandeightprimedLewesbombspermancarriedintheirhaversacks.Onethoughhadtobeleftbehindasithadadamaged
timepencilandwasburiednearby.Theirheadwearwasthescratchycapcomforterandtheyworeheavyrubbersoledboots,eachmancarriedinhisclothingamapofNorthAfricaprintedonsilk,atissuepapermapofEurope,arubbercoveredhacksawbladeandacoupleofthemcarriedfightingknives.
Asdarknessfellthesectionmovedofftowardstheirtargetcautiouslyinaslowmarchofaboutonemileperhourstoppingattheendofeachhourtoanswerthecallofnatureastheywerefindingthattheirbladdersneededemptyingfrequently,
somethingtypicallyfeltbymengoingintoaction.ThreehoursorsointothemissionthelastmaninthelineByrnewascalledforwardbyPhillipstofindTait
48
andFraserbesideatwowirestrandedfencetheyhadcometotheperimeter,theleadmanhadnotnoticedthewireandhadwalkedintoitbutluckwaswiththemandnoonefromtheenemyhadbeenalerted.FraserpointedintothedarknessandtoldByrnetotaketheleadandsteppedoverthefencetobethefirstofthepartyontotheairfield.Theyhadsomewhatluckilyarrivedattheairfieldfromthenorthwhichhadmeantthattheyhadavoidedanumberofmachinegunpositionswhichhadbeensitedforanypossibleattacksfromtheeast.Hequicklymovedoffandtheothersfollowedandweretosoonreachtherunway.Acrossfromhere
theyencounteredthefirstbatchofaircraftcontainingbothfightersandbombers.Thereappearedtobetheoccasionalstrollingsentrypresentonpatrolbuttheyquicklybecameawareofmensleepingbeneaththewingsofthebomberswhichtheyassumedtobethecrews.Actingfasttheybegantoplacetheirbombs,the
fightersgotonefortheirnoseswhilethebombershadoneplacedhighupontheirwings.DuVivierandByrneenteredahangarbutitprovedtobetoodarktosearchproperly.TherewasabitofconfusionasFraserwasseenclimbingupontothewingofoneaircrafttoplaceabombbutByrneandDuVivierhadalreadyvisited
thisone.
Theaircraftwereclosetogetherparkedingroupsandthemenmethodicallydealtwitheachaircraftinthegroupbeforetheymovedtothenext,althoughtheyhadtoactstealthilytheyneversawanysignoftheenemyguardsthatmusthavebeenabout.OnthecentreoftherunwayFraserandTaitencounteredatractoranda
lorryandthesetoohadbombsplacedonthem.
Rightontimeat00.42hrsthefirstofthebombsdetonatedinquicksuccessionandtheairfieldwasengulfedinflames.TheenemynowreactedswiftlybelievingthattheywereinthemiddleofanR.A.F.raidandmachineguns,lightantiaircraftgunsopenedupassearchlightscombedthenightskyfortheirattackersnotknowing
obviouslythattheywereactuallyatgroundlevel.TwomachinegunsfiringonfixedlinesknowopenedfiredowntwosidesoftheairfieldwhichwouldhampertheLDetachmentmenintheirwithdrawal.Allthetimetheammunitionintheaircraftwasexplodingandthefireshadspreadtothepetrolandammunitiondumps,theenemy’sgunsrapidlyfiringskywardsnotashotcametheirway.WiththeairfieldlitupbytheflamesoftheburningaircrafttheynowspottedapreviouslyunseengroupofGermanfightersthesetheyknewtheyhadtotakeoutandsocollected
49
whatbombswereremainingatotalofseven,oneshort.Frasernowordertheotherthreetomaketheirwaybacktotherendezvouswhilehealonewouldtackletheremainingfightersbuttheywouldhavenoneofthatandremainedtocover
him.FraseralongwithByrnerantowardswhatnowappearedtobebrandnewMe109-F’sandlaytheirbombsandtomakesurethattheygotthemtheyyankedthepullswitcheswhichwouldgivethemjustfourteensecondsbeforetheyexploded.FraserkeptwatchasByrneplacedeachbombbuthemissedtheseventhfighterandranontotheeighthasFraserstoodbytheseventhshoutingforhimtoreturn
butbynowalloftheirbombswereusedup.Thefirstbombsnowwentofffollowedbythelastthreeandasluckwouldhaveitalleightwereenvelopedin
flames.
Theairfieldwasnowlituplikedayandwiththenoiseandbedlamallaroundthemtheyformedupinalineandrapidlymadetheirescapeasfromabovetheheard
thesoundofbombersfromtheR.A.F.whodroppedbombsontheareaofJedabyaontheEl-AgheilatoBenghaziroad,toaddtothecacophonyofsoundsonestickof
bombshittheairfielditself.
Thetimewas00.55hrsandasoneoftheantiaircraftgunslocatedneartoadesertfortbythedeserttrackopenedfirewhichgaveitspositionawaytoFrasersmenandtheywereabletotheairfieldwellawayfromitandaffecttheirescape.Inahalfcirclemovementtheyheadedforthetrackaccessingitwellawayfromthefortandheadedoffintothedesertwalkingandthenrunningcheckingthe
kilometrestoneswhichmarkedthetracktoseehowfartheyhadgone.Sandhaddriftedontothetrackwhichtheyhadtogoaroundwhichdelayedtosomedegree,someofthedriftswereaslargeashillsandwascertainlyanunwelcomesight.
By03.00hrstheybegantofeeltheeffectsofthelasttwodaysandtheirlackofsleep,theelationtemporarilywearingoffandtheystillhadalongwaytogotothe
rendezvous.IftheywerelatewouldtheL.R.D.G.wait?Spurredonwiththeknowledgethattheyhadtomakeitontimeagaintheypressedonalternately
walkingandrunningwithoutrespiteuntilat0.500hrsasdawnwasbreakingtheyfinallymadeit.Theycouldseenosignofthepatrolandthoughtthattheirlung
breakingeffortshadallbeeninvainbutsoonaheardavoicecallingthemandtheywereledtooneofthePatrolstruckswhichwereparkedupjustwestofthetrack.
50
ThetruckdroveoffandrejoinedtherestofthePatrolwhichwaswaitingconcealedsomefivemilesaway.LuckhadbeenwiththemagainastheywerefourhourslatemakingtherendezvousandstayingonhadputthePatrolinsomeriskbuttheyhadshowedtheirkinshiptothesebraveraidersandthattheywould
neverletthemdownifpossible.
WithinthehourtheycameacrosstheleadelementsofBrigadierReid’sEForce,theKingsDragoonGuardsamostimpressivesightforthemtosee.FrasermadeabriefreporttoReidwhowasmorethanimpressedwiththeoutcomeoftheir
operationandthankedthemwholeheartedly.
EForcemovedonleavingthePatroltomakeatemporarycamp,makebreakfast,andbrewupandimportantlytoputoutaircraftrecognitionsigns,woodencircles
paintedasR.A.F.roundelsforanyfriendlyaircrafttosee.
AstheygatheredaroundforabreakfastofteaandporridgemadefrombiscuitstwoR.A.F.Blenheimlightbomberscameintoviewandspottedthelaager,
whethertheysawtherecognitionpanelsornotorthoughtitwasjustaruseusedbybothsidestoavoidattackremainsunknownbutattackthemiswhattheydid.Openingfireonthemonemanwaskilledandanothermortallywounded,CorporalLaurenceAshbyandPrivateReginaldRiggsbothoftheRoyalEastKentRegiment‘TheBuffs’andattachedtotheRhodesianPatrolwerebothneedlesslykilledbutsucharethefortunesofwar.Theaircraftcontinuedontheirattackbutasthemenonthegroundhadnowdispersedtowhatcovertheycouldfindtherewereno
furthercasualties.FinallywiththeirworkdonetheBlenheim’sflewoffleavingtheL.R.D.G.andLDetachmentmentocursetheR.A.F.
Thebodiesofthetwomenwerecarriedtothebackofoneofthetrucksandlaidinthebackcoveredup,quicklyclearingeverythingupthePatrolspedoffbeforeashorttimelaterhaltingclosetoalargebouldertosadlydigthegravesfortheirtwodeceasedcomradeswithinitsshade.AtthislandmarktheysolemnlyburiedtheirdeadwithoutthepresenceofFraserandhisgroup.ThePatrolleaderhadaskedthemnottoattendthesadbutbriefserviceastothemitwasapersonal
thingandtheydidnotwantthecompanyofoutsiders,althoughacknowledgedbytheRhodesiansthattheattackwasnottheirfaulttheywereBritishandsoweretheaircraftthathadattackedthem.Fraserandhismenunderstoodthesituation
51
andtooknooffenceandsosilentlywaitedfortheburialtobecompleted,hearatthislandmarktwomennowlayburied.
ThefollowingdaythePatrolfinallymadeitbacktoJaloonthe23rdDecemberandFrasermadehisreporttoCaptainDavidStirling.Allinallitwouldbethemost
successfuloperationcarriedoutbyLDetachmentinregardtothenumbersused.Fromatotalofthirtynineusablebombstheyhadaccountedforthirtyseven
aircraft,atractorandalorryfornolossoftheirownexceptforthetwounfortunatecasualtiesfromtheL.R.D.G.Patrol.
Fraser’smenhadcompletedaremarkablehaulvindicatingStirling’soverallthesisprovingwhatasmallnumberofdeterminedmenwerecapableof.
TherebirthofLDetachmentwasnowprettymuchcomplete.
Christmashadcomeearly.
OperationNo.5.
No.3Group.
52
MarbleArch.
25-12-1941–09-01-1942.
BillFraser.D.R.Tait,J.DuVivier,J.V.Byrne,A.Phillips
OperationMarbleArch,namedafterMussolini’sfamousmonumentontheborderofTripolitania,provedtobeoneofthegreatestfeatsofenduranceinthehistoryoftheRegiment.
Fraser’smensetoffalongwithJockLewespartywiththesameL.R.D.G.patrolonChristmasdayledby2ndLieutenantMorrisofT2Patrol.
ThistargetwaslocatedclosetoatS.V.5492.FrasersmenweretobedroppedofffirstclosetotheirprimarytargetatRasLanufandthenmoveontoNofiliaandpartcompanywithLewesmenandheadfortheagreedrendezvousandafterpickingupLewespartytheywouldthenreturnandpickupFrasers.
AfterasomewhatuneventfuljourneyFraserandhismenweredroppedoffaround10milessouthoftheairfield.Thecoverwasgoodandtheylayupinasmallhollowscreenedbyscrubandsoftsand,thearearesembledthatofthesanddunesfoundatsomeseasideresortsbuttheseawasaseaofsand.Theyarrangedtheirequipmentandsettleddowntowaitfornighttofall.Duringthelongcoldnighttheykeptwatchandtriedtosleepwrappedintheirblankets.Throughoutthefollowingdaytheylayhiddenagainkeepingawatchuntilfinallyasusduskfelltheycollectedtheirbombs,weaponsandequipmentandsetoffforthetarget.Injustlessthantwohoursmarchingtheyreachedtheairfieldortoputitmorecorrectlythelandingstripanditsaccompanyingshedbutwhatwastogreetthemwastobeadisappointmentthestripwasempty.ThisleftthemwithnochoicebuttoheadbacktotheirlayupandwaitforMorrisandhispatroltopickthemup.
53
Againtheysettleddowneachtakinghisturnaswatchbutbywhennighthadfallenthefollowingdaytherewassignofthepatrolalthoughtheyknewthattherewasapossibilityofaproblemtheyremainednotundulyworriedbutafurthertwentyfourhourspassedandthealarmbellsbegantoring.TheywatchedasacontinualpatrolofGermanStuka’spassedoverheadandsawthembombanareasomefifteenmilesdistantandsawasblacksmokeroseincolumns,theyhadnoideaatthistimewhoorwhathadlaybeneaththebombsandsmokebutlatertheywouldlearnthetruestoryandit’ssadending.Waterwasnowextremelyshortandalltheycoulddowastomoistentheirlipsandavoiddrinkingtoconservetheirdwindlingsupplywhichbynowwasdowntoabouthalfapintperman,tobeleftisolatedlikethisinthedesertwaseachsoldier’snightmarecometrueandtheynowbegantoweighuptheiroptions.TaitmadethesuggestionofmarchingtothecoastroadtoseeiftheycouldambushatruckanddrivebacktoJalo,althoughthisideahaditsmeritsmeaningtheycouldtakewiththemalltheirbombsandequipmenttobeusedonfurtheroperationsithadasnag,theywouldhavetonavigateacrosshundredsofmilesofdesertwithouttheaidofasuncompassaveryseriousproblem.Afurtherveryrealproblemwasiftheydidmanagetocaptureavehicletherewasaveryrealpossibilityofitbreakingdownatsomepointleavingtheminaveryisolatedandperilousposition.
BillFraserdecidedthattheirbestoptionopentothemwastomarchparalleltothecoastroadwhichwouldkeeptheminsomesortofcontactwiththecivilianpopulationandtotryandreachthelastknownBritishpositionssometwo
hundredmilesawayeastofMersaBrega.Theywouldthoughholdoutattheirhideoutuntiltheverylastmomentintheforlornhopethatthepatrolwouldturn
up.AlthoughthetrainingthattheyhadundergoneinitiallyonjoiningLDetachmentthismarchwouldbebehindenemylinesandwouldpresentmanydangersfromtheairthelandandpossiblyfromthenativepopulationadifferent
prospectindeed.
SixdaysintotheoperationandstillwithnosignoftheL.R.D.G.patrolandwithwaterprettymuchgonetheynowhadonlyoneoptionthatbeingFrasers
suggestion.
Theyhurriedaboutburyingthebombsandequipmentthattheycouldnolongertakewiththemandatfirstlighttheysetoffaftertidyinguptheirhidingplace.
54
Rationsforthejourneywaslimitedtobiscuits,cheeseandraisinsandatinofemergencychocolate,thiswouldlastthemnolongerthantwodays.Eachmanwithhishaversackandblanketandwhatlittleoftheirpreciouswaterthattheyhadleftintheirbottlessetoffonthemarchbuttroublehitthemassoonastheyhadstarted.Havingspentsomesixdaysofinactivitytheirbodiesdidnotreactwell
anditwasonlytheirselfdisciplinethatwasabletoletthemcarryon.
Insinglefiletheymarchedeachtakingaturnatleadingundertherelentlesssunstoppingfortenminuteseachhourbuttakingnowaterattheserest’spreferringbyagreementtowaituntilduskbeforetheywouldwettheirlips.Theyhaltedatmiddayandsataroundtogetherandhopedthatthiswouldnotbehowitwould
endforthem.
Onandontheywenttherearmantakingoverfromtheleadmanaftereachalltoobriefrestperiodeachmansettingapastpaceonlyoncedidamanlagbehindandaftercatchingupattherestspothefoundthatthetenminuteswereupand
hewouldhavenorestashenowledthegroup,thecallofnaturecannotbeignored!
Atdusktheyscrapedholesinthesandandtriedtosleepwrappedintheirblanketsuntilthechillofthemorningwokethemupandofftheysetagain.Rigidlythey
stucktotheirroutinebutnowononeoftheirbreakstheyagreedtowalkthroughthenight,restinguptillthen.Duskcameandtheydrankthelastoftheirwaterbut
atleastnowtheywouldbemarchinginthecoolnessofthenight.
Throughthatnighttheymarchedandonlystoppedtheonceasthesuncameup.Theynowresumedtheirnormalroutineandbymidmorningtheyknewthattheyweremakinggoodtimeasinthedistancetheyspottedthesaltlakestotheireast.
Theyknewthatthewaterintheselakeswasundrinkablebutastheyheadedtothemtheirspeedincreaseduntilwhentheyreachedthelargestofthelakeswhichtookthemtwomorehourstheyflungthemselvesdownonthewater’sedgeandtriedit.Theirwishfulthinkingwhichhaddevelopeda‘periapt’sitsdrinkable’
provedobviouslytobenothingmorethanwishfulthinkingandtheyeachspatoutthefoulwatereventryingindesperationotherpartsofthelakebuteachtimeall
thattheygotwasthesameresult.
55
Theirfacesandbeardswerenowcoveredinsaltandduetothesaltwatertheyhadswallowedtheyfoundthattheywereactinginastrangeway,dehydration,exhaustionandsaltwashavingitseffectonthem.Theytriedtotellthemselvesthatitwaspossibletodrinksmallquantitiesofsaltwaterwithoutanyeffectbuttheresultofdrinkingjustbroughtonvomiting,indesperationtheyarguedthatit
maynotbesaltydesperationwassettingin.
Theyspottedsomecavesonthenorthshoreofthelakeandslowlysetoffforthem.FraserandJeffDuViviersuggestedthatitcouldbepossibletodistilthelakewater,ArthurPhillipsandJohnnyByrnethoughtitwasamadideabutsetabout
theprocesswillingly.
Thedistillingprocesslastedthroughouttheafternoonandbyduskaboutapinthadbecomeavailableforuse.Teatheythoughtwasthebestoptionandtheysetaboutbrewingup.TheresultwasabrewwhichtastedlikeurineandByrne,TaitandPhillipsspatoutthefoulbrew,BillFraserandDuVivierthoughdranktheirs.
PhillipsandByrnenowsetoffonthesuggestionofBobTaitwhoalsowentalongtosetoffonareccetotryandfindasourceofdrinkablewaterwhilethosethat
remainedcarriedonwiththedistilling.
Afteranhour’smarchtheyreachedthecoastroadandwatchedasenemyvehiclespassedthemby.Keepingtothesouthsideoftheroadtheymarchedalonguntiltheycametoatemporaryparkingspotmarkedoffbyemptybarrels,itcouldhold
uptofourvehicles.ByrnekeptwatchwithhisTommygunwhichhehadsteadfastlyrefusedtoleavebehindwhentheyhadbegantheirmarchwhilst
PhillipsandTaitre-arrangedthebarrelssothatonlyonevehiclecouldhaveaccess.
Afteranhourorsoacoveredenemylorrycarefullypulledup,fromthereartheLDetachmentmenpositionedthemselvessothattheycoverbothsidesandwaitedforthedriverandanypassengerstogetout.Noonedidsocarefullyadvancingcautiouslylisteningtheyguessedthatthebackwasempty.TaitwenttotherightasByrneandPhillipswenttotheleft.PhillipsopenedthedoorandByrnepointed
hisweaponattwoGermansinside.
TaitandPhillipssearchedthetruckwhileByrnekeptwatchontheGermanshavingrelievedthemofapistolthattheywerepreviouslyexamining.Luckwastoa
56
certainextentwiththemasalthoughthetruckwasemptytherewasoneJerrycanofvitalwater.
TheGermanswerelyingfacedownwiththeirhandsclaspedbehindtheirheadsasByrnekeptawatchfuleyeontheroad.Theywereunsurenowwhattodoand
contemplatingtakingthetruckbacktotheircavebuttheterraintheywouldhavetotraveloverwasnotideal.TheycouldalongwiththeGermansandthewater
returntothecaveonfootandseewhatBillFraserhadtosayaboutreturningbacktothetruckandfindingaplaceintheareawherethedesertwasmoresuitableandproceedontheirjourneythistimebywheelsandnotbyfoot.WithdaylightapproachingtheyalongwiththeGermanprisonersintowcarryingthewatersetoffonthereturn,aroundhalfamilefromthecavetheydecidedtoturnthe
prisonerslooseanddulysentthemontheirwaybutweresurprisedtofindastheytookadrinkofwaterthattheywerereturning.OnewhocouldspeaksomeEnglishtoldthemthattheywerescaredofgettinglost,somethingthattheyallfearedinthedesert.BobTaitpointedtoastarintheskyslightlyeastofwherethetruckwasparkedupandsentthemontheirwayagainthistimetellingthemnottocome
back.
TheyfinallyreachedthecavetoawelcomelikeRoyaltyormorelikelythewaterwastheRoyaltyandFraserandDuVivierdranktheirfill.Abrewupwasinorderbutitwasdecidedagainstandasthewatertookitseffectstheyfoundthatthey
nowhadtheirappetitesreturningandfeastedoncheeseandbiscuits.
Afterfillingtheirwaterbottlesandtakingthecanwiththemtheyresumedtheirmarchandbydawnfoundasmallcavetolieupin.Therewasconcernthatthetwoexprisonerswouldpassontheinformationofthethreemenwhohad
assailedthemandsotheythoughtitbesttoremainconcealeduntiltheyhadgotanideaofwhatlayaheadforthem.
Bymiddaytherewasnosignofenemyactivityandsotheysetoutinaneasterlydirectiononwhatwastobeareasonablyuneventfulmarchandthatnightthey
sleptsoundlyforthefirsttimeinseveraldays.
Thefollowingmorningtheycontinuedonfollowingtheirusualroutinestoppingeachhourandstoppingforabrieflunchbreak.
57
Bytheafternoontheyhadbrokentheirselfimposedwaterdisciplineandtheirwaterbottleswhichheldonlytwopintsdwindledfast.
Thefollowingdayasasandstormbegantheirwaterhadallbutgivenoutandtheystruggledonuntileventuallyafterseveralhourstheyhadnochoicetoshelterasbesttheycoulduntilthestormsubsidedsomewhatandtheycouldcarryon.
Whenthestormhadcalmeddowntheyweremorethansurprisedtofindthemselvesveryclosetoanenemylaager.OverawideareatheycouldclearlyseehundredsofItalianvehiclesparkedupinanorderlyfashion.TheItaliansroused
themselvesfromthestormatthesametimeastheLDetachmentmenandbeganshoutingtoeachother.Creepingawaytheyflungthemselvesdownintothefirst
coverthattheycouldfind.
At19.30hrsonthe7thofJanuarykeepingwatchfromtheirhidingplaceinahollowinthesandonevehicletheynoticedwasparkedsomedistancefromthe
maingroupandBobTaittookacompassbearingonitandtheywaitedfordarknesstofall.Anoillamphelpedguidethemtothetruckwhichwashangingupinthebackwithablanketsomewhatillfittedactingasablackout,withtheaidofthecompasstheyapproachedthetruck.FraserandPhillipsclimbedsilentlyintothebackastheotherthreekeptavigilanteye.TheItaliansinthebackthought
thattheywereGermansandcriedoutthattheyweretheiralliesbutsoonshutupwhentheyrealisedthattheywerein-factBritish,PhillipsnowjoinedtheminthebackasTaitandByrnekeptuptheirwatch.Tinsoffruitandsardinesweresoonthrownoutofthebackofthetruckalongwithasmallstove.Alargewaterbottle
wasfoundandArthurPhillipspassedittoBobTaitwhofoundaftertakingadraughtofitwasin-factpetrol.Withnowateravailabletheytriedtheradiatorbutthisprovedfruitless.Theynowproceededtodoafullsearchofthevehicleanditsoccupants,thefiveItalianswerecooksandallitnowcontainedwasbeddingbutnoweapons.JeffDuVivierspoketooneofthecooksandconvincedhimthatthe
wholevehicleparkwassurroundedbyBritishforcesandanattackwasplannedforthefollowingmorning.
Leavingtheenemycookstotheirowndevicestheymovedaroundthevehicleparkviaalargedetourtheycontinuedmarchingtotheeast,thegroundintheWadiElFareghwasbrokenandcoveredinrockswhichmadetheirmarchallthemore
58
difficultasitwashardtokeepdirectionbutbydawntheyhadfoundcoverandlayupfortherestofthedayuntildusk.
Sittingaroundintheirnewhideoutbutwithnowatertheydecidedtomakeinroadsintothesuppliesthattheyhadtaken,atwopoundtinofjamwasdisposedoffirstfollowedquicklybythesardinesandfinallythepearswereconsumedwith
greatrelish.
Nightcameagainonthe8thofJanuary1942andsodidthemarch,headingnorthoutofthewaditheycamequiteunexpectedlytoavehicletrackheadingnorthtoeastandsoonspottedavehicleapproachingbuttheycoulddonothingabout
gettingholdofitsowaitedforanothertocome.
ArthurPhillipsthesmallestofthepartyvolunteeredtostandinthemiddleoftheroadwithablanketoverhisheadpretendingtobeanArabandflagthenextvehicledownwhiletherestofthepartytookupcoveringpositions.Withinthehouravehiclewassighted.WhatturnedouttobeaGermanMercedeshadtoswervetoavoidPhillipsandstop.TheLDetachmentquicklypouncedontheGermansanddisarmedthemthrowingtheirriflesintothedarkandthen
demandedwaterbutonceagaintheywerethwarted,therewasnone,theytriedtheradiatorbutthecontentsprovedtobesalty.
AtleastnowtheyhadamodeoftransportandwithFraserandTaitandtheGermandriverinthefrontandPhillips,DuVivierandByrnewiththeotherGermaninthebacktheydroveoffdownthetrackuntiltheyturnedontothecoastroadandthroughquiteheavytraffictheydrovetoMersaBrega,herethetraffichad
emptiedduetominesontheroad.
Instructingthedrivertotakethenextrightturningwhichpeteredoutintonarrowruttedtrackandtheysloweddowntoacrawlwiththedrivertellingthemthattheareawasmined,finallybeinggivensomanyconfusinginstructionsthatasthetrackforkedhedroveintoasaltmarshin-whichafterastruggletheyfoundthattheycouldextricatethemselves.TheirpositionwasnowsouthoftheMersaBrega
toElAgheilaroadinanareaknownasSebkhaesSegira.
FrasertoldthetwoGermanstomarchbacktothecoastroadwhilsttheythemselvesstayedwiththetruckuntiltheywereoutofsightbeforecontinuing
themselvestotheeastandthroughthesaltmarsh.
59
Asdaybroketheyhidnotdaringtoshowtheslightestsignofmovement,alldaylongtheyenduredtherelentlesssunandpitilessconditionsuntilatlastasthe
nightfelltheyyetagaincontinued.Bymidnighttheirnostrilswereassailedbythestenchofbattle.TheypassedgravesoffallenBritishsoldierswhohadbeendraggedoutoftheirrestingplacesandstrippedoftheirclothingandboots,throughthisdeeplysaddenedbythefateoftheircomradesinarmsthey
continued.
Ashoutwentupandforthefirsttimeintheirjourneythefivemenpanickedandranfullpeltbackaroundtwohundredyardsandthenthrewthemselvestothegroundandlayquietandmotionlesstryingtoworkoutfromwhereithadcamefrom.Itwasonlyasolitaryshoutandtheywonderedifitwasashoutatallbutastheyquietlytalkeditoverbetweenthemselvestheybecameconvincedthatasentryhadheardthemandhadindeedchallengedthem.Theybegantobelievethattheyhadapproachedtheperimeterofadefensiveboxandsoquicklybutquietlytheymovedofftotheleftandasnothingseemedtobehappeningtheybelievedtheywereintheclearsuddenlythoughavolleyofshotsrangoutandtheyimmediatelythrewthemselvestothegroundtherenowfollowedafair
degreeofshoutingbutimportantlythenomoreshooting.Astheylayandwaitedforthedisturbancestodiedowntheyponderedthefuturewouldtheygetaway.Asitbecamequietandsettledtheycrawledforwardslowly,cautiousofmaking
anynoisethatwouldagainalerttheguards,anyinadvertentnoisethattheymadetheyhaltedandlistenedbeforecarryingon.
InthedistancetheyspiedalightwhichturnedouttobefromaparaffinlamphangingupinatentbelongingtoanArab.Fraserthrewastoneontothetopofthetenttoseeiftherewasanylifeinside,theyallbegantonoticeanawfulstenchofdeathwhichseemedtobecomingfromwithin.Fromwithinthetentemergedamanandhischild,astheycrawledouttheyaskedhimforwaterandtheArabpointedtoapetroltinwhichwashalffullofwater,thecontentswasfoulandstanktohighheavenbuttheyweregladofanywaterandalldrankfromit.TheArabnowpointedtothesourceoftheoverpoweringstench,lyingclosebywerethebodiesofhiswifeandanotherchildbutwereunabletoclearuphowtheyhaddiedeventhoughtheywereablecommunicatewithhimfairlywell.Theywere
60
abletofindoutthoughtheywereinasortofnoman’slandandtheArabpointedtheminthedirectionoftheBritishlines,cordiallythankingtheArabtheyleft.
Theywereelatedandliftedtothinkthattheywereclosetosalvationbutstillmovedwithcaution.Bydawntheyfoundthemselvesamongstalargeamountofarmouredcarsandtanksbuttheywerenothreattothemastheyweretheburntouthulksofarecentbattle.Theysearchedaroundforfoodandfoundafewtinsblackenedbythefireswhichhadengulfedthevehiclesbuttherewasapartofeachcanthattheyfoundwhichwasedible.Theymovedonslowlyasthegroundagainwasrockyanddescendedintoadeepravine,atthebottomtheylookeduptothetopoftheothersideandweregreetedbythesightofarmouredcarsoftheKingsDragoonGuards.Theyweresafenowforthetimebeingonceagainamongst
friendswiththeordealofthetripverynearlybehindthem.
AnarmouredcarescortedthelorryinwhichBillFraser,JeffDuVivier,BobTait,ArthurPhillipsandJohnnyByrnetravelledbacktotheirownlinesatMsusandasluckwouldhaveittheyfoundtwojarsofrumandsomecansofcondensedmilkwhichtheyrapidlyconsumedwithgreatrelish.Theyhadtoownupintheendto
whattheyhaddonebuttheiractionsweregraciouslybrushedaside.
Fromherethesectionwasflownto8thArmyHeadQuartersandBillFrasermadeareporttoGeneralRitchie.
Theirreturntotherestoftheircomradesafterbeingawayforoverafortnightwithnooneknowingiftheywerealiveordeadwassoonsulliedwiththenewsof
thedeathofJockLewes.
OperationNo.7.
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No.3Group.
Barce.
16-03-42–28-03-1942.W.Fraser.
E.A.Badger,D.Kershaw,E.McDonald,
A.Phillips,T.R.Chesworth.
S1patrolunderGusHollimanloadedwithBillFraser’spartyleftSiwaonthe16thMarchandthefirsttwodaysoftheiroutwardjourneywasreasonablyuneventfuluntilonthe18thastheylayup25milessouthwestofBirelGarrari(S)T.5642theyreceivedamessagefromHQthattherewereenemypatrolsactivebetweenBirelGarrariandMsus40milestotheirsouthwest.Thefollowingdayleavingbehind3trucksunderCorporalEastwoodatSidiZamut(S)s.8475whichwas55milesdueeastofBenghaziheheadedwithBillFraserandhismentoapointsoutheastofBarceinthehills(S)N.8110,thejourneytherewasaroughoneandonaverage
theycouldonlymanageadesultory1mileanhourbuthadreachedtheirdestinationbythe20th.
Eastwood’sdetachmentnownoticedanincreaseinenemyactivitynotablymorepatrolshadmovedofftotheprearrangedrendezvousatChedabuMaunandwas
joinedthereafterHollimanhaddroppedoffFraserandhismen.
Fraser’sgroupmadefortheairfieldandwasabletoobservetheactivitygoingonaroundthemthoughtherewasindeedlittle.
Theywereabletogetontotheairfieldbutallthattheyfoundwas1aircraftand4workshopshoplorrieswhichtheywereabletodulydestroy.
62
Hollimaninthemeantimehadmanagedtosalvage2vehiclesthathadhadtobeabandonedonapreviouspatrolduetointensivefloodsinthearea.
Onthe27thHollimansentatrucktherendezvoustopickupFraser’sgroupdoingsoandreturningtothemainpartyonthe28th.
AfterhavingjoinedupwithS2patrolthefollowingdaytheyreceivedawirelessmessageinstructingthemtoreturnDavidStirlingatoncewhichwouldmeanthattheywouldnowbeinthepositionofbeingunabletopickupLieutenantDodd’s
party.
Hollimandecidedtodespatch3ofhistruckstothecampofHamedbuSerawaliyawhowasactingasalocalagent,askinghimtolocateDodd’sgroupandguidethem
toSidiMusa.
BythistimetheGermanshadoccupiedSidiMusaandtobeabletomakecontactwiththegrouplocalfriendlyArabswentonfoottolocatethemandtoguidethem
toHagfetGelfagandtowaituntilanotherpatrolcameforthemtellingthemhopefullyitwouldbebytheendofthefirstweekofAprilwhichwassuccessfully
achieved.
StirlingandhisteamreturnedwiththeLRDGuntiltheyreachedHatietelRetemandwentdirectlytoElAdem.
FraserandhisteamfinallyreachedSiwawitharesultofsortsbutnotwasexpectedespeciallywhenyouconsiderthegreatsuccessofoneofprevious
operations.
ThiswasalsotobeTomChesworth’slastouting.
63
OperationNo.12.
Fuka.July–August1942.
WiththeBritishforcesreelingyetagainfromanotherofErwinRommel’soffensive’swhichhaddriventhembacktoalinethatwouldeventuallygodowninhistoryasElAlameinboththeL.R.D.G.andLDetachmentwereforcestoabandontheirjointbasewiththeL.R.D.G.leavingstaybehindpartiestoharasstheenemyandtheS.A.S.headingbacktoEgypt.Suchwasthepanicatthistimethatthe1stJuly1942wouldbeknownas‘AshWednesday’asdocumentafterdocumentwent
upinsmokeattheM.E.H.Q.atTonbalatstreetinCairo.TheR.A.F.’sbombersquadronswerebeingwithdrawntoPalestineandtheRoyalNavywasinthe
processofleavingAlexandria.WiththesituationintheMiddleEastnowcriticalandwithDavidStirlingthatiftheworstscenarioreareditsuglyheadthenheandhismenwouldwithdrawtoNairobiinKenya,AuchinlekhadsackedRitchieandtookovertheforceshimselfandsoonunderhissteadycommandthefront
stabilised.
BythistimethoughthemenofLDetachmentnolongerneededtobetransportedtotheirtargetareasbytheL.R.D.G.astheywerenowinthepossessionofs
quantityofWilly’sBantamsconvertedfortheirrequirementsinanewstageofthedesertwaralthoughtheL.R.D.G.wouldstillprovideguidesandnavigators.
Fridaythe3rdJulysawBillFraserandtherestoftheS.A.S.menwhichprettymuchleftKabritemptywerereadytocommenceoperationsagainsttheAxis.
TheyheadedforCairofromKabritwhereDavidStirlingwasathisbrothersflatwithseveralothermembersgoingoverthefinalplansfortheiroperations.
FromCairotheyheadedforAlexandriaandpickedupRobinGurdonoftheL.R.D.G.whowouldguidethemtotheirareaofoperationsviaanadvancebaseofhisgrouplyingonthenorthwesternedgesoftheQattaraDepression,insomequartersthis
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crustedsaltlakewasconsiderednonotbenavigatablebutithadbeencrossedbeforesotheyhadagreatadvantageovertheenemy.
ThejourneyoutthatBillandhismenfacedwassomewhatdifficultwiththeshiftingsandscausingsomanyproblemsfortheirsupplylorriesallfulltothebrimwiththenecessitiesofwarorforthatoftheS.A.S.withthemconstantlygettingboggeddown.Atcampthatnightitwasdecidedthat2ofthelorrieswouldhave
toreturntoKabritthefollowingdaywiththeircontentsbeingasevenlydistributedbetweenalloftheothervehiclesaspossible.
Afteramealandabrewupthemenbeddeddownandtriedtosleepthroughacoldnightwakingthefollowingmorningsoddencausedbyalowlyingmistthat
hadenvelopedthearea.
NotonlythemenwerecoldandwetbutalsotheirGeneralPurposevehiclesnowknowntooneasallas‘Jeeps’weregivingtheircrewstroublestartingthembutafterashortperiodoftimetheywerereadytomoveoffbiddingfarewelltotheirsomewhatsadcomradeswhohadtomakethereturntoKabrit.FormanyofthementhiswouldbetheirfirsttasteofactionwiththeS.A.S.andthosewhohadto
makethereturnwereextremelydisappointedtodoso.
Huddledupintheirvehicleswearingasmuchclothesastheycouldtowardoffthecoldtheyheadedofftothewestandbymid-daytheyfoundthemselvesswelteringundertheincreasinglyhotsun.Theypassedthroughthepositionsheldbythe8thArmyandbynightfallmadecamp.ThefollowingdaytheyreachedtheedgeoftheDepressionandtookthetrackknownasthePalmLeafRoadwhichfollowedtheedgeofthedepressionwheretheycouldseebelowthemfromthecliffedgethetotallybarrenlandscapehundredsoffeetbelowthem.Afterajourneyofsome
400oddmilestheyfinallyreachedtheL.R.D.G.forwardbaseatQaretTarturaandsetaboutdispersingtheirvehiclesandcamouflagingthembeforebrewingupandcookingtheireveningmealandhereStirlingtoldthegatheringthatthefollowing
morningtheywouldcommenceoperationsagainsttheenemy.
AgainacoldnightwasenduredandthatnextmorningBillFraseralongwithalloftheothersjoiningStirlingforhisbriefing.
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Theiroperationsweretocoincidewith8thArmiesoperationsaroundtheareaknownastheRuweisatRidge,LDetachmentstargetsweretobethelanding
groundsatBagoushandFukaandtodestroyasmanyenemyaircraftaspossible.
ThefirstsetofoperationsincludedBillandtheattacksonFukaLandingGrounds,No.’s17,18and19onlybroughtlimitedresultsduetopoorreconnaissance,onthenightofthe7th/8thJulyonNo.’s17and18wereattackedleaving10aircraft
destroyed.
DavidStirlingandBlairMaynewouldtakeonBagoush.GeorgeJellicoelaterofS.B.S.famewouldsetuparoadblockbetweenFukaandGalal.Capt.’sPeterWarroftheEastSurrey’swhohadcomeoutfromEnglandinNovember1941tobecomeLDetachment’sParachuteJumpInstructorandBernardSchottwhoalsoinstructed
atKabritwereledbyCapt.AlistairTimpsonofG1patroltoSidiBarrani,theydiscoveredthatthislandinggroundwasbeingonlyusedindaylightforthelandingofsuppliesbyJU52’s,theinformationtheywereabletogettoHQledtomanyof
theseaircraftbeingshotdownbythefightersoftheR.A.F.squadrons.
BillFraserspatrolthoughinitialledmovedoffafterspendingthemorninginpreparation,checkingfood,waterandpetrolrations,bombsandweaponswithStirlingandMaynealongwithLt.AugustinJordan’sFrenchunitandanotherparty
ledbyanattachedR.A.F.officerArthurSharpe.
OntheirjourneytheyhadtostoponceduetothesightingofanenemycolumnandnowhadtokeepanevenkeenerlookoutnotonlyfromtheairbutalsoatgroundlevelnotforgettingthatanyroamingAlliedaircraftthatspottedthem
wouldmorethanlikelytakethemtobeoftheenemy’sforces.
Theywereforcedtomakeadetourfromtheirrouteastheyspottedanenemytentedencampmentbutallwentwellandthey,forthetimebeingremained
undiscoveredandreachedbylastlightanescarpmentfromwhichtheycouldseethetarget.Itwasherethatthepartysplitintoitsrespectivegroups.
Fraserwasablewithsomedifficultyandconsiderablenoisetonegotiatethejourneydowntheescarpmentoncethecoverofnighthadfallenandheadedfor
theairfield,theywerenowinapositionclosetotheirtargetbutaheadofthemlaytheracksoftheAlexandriatoMersaMatruhrailwaywiththemaincoastalroad
lyingfurtherbeyondtheairfield.Stoppingbrieflyforaquickfeedthemen
66
preparedtheirbombsandequipmentandatmidnightsetout.Theyleftagroupof4mentostaybehindalongwiththeL.R.D.G.guideinreadinessfortheirreturnandArthurSharpeandhisgroupheadedoffforasatelliteairstripwhichlaycloseby.BillFraserledhismenpasttheenemyguardpostsandnowplannedtoget
ontotheairfielditselftoplanttheirLewesbombsontheaircraft.
AlthoughtheirapproachworkwassoundaswastobeexpectedfromsuchanexperiencedoperatorasBillFrasertheFrenchwerenotsocautioustheytriedto
walkinthroughthegatesoftheLandingGroundthattheywereattackingmasqueradingasGermanstotrytofooltheItaliansonguardbuttheItaliansdidn’t
fallforitanditlefttheFrenchnooptionotherthantocarryoutaratherswiftwithdrawal.TheresultinggunfirequicklyalertedtheguardsatFraser’starget,
FraserandhismenwerenegotiatingthewiresurroundingthetargetwereleftinthepositionofbeingcompromisedwhichleftBilltoreluctantlygivetheordertoabandonthemission.AsBillstealthilycrawledawayhepassedasmallriseinthegroundandspottedagroupofItalians,hedrewagrenadefromhispackreadytolobitattheunsuspectingenemywhowereoblivioustohispresence,heneverprimeditandreturnedittothesafetyofhispackrealisingthefutilityofhis
proposedactsavingthelivesoftheseItalians,othersmayhavegonethroughwithitbutFraserdidnotandcarriedonwithhisescape.Guidedbyatorchbeamwhichwasflashingat30secondintervalsbackatthespotwheretheirvehicleslayhiddentheysuccessfullymanagedtoreturntheyalsomadecontactwiththeFrenchpatrolwhoseactionshadrumbledtheirmissionbuttheyhadatleasthadsomeluckanddidin-factmanagetodestroy9aircraftwithafurther6damagedbutthisdidlittletoconsoleBillandhispartywholetflyatthemfornotfollowingorders.Onthe11thJulyBillFraserattackedLandingGround16againatFukaandwouldattempt
toattackitusinghisJeepsandtheirmountedVickers‘K’gunsbutastheyattemptedtocrosstheenemydefenceshisJeepdroveintoanunseenriflepitandalertedtheenemywhofireduponit,itwaswithgreatdifficultythattheyfinallyextricatedit,asecondJeepwasalsoemployedbutitsgunmountingsbecamedislodgedreturningfireandfinallytheyhadtogiveupwithdrawingoutofsight
butthatwasinthenearfuture.
At03.00hrstheymovedawaystealthilytogainasmuchdistancefromtheenemyaspossiblesotheycouldbeinalyinguppositionbydawn.Theyrescaledthe
67
escarpmentbuttoaffectaquickexittheycouldnotaffordthetimeoffollowingthepathandelectedtotakearatherriskychanceoftravellingthroughaminefieldluckilyforthemthemineswerewithoutfusesbutluckranoutforthemasoneofthelorriesbrokedownquicklyfollowedby2Germanfightersflyinglow,takingwhatcovertheycouldbehindthelorrieshopingthattheenemywouldassume
thattheywerederelictsandluckforBillnowreturnedastheGermanaircraftflewofftakingnoactionagainstthem.Thetruckneededtoberepairedandtheyquicklysetaboutthetaskandsucceededbeforeheadingoffagaintolieup.
AlikelyspotwasfoundwhichwouldgivecovertotheJeepinsomescrubbutthelorrieswouldbeleftoutintheopenusinganoldruseusedmanytimesbeforebytheL.R.D.G.leavingthebonnetsuptogivetheimpressionfromtheairorfromthedistanceonthegroundtheywereoutofaction.Onoccasionmenwouldurinateontheenginesgivingtheimpressionthattheywereoldandrustedtofoolthe
enemy’scloserinspectionswhentheydidindeedcomeacrossthem.
Takingcovertheytooktimetogetalittlesleepleavingalookouttokeepanevervigilanteyeoutforanyenemyactivity.
Itwaspossibletomoveduringthedayastheheathazeveryoftencoveredupordisguisedmovementandbyearlyafternoontheywereontheirwaytotheirbase
whichtheyreachedafterdrivingsouthwesterlyatnotbeingobserved.
TheL.R.D.G.patrolG2ledbyGurdondestroyedordamagedupto40vehiclesthattheyfoundinanenemystagingpointtheythenpickeduptheS.A.S.partiesfrom
Fukaandreturnedthemtotheiroperatingbase.
ThebasethoughcameunderairattackbyasingleItalianaircraftaCR42whostrafedthebasebutflewoffoncehisammunitionwasallexpended.
Onevehiclewasdestroyedbuttherewasnocasualtiestothemselvesbuttheyknewthattheirpositionwascompromisedandtheywouldhavetoquicklyvacatethehideawayandfindanother.Jellicoe’smencameinlaterandanassessment
wasmaderegardingthesuccessoftheoperations,DavidStirlingwouldalwaysbeverycautiousregardingtheamountofdamagethathisunitdidinoperationsoncehereportedtoH.Q.therewerestillthosebackatH.Q.whowereseriouslyagainst
these‘privatearmies’andtheirprivatewarswithmanyconsideringthemenemployedonthesekindofoperationsaslessermenthanthoseinthefrontline
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whohadtotaketheirchancesagainstbayonet,bulletandbomb.Ifonlytheyknewthetruthofwhatthesemenfacedonadailybasiswhilstoutoperatingbehindthe
lines.
TomakesurethatH.Q.couldnotaccusehimofexaggeratinghewiselyinformedthemthatthetallywas30aircraftalthoughthetruenumberwouldhavebeen
nearer50.
Theynowsoughtanewspottoworkfromandat03.00hrstheymovedofftothenortheastcrossingtheMatruhQaratrack25milestothewestatBirelQuesir
(689283)onthe9thJulythisbecametheirnewbaseofoperations.
Thenightofthe12th/13thJulysawafurtheroperationundertakenbyJellicoeleading1partyandasecondbeingtheFrench,Jellicoe’spartyof4Jeepswas
attackedbyenemyaircraftdestroying2andleavinga3rdtobeabandonedwhichlefthispartyof9mentoreturnthe90milesbackinjustthe1Jeephavingto
abandontheirmissiontoraidElDaba.TheFrenchpartyledbytheL.R.D.G.officerRobinGurdonwasalsoattackedby3ItalianMaachi’skillingGurdon,thiseffort
wasalsoabandoned.
WiththeirsuppliescomingtoanendBillFraseralongwithmostofthemenemployedontheoperationsheadedbacktoKabrit,Stirlingwouldattendmeetings
inCairobeforereturningtotheirdesertbasewithmoremenandevenmoresuppliesforfutureattacksagainsttheenemy.
69
ForBillthoughtheconditionsofoperatingbehindthelinesinsuchexactingconditionswasbeginningtotellandwhenDavidStirlingandhisresupplycolumnreachedthe20oddmenwhohadbeenleftbehindattheforwardoperatingbase
hehadnotaccompaniedthemwornoutandsufferingfromdesertsoresheremainedbehindatKabritinanattempttorecover.
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BenghaziandBeyond.August1942–January1943.
InmidAugust1942Billsetoutonceagainforoperationsbehindthelinesinthefirstof3convoys(Advance,MainandRearParties.)ledbyBlairMaynefromKabritanddrovethroughCairoandcrossedtheriverNileandheadedsouth
followingitswesternbank.ThesecondandthirdconvoyswouldnotsetoutuntiltheendofthemonthoncetheyhadsetupabaseattheirdestinationatKufraoasis.TheyleftthegreenbeltoftheDeltaafterfollowingtheNileupstream
towardsAswan.AtAssyuttheyfollowedatracktothesouthwestbetweenGirgaandNagHammadiinthedirectionofKhargaaroutethathadbeenfollowedformanycenturiesbythecaravansofthetraders.TheywouldsooncometotheKhargaDepressionandthetrackthatwounditswayalongtheedgesastheyheadedfortheirdestinationKufraoasis.Thegoingwaspoorandtheywere
constantlysloweddowntoahaltastheydugouttheirsandmaroonedvehicles.KhargaitselflayathirdofthewayalongtheroutetheytraversedtoreachGilfel
Kaberaridgeofmountainswhichclimbedtoover3000feetabovethem.TheoasisatKufralayinaslighthollowasmallcolonythathadexistedforcenturies.The
L.R.D.G.wasalsousingKufraasabaseandherethe70to80menand35vehiclesofMayne’sconvoysetaboutorganisingthemselvessettingtheirHQclosetothatf
theL.R.D.G.
Theirlocationwasaround150milessouthoftheMatruhrailwaylineandlay200milesbehindRommel’sforwardpositionsatElAlamein.
Toreachtheirintendedareaforoperatingwouldmeanajourneyoutofupto3daysbutthefactthatthebasewassecurefromenemyactivityfaroutweighedthe
problemofthedistancetothetarget.
ItwasfromheretheS.A.S.wouldlaunchtheirpartinOperationBigamyanattackatBeghazi.G.H.Q.,M.E.F.hadissuedOperationInstructionNo.140forthisattack,it’sprincipalaimswastoBlockthemainharbour,sinkallshippingintheharbour,destroyoilstoragefacilitiesandpumpingplants,generallytocausehavocinthe
71
harbour.TheywouldoperateasForceXandwouldconsistof214S.A.S.allranksalongwith95vehicles,S1andS2patrolsoftheL.R.D.G.wouldalsobewiththemalthoughoriginallytheordersonlycalledfor1patrol,aRoyalNavaldetachment,menfromtheS.B.S.,areconnaissanceofficerfromtheR.A.F.andlastly2Stuart
lighttanks.Thesethoughcouldnotmakethejourneyandwouldbeabandonedastheywereforeverboggingdown.ThiswasanoperationthatDavidStirlinghaddonehisbesttoavoiddeemingittotallyunsuitableforwhattheS.A.S.wasall
about,thereweresecurityissuesbuthewastoldnottolistento‘BazaarRumours’,asitturnedoutthisoperationwasdoomedtofailurealongwiththatofOperationAgreementwhichwouldrunatthesametimeonlytheirattackwould
beatTobrukandwouldconsistofair,landandseaoperations.
StirlingandhismenwerecompromisedbeforetheycouldgetintoBenghaziandwouldeventuallybeleftwithnooptionbuttocallofftheirroleintheoverall
pictureandmakethereturntoKufrawhereBillFraserhadremainedattheirbase,hetooknopartintheoperation.
RealisingtheerroroftheirwaysM.E.H.Q.attemptedtoplacateDavidStirlingandpromotedhimtoLt.Col.AndgaveLDetachmentregimentalstatusand
authorisinghimtorecruitnewmemberstobringthemuptonumber,theseordersweredated28thSeptember1942andthenew1stS.A.S.regimentwasbroken
downinto4Squadrons,atotalof29officersand572otherranks,manyofthesewouldcomefromwithintheranksoftheMiddleEastCommandowhohadbeenformedfromtheashesoftheoldLayforceandwhoselastoperationhadbeenin
OperationAgreement.
72
BlairMaynecommandedASquadronwithBillandmanyoftheother‘Originals’onboard,StirlingwouldcommandBSquadron,theFrenchwouldformCSquadronandtheSpecialBoatSectionsoontoberenamedSquadroninJanuaryof1943
becameDSquadron.
ASquadronwouldbeginoperatingagainfromabaseintheGreatSandSea,averyremoteareaandwouldattacktheenemyfor3weeksintheareasofTobrukandMatruhpriortothebeginningofMontgomery’slongawaitedoffensiveatEl
Alamein.
Theyattackedrailwaylinesandenemyconvoys.MidNovembersawASquadronbasedatBirZeltenandwerejoinedherebyBSquadron.
ASquadroncontinuedattackingtheenemyastheyretreatedundertheincessantattacksbythe8thArmythistimethoughintheareaSirteandElAgheilacausinggreatdestruction,amongsttheirwerelossesthoughwasJimmyStoriewhohadservedinNo.11(Scottish)CommandoalongwithBillalbeitindifferenttroops,StoriebeingaSeaforthandin6Troopbecameaprisonerofwar,agreatlossnot
onlytotheS.A.S.butalsotoBill.
AlllosseswerefeltkeenlyintheS.A.S.andBillFraserhadlostmostofthemenwhohadcomewithhimfromtheScottishCommando,EoinMcGonigalkilledonthefirstoperationalongwithhisstalwartSgt.FromtheLitaniriverJohnCheyne.KenWarburtonandJoeDuffykilledinthetrainingaccidentbackinOctober1941.FellowGordon’sJohnByrnenowaprisonerofwarandDougieKeithwhohaddiedonthewaytoItaly.AnotherSeaforthJohnOrtonwhohadjumpedinStirling’sstick
onSquatteranotherprisonerofwaralongwithBillMorris.ThisleftBillandtechnicallyBlairMayneasthelastoftheofficersalongwithEdMacDonald,Jeff
DuVivierandanotherGordon,BobTaitalongwithCornelius‘Maggie’McGinnwhocameshortlyafterasthelastoftheJocks.
Billwasnowactingas2I/CtoBlairMayneinASquadronandthehavochehelpedtocauseledtotheTobrukrailwaylinebeingblownupon7separateoccasions
untilfinallyHQhadtoaskthemtostop,Hewouldalsobeenkeenlyawarethathisoldbattalionalbeitareconstitutedonewasfightingagainwiththereraised51st(Highland)Division,astheAlliedoffensivegroundonchasingRommelfurtherandfurtherbackASquadronswitchedtheirattentionstotargetsintheAgheilato
73
Boureatarea,anareatheseveteransofLDetachmentknewwell,againtheyweretosupportthecontinuationoftheoffensivethroughoutDecember.
ASquadronwassplitinto8patrolseachcoveringa40milesectorandaimingtoputinatleast3strikesagainsttheenemyeachweek.TheireffortswasoverwhelminglysuccessfulreducingtheAxistraffictovirtuallynil.
BeforeChristmascameAsquadronwaswithdrawnandreturnedtoKabritwhilstthenewlyraisedBSquadroncontinuedtheharassment.
AfterspendingtheChristmasof1941behindtheenemieslinesBillFrasernowspentthefestiveperiodof1942behindthelinesalso,thistimethoughitwastheir
ownlinesalthoughsafeitwasn’tthatsafe.
InCairowhilstonleaveBillbecameinvolvedinascuffletheresultleftBillsporting2blackeyesmuchtotheamusementofhismen,theyremainedwithhimfor
severalweekshighlightinghiseyesgivinghimanevendolefullook.TheNewYearnowuponthemandthewarinthedesertgoingwellachangewasinsight.
AChangeinDirection.
74
SicilyandtheSpecialRaidingSquadron.
1943.
AttheendofthewarinAfricaBillwasincommandofATroopofASquadronof1SpecialAirServiceRegiment,BlairMaynehadtakenoverthereignsafterthecaptureofDavidStirlingearlyin1943.Underhiscommandchangeswereafoot
butthechangeswouldcomefromtheoldadversary,HeadQuarters.
Maynefoughthisbattlewellbuttokeeptheminexistencehehadtoacceptcompromises,fromnowontherewouldbenoswanningaboutthedesertthis
timetheywouldbeoperatinginamoreconventionalrolllandingbyseaandtakingoutenemypositionsarollwhichwasverymuchinthenatureofcommandowork.
1S.A.S.wasnowtobere-namedtheSpecialRaidingSquadronandwouldincorporatetheSpecialBoatSectionnownamedsquadronunderthecommandof
GeorgeJellicoewhoatonetimeDavidStirlingsawashispotentialsecondincommandofLDetachment.TobringtheS.R.S.uptofullstrengthinreadinessforthesoontobeinvasionofSicilymanymenfromtherecentlydisbandedMiddleEastCommandoswhorosefromtheashesoftheoldLayforceweregiventhechoiceofjoiningtheS.R.S.ortheS.B.S.inwhichmanydidalthoughothers
preferredtoreturntotheirparentregimentsorotherspecialforcesincludingtheParachuteRegiment.ThesemenwentthroughtheirtraininginthesamestyleastheoriginalLDetachmentandwouldeventuallyjointheirnewunitinAzzibin
Palestine.
BillFraser’shadarrivedhereinearly1943hewasnowincommandofNo.1Troopwhichwassplitinto3sections.Lt.JohnnyWisemancommanded1SectionwhilstLt.A.M.Wilsonthe2nd.OneoftheoriginalLDetachmentmembersfromAugust1941whowasatthetimeaN.C.O.wasnowpromotedtoLt.andcommandedthe
3rdSectionCharlesRileybetterknowntoallasPat.
ASquadronwouldtrainatTheCedarsintheLebanoninskiinginreadinessforanyattacktheGermansmayhavemadethroughtheCaucasusinTurkey,Iraqor
Persia.
75
JeffDuVivierwhohadoperatedwithBillonthemostsuccessfulraidofthedesertwarwasnotwithhimhewasnowinAlgeriahelpingtotrainBillStirling’s2S.A.S.
AfterthiscourseallmenincludingBillandtherestoftheofficersnowhadtogothroughare-trainingperiodandtopassteststoproveoftheircontinualsuitabilityfortheworktheywouldsooncommence,thetestwouldcomefromtheTableandOrganisationofEquipmentoncethishadbeencompletedtheywouldthengoon
toamorerigourusandadvancedtraining.
Onepartofthistrainingwhichhadtobecompletedbyallregardlessofrankandpositionwasamarchofabout45miles.SetaroundLakeTiberiuswouldproveasterntestofstamina,determination,strength,willpowerandsheergutsto
complete.Conditionsforthemarchwasfarfromidealbutthiswasthepurpose,theareawassome600feetbelowsealevelandwasacauldronofheat,sandand
scrubchosentorepresenttheharshestofenvironments.
Billstroopwouldbethesecondofthe3troopstomaketheirwaythroughtheharshterrainandconditionsbutwereabletonegotiateitwithmostsuffering
blistersandbloodyfeet,cutsandbruisesandultimatelywornout.
Thisdonetheynowengagedinfurthertrainingofanamphibiousnatureforfutureoperationsthattheyknewwereimminentbutofatime,typeanddestinationatpresenttheydidnotknow.DuringJuneFraser’smentrainedwithAssaultLandingCrafttoattackacoastalbatteryconsistingof1and2Troopswhichledthemtoa
frontalattackonlanding.
CapeMurrodiPorco.
76
10-07-1943–12-07-1943.
Bythe28thJune1943theywerereadyfortherealthingandtheylearntoftheirrollinthefortcominginvasionofSicily,OperationHusky.
OnboardtheUlsterMonarchtheylistenedtoaspeechbyBernardMontgomerybutwerenotimpressedbyhiswords.TheS.R.S.nowhadacomplementof18officersand262otherranksandonthe4thofJulysetofffortheirattackofthe
ItaliangunbatterieslocatedatCapeMurrodiPorco.
At01.00hrsonthe10ththeyboardedtheirlandingcraftwhichheldjustover30menandmadetheirwaytothelandingbeaches.OnthewaytheypassedmanymenstrugglinginthewaterfromtheAirborne,menfromthegliderassaultwhonowfoundthemselvesaftermanyoftheinexperiencedAmericanpilotsreleasedtheirgliderstoearlyheavilyweigheddownandonthepointofdrowning.Ordersweresimpletheycouldnotstoptohelpthemtheirprioritywasthebeachesandtheguns,throughcriesforhelptheS.R.S.ploughedonalthoughLt.WisemaninhisA.L.C.didstoptopickupsomeofthemeninthewaterandwoulddepositthem
onthebeach.
Hissectiononlandingtooktheleadandquicklyassaultedthebatteryandwasabletotakeitwithnolossestothemselvesalthoughtheytookquiteatollonthe
ItaliansinKilled,woundedandprisonersofwar.
WiththeirobjectiveachievedFraser’smennowwaitedforthemainforcetolandwhenallofasuddenahiddenbatterywhichwasunknowntotheAlliedplanners
openedupbeganshellingthefleet.
Fraserledboth1and2Sectionsalongwiththeirprisonerstowhere3SectionwaslocatedonanearbyfarmwhichalsonowhousedtheSquadronHeadQuarters.HeretheydepositedtheirprisonersandledbyFraserheadedinlandinanorthwesterlydirectionsettingoffat06.00hrs.Astheyapproachedtheirtargetthey
hadmetlimitedresistancewhichhadbeenovercomewithrelativeease.
OncetheirattackonthetargetbeganFrasersmencameacrosssomeItalianswhowereshowingsignsofcapitulationastheywerebeckonedforwardtosurrendera
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machinegunfromahiddenpillboxopenedupastheItaliansfellflattreacherouslybetrayingtheflagofsurrender,onemanGeoffCatonwashitandsubsequently
diedofhiswounds.IncensedbythisbetrayalSgt.RegSeeking’sexNo.7CommandoandoriginalLDetachmentrushedforwardtoattackthepillboxandswiftlydealtwithit,theconsequencetotheItalianswassimplehetookno
prisoners,forthisactionhewouldbeawardedtheMilitaryMedal.
ThewholemorningsactiontoBillFraser’smenhadbeenthelossofjustonemanGeoffCatonbuttheyhadaffectedconsiderableloss’stotheenemywithovera100ofthemdeadandaround500takenprisoner.Theynowsettleddownin
positionstorest,eatandrecuperateastheywaitedfortheadvanceelementsofthelandingforcestoarrive.
Onthe12thJulyfromSyracuseharbourtheywereshippedouttothewaitingUlsterMonarchandFraserandhismenwerebriefedonanotherassaultthattheywouldbemakingsoonerratherthanlater.NorthofSyracusesome11milesawaylayAugustaandtheS.R.S.weretolandtoensurethatfurtherlandingsonafarlargerscalecouldtakeplace.AgainwithBillFraserleading1and2Sectionsthey
wouldlandandconsolidatetheCitadelandtownitselfandtodealwithanyenemytroopsthattheymightencounter,itwasduetocommencethateveningat19.30
hrs.
Augusta.
78
12-07-1943–13-07-2013.
11milesnorthofSyracuselaythestrategicallyimportantportofAugusta,theS.R.S.weretogoashoreandassessthesituationregardingafullscalelanding.BlairMaynebriefedhismenregardingtheforthcomingoperationonboardtheUlsterMonarch.Theplancalledfor2wavesofassaultingtroops,Troops1and3wouldgoinfirstwhilsttheMortarSectionandthosefromNo.2Troopwould
followinthesecondwave.BillFrasersNo.1Troopwouldheadforthetownandbeginclearingitofanyenemyforces,No.3Troopwouldheadoutoftowncrossoverabridgeandontotherailwaystationandsecureitfromheretheywouldcommenceaspeedyadvancetoanimportantcrossroadsaroundamilefromthetownsperimeter.No.2TrooponcelandedtheywouldassistFrasersTroopwhiletheMortarTroopwouldsetuppositionsinsupport.Thelandingwentinaround19.30hrssupportedbytheDestroyersH.M.S.’sKanaris,NubianandTetcottandtheCruiserH.M.S.Mauritiuswhodidn’treallyseemtoknowwhattheUlster
Monarchwasdoing.
TheenemyintheshapeofmenfromtheHermanGoeringDivisionholdingpositionsinthesurroundinghillsobservedthelandingandimmediatelyopenedfireontheS.R.S.andthesupportingnavalforceswhoinreturnquicklyreplied.
AsthemenwadedashoretheystartedtotakecasualtiesbutsoonthebridgewassecureandBillFrasersenteredthetownandstartedtodealwiththeenemywhichseemedtoconsistofmainlyenemysnipersbutbydusktheyhadbeendealtwith
andthetownsecure.
No.3Troopcrossedthebridgesuccessfullyandheadedforthecrossroadsbutduringtheirapproachtheenemyfireduponthemcausingcasualtiesyetagain.ThefirewasheavyenoughforMaynetoorderawithdrawalandwaitforNo.2TrooptocomeupandgivethemsupportalongwiththeMortarSection,beforetheycouldcontinuetheiradvanceMaynecountermandedthisorderinfavourofageneralwithdrawalbacktothetownitselfandtotakeupdefensivepositionsaroundthe
CitadelalongwithFrasersTroop.
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The3Troopsspentthenightwaitingfordawnwhentheyexpectedtheenemytocounterattack,asdawnapproachedtheyheardthesoundoftanksandpreparedtomeettheirenemy,thetanksthoughwerethemselveswithdrawing.Withthesituationnowrelievedtherewaslittleforthemtodobutwaitforthemain
landing,troopsfrom17Brigadewhofinallylinkedupwiththemontheafternoonofthe13th.
ApairofDestroyersnowembarkedtheS.R.S.andtransportedthembacktotheUlsterMonarchnowlyingbackatSyracuse.Onthe15ththeywerebriefedabouta
proposedlandingatCapeMolinarilyingtothenorthofCataniabutitwascancelled.Onthe17ththeymovedbacktoAugustaandastheSiciliancampaigncametoitsconclusiontheyfoundthemselvesinacampneartothevolcano,
MountEtna,hereonmanyoccasionstheyclimbedithelpingkeepingthemfitforthefuturecampaignonthemainlandtheywouldalsofromthesummithold
impromptudrinkingsessionundertheguidanceofBlairMayne,10minutestalkingfollowedwith10minutesdrinkingandwoebetidethosewhodidn’tstrictlyadhere
toMaynesinstructions.
DuringAugustanotheroperationwasplanned,OperationWalruswasfor2TroopstocapturearoadbridgeatCapoD’Aliandtodemolishitsothatitcollapsedonto
therailwaythatranbelowit,thisagainwascancelled.
FromtheircampatCannizzaroonthe9thSeptemberthewarbeckonedthemyetagain.
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Bagnara.03-09-1943–05-09-1943.
OperationBaytownwouldanotheramphibiouslandingmadebytheS.R.S.atBagnaraCalabriaasmalltownsituatedonthewestcoastofItaly.
Thecaptureofanybridgesorinstallationsfurtherinlandaftersuccessfullytakingthetownalsofeaturedinthefollowupplans.
ThiswouldbejustonepartoftheAlliedinvasionofItalycodenamed
AvalanchethemainlandingatSalerno.
TheS.R.S.boarded2L.C.I.’satCataniaonthe1stSeptember1943andmovedtoRipostoreachingherearound18.00hrsandwouldbeginmakingpreparationsfor
theoperationtocome.
Onthemorningofthe3rdtheysetoutfortheirtargetin1L.C.I.accompaniedby5L.C.A.’s.By16.45hrstheyhadmadeasuccessfullandingonabeachnorthofthetownbutduetoanavigationalerrortheyfoundthemselvesaroundamilefromtheirintendedlandingbeach.Withinthehourthoughallthemenweresafelyon
drygroundandtheycommencedtheirworkalthoughtheywererunningsomewhatbehindschedulebutsofartheyhadmetnoopposition.Thiswould
soonchangeastheyheardthesoundofexplosionsinthedistancethesebeingtheenemydestroyingwhattheyhadcometoliberate.TwoTroopsNo.’s2and3tookupdefensivepositionsontheoutskirtsofBagnaraandalsocoveredthebeach.
Mostofthetownwasemptyofboththeenemyandciviliansalikewithmostfthelatterfoundtobeshelteringintheabundantcavesandtunnelsthatsurrounded
thetown.
BillFrasersNo.1TroopledbyASectionmadeforthecentreofthetownandcameuponasectionofGermansmarchingalongthemainroadtotallyunawareoftheBritishpresencewhoquicklyopenedfireonthemandafteraverybrieffighttheytookcloseto30prisonersandwounding5others.BothBandCSectionsofthis
Troopwerecaughtbyintensiveenemymachinegunfireaugmentedbymortarfire
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andbegantotakecasualties,2beingkilledwithafurther7beingwoundedseriously.BSectionwouldcontinuewithitsadvancebutCSectionremainedto
takeupdefensivepositionsinthetown.
BSectionwouldfindthem-selvesinconsiderabletroubleasheavyandaccuratemachinegunfireandwouldfindthem-selvescutoffandsurrounded.
No.2TroopnowbecameinvolvedastheymovedoutfromthebeachandengagedtheenemyandNo.3TroopwouldalsoenterthefightinglaunchinganattackwhilstthemortarssetuparoundtheHQTroopwouldgivecoveringfire.Theywereable
tosilencetheenemyandtheS.R.S.wouldspendareasonablyquietnightconsolidatingtheirpositions.
The5thSeptemberbroughtmorefightingfortheS.R.S.andmoreshellsfromGerman88mmguns.No.1TroopsBSectionengagedanItalianpatrolopeningfirenthemat600yardsandkilling2oftheenemy.Menfrom2TroopweresentoutonapatroltothewesttotrytolocatetheGermansgunswhichwascausingthemproblemsbutduetoradioequipmentthatwasfaultyinitialcontactwithHQwaslost,theywouldsoonthoughcometovillageofRegna-del-FiumafromwherethevillagersinformedthemthattheGermanshadnowleftthearea.ContactwasmadewiththeforwardelementsoftheGreenHowards.By16.00hrsthepatrolhadreturnedtoBagnarahandingoverafewprisonersandsomecaptured
documents.ThecosttotheS.R.S.inthisactionwas5killedand17menwounded.TheynowreturnedtoSicilyandatMessinatheydisembarkedtore-organiseand
takesomewellearnedrest.
Termoli.
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03-10-1943–12-10-1943.
AsthesmokeandnoiseclearedthesightthatmettheeyesofBillFraserandthesurvivorsofwhattodatehadbeenthegreatestlosstotheS.A.S.sinceNovember1941wasnearlybeyondcomprehension,yestheyhadseendeathbutnothingasyetwouldhavepreparedthemforthedevastationthatnowbefelltheireyes.
TheGerman105mmshellthathadhittruckbeingloadedwithmenfromBillsNo.1TroopsettheHawkinsgrenadestheywereallcarrying,theshellwaspotent
enoughbutalongwiththedetonationoftheNo.75grenadeusedagainsttanksblewmanymentoanuntimelyend.
AlthoughnotactuallyinthetruckBillwasoverseeingtheloadingofhismenandtheforceoftheexplosionwouldsendhimflyingthroughtheairwithshrapnelinhisshoulderlandingononeofhismen,Billinastateofshockstared,bleedingand
concussedhardlyabletofocusonwhathadjusthappened.Allaroundlaythebodiesandpartsofbodiesofthemennowdeadandthewounded,somewhowouldsurviveandothersthatwouldsuccumb.Civilianspaidapricealsoashelldoesn’tdiscriminateagainstwhoorwhoitdoesnotgethit.Allaroundchaos,
smoke,flames,bodies,screamsandshouts,mennotinjuredrushingtohelptheirstrickencomradesstrugglingwiththeshockofwhathadjusthappened.
ThiswasthetragedyofTermoli.
Ithadallbegunonthe3rdOctober1943whentheS.R.S.wastolandattheAdriaticseaportofTermolijustabovethebootoftheItalianmainland.OperationDevon
wouldseetheS.R.S.alongwithNo.3CommandoandNo.40RoyalMarineCommandotaskedwiththecaptureoftheportandalsothecaptureoftheriverbridgeswhichcrossedtheBifernoriveruntiltheycouldberelievedbythemain
landinggroupofthe78thDivision.Ultimatelyitwashopedthattheirsuccesswouldbeabletohelp5thArmiesadvanceonNaples.Boththebridgesthoughwouldbe
blownbytheGermans.
TheyhadsailedfromManfredoniaandlayoffthetownuntiltheyweresignalledinbyNo.3Commando,oncethesignalwasreceivedtheyheadedintolandintheirLCI’sbutranagroundandhadthentousethesmallerLCA’stoferrythemin.Once
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theyhadlandedtheyheadedinlandandmovedoffthroughtheperimeterheldbytheCommandos.
OnesectionbecamecutoffafterbeingengagedbytheGermansofthe1stParachuteDivisionwithmanyoftheirnumberbecomingprisonersofwar,their
officerJohnTonkinwasabletoescapeandrejointheS.R.S.
AlloftheirsectionswereincontactwiththeenemyastheydispersedintocountrysideandbynoonleadelementsoftheLancashireFusiliershadlandedandpreparedtotakeoverthedutiesofthecombinedspecialforces.Maynesentout
ordersforallofhismennowtoreturntoTermoli.
Sofaritseemedtobegoingreasonablywellwithjustafewlosses’sthebulkbeingfromTonkin’sgroup,therestofthedayandfollowingmorningremained
somewhatcalmwithjustasporadicoutburst’sofenemyartilleryandafewraidsfromenemyaircraft.ItwasnowthoughtthattheareawasstableenoughfortheS.R.S.andtheCommandstore-embarkbutnewintelligenceshowedthatthe
Germanswereplanningacounterattack.InahousethatwasrequisitionedtoactastheHQfortheS.R.S.BillwasinthecompanyofCapt.PhillipLunttheMedicalOfficer,BlairMayneandPatRileyengagedinagameofbilliards.WithinashorttimetheairofcalmwasbrokenasenemyshellsbeganlandinginthevicinityoftheirHQwaitingforanopportunemomentMaynewaitedforachancetoseefor
himselfwhatwashappening.
ItturnedouttheywerenowfacingamajorattackfromGermanparatroops,menfromthe78thDivisionnewtothefightingbrokeunderthepressureandretreated,
othersfoughtonandwerewipedout.
AssessingthesituationMayneorderedallavailablementothefronttobolsterthedefence.Themenof1Troop,Bill’smenunderthecommandofJohnnyWisemanpreparedtoembossonthetruckswaitingfortheminasidestreetandthenthefortunesofwardealtit’smostgrisliestcardasthe105mmhit.For18menitwas
theend.
ForthewoundedtheM.O.didwhathecouldassessingthosethathecouldhelpandthosethatwerebeyondhishelpBillwasluckytobeinthefirstgroup,
shrapnelandshockbadasitwasitwaswithintheM.O.’scapabilitiesandhewasdulydealtwithanevacuated.
84
TheS.R.S.foughtonalongwithmenfrom2S.A.S.whohadlandedthepreviousday,theCommandosandelementsof78thDivisionandwasabletostabilisethe
front.Asnightfellonthe5thofOctobertheGermanswithdrewasthedayprogressedtanksappearedfromthe38thIrishBrigadeandCanadiantanksalso
appearedonthescenefromthesouth,fortheGermansthoughtherewasonelastattackmortaringmenfromBillsNo.1TroopwhichcausedcasualtiesbeforefinallywithdrawingfacingafiercecounterattackbytheLondonIrishwithfightersofthe
R.A.F.insupport.
Asthesunwentdownonthe6thOctobertheS.R.S.gatheredtogethertoburytheirdeadinthePublicGardeninTermoli.
Theyhadlostfromatotalof207allranks21dead,24includingBillFraserwoundedandafurther23missingitwasaheavypricetopay.
Onthe12thOctober1943theembarkedforMolfettawheretheyweretostaytorecuperatefromthestrainsofthefighting,formanymenthewarhadtakenona
wholedifferentcontext.
The1stNovembernewsbrokethattheywouldbereturninghomeandpreparationsweredulymadeonlyfortheorderforembarkationtobecancelled.
ItwouldbeafurthermonthbeforethereturnhomewouldcometofruitionandnotfromItalybutfromAlgeriaaftertheirChristmasdinneronthe25thDecember
settingsailontheSSOranto.
OncetheyhadreturnedtotheUnitedKingdomandhaddockedatGreenocktheyweregivenamonth’sleaveandforBillthiswouldbehisfoughttimeathome
sincethewinterof1940,afterthecompletionoftheirleavesallthemenweretoassembleattheirnewbaseinthesouthwestofScotland,thevillageofDarvel.
Whatfacedthemnextwasanothernewjourney,thejourneytoFranceinsupportofOperationOverlordinJune1944.
85
OperationHoundsworth.
86
10-06-1944–06-09-1944.
ASquadron.
Afternearly6monthsofleave,recruitment,re-equippingandintensivetrainingBillFraserwouldparachuteintoFrancereturningnearly4yearsafterhisandthe
B.E.F.’shurriedexitfromtheinvadingGermans.
OperationHoundsworth’sprimaryaimwastobealongtermoperationbehindtheenemy’slinesandwouldbeestablishedintheMassifduMorvananareacovering
muchoftheDepartmentoftheNieurewestofthecityofDijon.
Theareawascoveredwithhills,valleysandlargeswathesofunmanagedwoodsandfromheretheywouldlaunchtheircampaignagainsttheenemylinesofcommunications,attackingtroopmovementsandtherailwaylinesthatran
betweenParisandLyonandanotherlinebetweenLeCreasotandNevers.Therewasafurthertarget,thelinethatranbetweenOrleansandParisbutthisprovedtoberatheranoveroptimisticscenarioandwouldeventuallycomeunderanother
operation,Gain.
D+8toD+25weredesignatedasthedateswhichwouldbeoftheutmostimportancetotheAlliedcauseandtheNormandylandingsonthe6thJune1944.
Thenightofthe6thJunesawtheadvancepartyofLt.’sWellstedandStewartalongwiththeJedburghteam‘Harry’woulddroptobeginestablishingtheirbasetakingofffromTempsford.BillFraserwoulddrop4nightslater.Hispartywasamixed
oneconsistingofLt.Cooper,MarcLennan,Sgt.Zelic,Col.Hastings,andaPhantomteammadeupofLt.Moore,Sgt.Harris,Cpl.WoodandTpr.’sBabbington,FurnessandMassonandalsoRfmn.RollitakingofffromFairfordataround22.30hrs.
Thefindingofthedropzoneprovedtobesomewhatproblematicwhichledthemtobedroppednotonlyinthewrongplacebutalsoscatteredduetotheheight
thattheydroppedfrom.AsBillpreparedtomakehislandinghebecameentangledinthebranchesofatreethatduetotheblackofthenighthewasunabletoavoidafterattemptingtoreleasehimselffromhispredicamenthedecidedthatcaution
87
wasthebetterpartofvalourandwouldwaituntilfirstlight.AsdaybrokeBillFrasernowhadthetaskoffreeinghimselffromhispredicamentbutitwouldprovetobefareasierthathecouldhaveeverimaginedashefoundhimselfno
morethan3inchesofftheground.
Havinglostsuchalotoftimehenowhadtofindhiswaytothebasethatthepreviouspartyhadestablishedanditwouldtakeseveraldaysbeforetheywereall
re-united.
Beforeoperationscouldbegintheywouldneedreinforcementsbutonthenightofthe17th3R.A.F.aircraftcarrying3partiesofS.A.S.wereunabletolocatethedropzone,1aircraftafterdecidingtoreturncrashedwiththecrewandthe16manstickunderLt.LeslieCairnsallperishinginthecrash,theother2aircraftsafely
returned.
The21stsawthewelcomeadditionofJohnnyWisemanandAlexMuirheadandmenfromboth1and2Troopsalongwithelementsof3Troop,thenew1S.A.S.doctorMikeMcReady,hisbrotherwouldalsobecomepartoftheoperationata
laterdateandtheRev.FraserMcCluskey.
Therewaslittlethemencoulddoatthisparticulartimeapartfromsecuretheircamp,engageinreconnaissancesoftheareatogetthelieofthelandandtryto
makecontactwiththeFrenchResistancewhichtheyachieved.ThesewerelengthyperiodsofinactivityinwhichBillworkedwelltokeepthemoccupied.Their
existencewasafrugalone,sleepingintheirsleepingbagsundercanvas,alimitedsupplyofrationsandanyutensilsthattheyneededforthepurposeofcooking
werefashionedbythementhemselvesfromwhattheycouldfind.
Onthe24thJunemenfrom2TroopsupportedtheFrenchfromMarquisBernhardambushingasmallGermanconvoy;theresultsoftheiractionsweretypicallyGermaninitsbrutalfashion.TheirreprisalssawtheburningoftheLaVerrierie
farmatMonsaucheandexecutions.AtVermottheGermansattackedthepartisansandBillFraseralongwithJohnnyWisemantookapartyofmenin2
groupstosupporttheFrenchsettingoffonfootinheavyrain.WisemanandhismenengagedtheenemywhilstBillFraserandhisspottedagroupofGermansadvancingwhohadnotseenFrasersmen,theyopenedupontheunsuspecting
88
enemy,atotalofaround50menandproceededtocausehavocamongsttheirranksbythetimeitwasovertherewouldonlybe10Germansleftunhurt.
FrasersandWiseman’spartiesreturnedtotheircampsitebutwouldleaveitastheFrenchandtheGermanscontinuedthefightintothenight,fightingbetweenthetwocontinuedthefollowingdayandtheGermanscontinuedwiththeirretribution
againstthelocalvillages.
FrasernowmadeareporttoMoorParkthemainHQinEnglandandwasorderedthathewasnottogetinvolvedinthePartisansbattlesandtostartactingouttheoriginalplans.WithnotransportasyetavailabletoFraserandwithatargetareaagood2daysforcedmarchthereandbackthisrebukewasnotworthy,itcertainly
wasnotthefaultofFraserthattheyhadtoendureperiodsofinactivityorinvolvementwiththeFrench,anditwastotallyunjustified.
JulybroughtinmanyS.A.S.menintothearea,onthe3rdatotalof144allranksweredroppedandonthenightofthe4th/5thLt.Trowerand3Jeepsweredropped
tothem,theJeepsthoughwouldsee40treesfelledtomakethemaccessiblewhichBillsentinhisreporttoMoorPark.
CommunicationbetweentheTroopsandBillsHQwaspooranditcouldtakeoveranhourtogetasimplemessagethroughandafurtherhour’swalkbackwitha
replyhardlyhelpingthecause.Thejeepswereprovingaproblemoperatingonthetracksinthethickwoodedarea,1overturnedandthedamagecausedhadtoberectifiedbyalocalblacksmithwhichtooksometimenotsurprisingunderthe
circumstances.
JohnnyWisemanleftFrasersbasetosetupanewonetoattacktherailwaysouthofDijon,the1Jeepusedwouldhavetomakeseveraljourneystobringinmore
menandsupply’s,theywouldnowremaindetachedfromthemainparty.
Inthe2ndweekofJulytheymadeareconnaissanceasfarasLaCharitewestoftheriverLoireandalso2LuftwaffeairfieldsatDigoinintheSaoneetLoirebutthey
weredisusedsotheycontentedthemselveswiththeblowingupoftherailwaylineandpowerpylons,onthe10ththeyputinanattackonasyntheticoilplantontheoutskirtsofAutun.FurtherattacksweremadeonGermanlinesofcommunication
oftenattackingtheenemyonthemainroadsfromtheminorroadseitherbyambushortheuseofminesattimesclosingtheuseoftheroadtotheGermans
89
fordaysatatime.Allinall,therailwaylinesintheirareaofoperationswouldbeblownupon22occasionscausingthederailmentof6trainsanddestroying3
locomotivesandupto50wagons.
Onthe17thofJulyJeffDuVivieroneofBill’sJocksfromthedaysoftheCommandosandLDetachmentarrivedonthescenewithmoremenfrom3Troop.
FurtheractionsweretakingplaceatLucy-sur-YonewheretheS.A.S.sufferedcasualtiesincludingCapt.RoyBradford.
CommunicationproblemsstillexistedandBillhadtocontactMoorParktoretransmitamessagetoLt.Ballwhowasoperatingoutsideofthearearequesting
thatheandhispartyreturnwhichtheydidbythe25th.
MoremenandJeepsweredroppedinonthe26thbutthesewouldbeforOperationHardy,therewouldbe2x6pdr.AntiTankgunsforFrasertouseagainst
theenemy.TheseweretheshortbarreledversiondesignedspecificallyforAirbornetroops,aMk.IIversiononaMk.IIIsplitcarriageandwasabletofirebotharmouredpiercingandalsohighexplosiveshellsbutconsideringtheterraintheywereengagedinwouldbeoflimiteduse.HQwouldretainonewhilsttheotherwouldgotoNo.2Troop.Theynowalsohad3”Mortarsbutagainwiththeterrain
againstthemtheyweresomewhatimpracticable.
TheA/TgunsdidthoughononeoccasionprovetheirworthwhilstmenfromNo.2TroopwereengagedwiththeenemywhiletheywereattachedtotheMaquis
Camile.
Augustcame,IanWellstedand3TroopersinaJeepsupportedtheMaquisintheproposedattackonaGermanconvoybelievedtocontaintobaccotheyhasalsoasecondarytargetthatofarailwaybridgeonajunctionatTamnay-en-BazoistheconvoyprovedtobearusecreatedbytheGermansandWellstedandhismendidwelltogetaway.Thefollowingweekafurtherattemptwasmadeonthebridge
butitwasnotofabrickorstonestructureastheyhadbeenledtobelievebutoneconstructedofsteelgirders,theexplosivestheycarriedwasnotsuitabletodestroythebridgebutneverthelesschargeswerelaidandfollowingthe
explosionalthoughsomedamagewasdoneitwasstillusable.
90
BillFraserwasnowexperiencinganeverincreasingGermanpresenceinhisareaandrealizedhewouldneedtoevacuatethecampandsetanotherbuthehad
woundedmenwhohecouldn’tmovewiththetransporthehadavailabletohim.
Hewastoldtoconstructanairstriptoallowaircrafttolandandevacuatehiswounded,afterputtingtogetherasuitableairstriponeattemptwasmadetolandbutthisattemptprovedtobefruitlessandwaseventuallyabandonedwithno
furtherattemptsbeingmade.
DuringalullduringAugustFraserledacolumnonthe26thalongwiththe6pdr.andanyvehicleshecouldputtogetherincludingcivilianonesandleftChaloux
headinginthedirectionofArnostwiththeaimofattackingtheGermangarrisonatChateaux-ChinonjoiningwiththeFrenchforcesbutitbecameapparentbythe29ththatthiswasimpracticableandwasdulycancelled.UnperturbedatthissetbackledapartytoattackGermantrafficanddidmuchdamagewiththeVickersKgunsmountedontheirJeepsattackingtheenemyfromthesideroadsandthenslippingawayinacatandmousegame,therewerenocasualtiesinflictedonhismenbytheenemy.AtSaulgehealongwithsomereinforcementstohisgroupshotupa
convoyof2Germanvehicleswith7officersallofwhomwerekilledintheresultingonesidedaffair.Furtherstrafingattacksweremadebyotherelementsof
Frasersmenuntilthe6thSeptemberwhenFraser’smeninaconvoytravelledthroughthelinesandthesafetyofAlliedoccupiedFrance.Thewoundedthough
hadbeenleftatAuxerreunderthecareoftheFrenchandwouldlaterbesuccessfullyevacuatedtoEngland.
AlongwiththedestructioncausedtotherailwaysystemBillFraserandhismendestroyedupto25enemyvehicles,rescuedanumberofdownedAlliedaircrew,killedorwoundedover200Germanswithafurther100oddbeingtakenprisoner.Theyidentifiedupto30targetswhichwouldbeattackedbytheAlliedairforces
andofcourseinstigatedtheattemptonRommel.
BillwouldreportthattheinsertionofASquadronwouldhaveachievedmoreiftheyhadbeenworkingindividuallyasTroopsandnotasaSquadronwhichhadbecomewidelydispersedandwouldhavehadamoredesiredaffectalthough
thereisnodoubtthatafterasomewhatinauspiciousstartandafewsetbackstheydidachievewhattheyhadsetouttodo.
91
BillFraserwouldforhisachievementsonOperationHoundsworthreceiveabartohisMilitaryCrossforwhose‘untiringleadershipandspiritkepthismenalertand
theirmoralehigh’.Anawardrichlydeserved.
FromFranceBillsmenreachedNewhavenfromwherebytraintheytravelledtoVictoriaStationinLondonandthenontoMoorParkandweregiven1monthswell
deservedleave.
92
BillFrasersPhantomParty.
Onthenightof10thJune1944,agroupof10menweredroppedintotheMorvanMountains,betweenDijonandNevers,inOperationHoundsworth.Theparty,ledbyMajorBillFraser,commanderofASquadron1SASRegiment,wasthemainreconnaissanceunitforhissquadron,whichwasparachutedintotheareaafew
dayslater.TheobjectiveoftheSASwastoimpedeGermantroopmovements,disrupttheircommunicationsandpreventthemfromreinforcingtheiroffensiveagainstthe
Normandybridgehead.ThereccepartyhadthetaskofdecidinguponasuitablebaseforSASoperations,makingcontactwiththeMaquis,assessingthesizeoftheforcerequiredand
identifyingtheweaponsandequipmentthatwouldbeneeded.ThePhantomPatrol,inchargeofSAScommunications,hadtheexactingand
dangerousresponsibilityofmaintainingacontinuouswirelesslinkwithitsbaseinEnglandandrelayingorders,informationandrequestsforresupply.
Thepatrolwasdroppednearly30mileswideoftheplannedDroppingZone.Moore,thenalieutenant,landedonthesideofasteephill,tearinghistrousersbadlyinabush.Havingtriedtofindhislocationwithoutsuccess,hesentoffa
pigeonandreportedbyWT.Intheearlyafternoonthepatrolburiedtheirparachutesandmovedoff
southwardsthroughthickwoodlandinheavyrain.Thefollowingday,theyfixedtheirlocationaswestofLormes,about25milesfromtheplannedDZ.WhiletwomenleftthegrouptomakecontactwiththeMaquis,Moore'smenmovedwest,
followingthelineofadisusedrailway,toSommes.Thesoundofmachinegunandriflefirereverberatedinthewoodsasgroupsof
MaquisengagedtheGermans,andforseveraldaystheywereinvolvedinaseriesofrunningfightswiththeenemybeforetheywereabletomakecontactwith
SquadronHQ.Forthenextthreemonths,Mooremaintainedwirelesscontactwithbasedespite
repeatedenemyattacks;and,atgreatpersonalrisk,hepreventedtheWTequipment,someofwhichwashighlysecret,fromfallingintothehandsofthe
Germans.HispatrolmarkedoutflarepathsonselectedDZswithbiscuittinspackedwithamixtureofsandandfuelandguidedaircraftinonbeamsfromtheirEurekaradarbeacons.TheykeptregularlisteningperiodsforoperationalbroadcastswhichweretransmittedbytheBBC;eachwasintroducedwitharecordingofthesong
93
Surlepontd'Avignon.TheGermansmanagedtomusteraninfantrybattalionandanarmouredcarinanattempttoflushthesquadronfromtheforest;butthearmouredcarprovedno
matchforahiddensix-pounderandtheinfantrysoonlostheart.ByearlySeptember,sabotageoperationsagainststrategictargets,includingrailandpower
communications,hadmadealargeareauninhabitabletotheenemy.OtherSASunitswerebythendeployedinFrance,andASquadronreturnedtoEngland.Moore'spatrollandedatNewhavenafteraroughChannelcrossingbylandingcraft.HereceivedanimmediateMC;Corporal"Chippy"Woodwas
awardedtheCroixdeGuerrewithSilverStarandtherewerefourMentionsinDispatches.
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OperationGaff.18-07-1944–12-08-1944.
DuringtheSecondWorldWarOperationGaffwasasix-manpatroloftheFrenchsideoftheSpecialAirService,whoparachutedintoGerman-occupiedFranceon18thJuly1944,withtheaimofkillingorkidnappingGermanFieldMarshalErwin
Rommel.
FromMarch1943,AlliedIntelligencehadbeenundertakingresearchonthewhereabouts,basesandtravelarrangementsofFieldMarshalRommel.PartoftheresearchaskedthequestionofhoweasyitwouldbetokillRommel.AfterDDaytheAlliesweremeetingfierceresistance,marshaledbyRommelwithHitler's
orderstostandfirmatallcosts.Withlossesmounting,FieldMarshalMontgomeryagreedwithaplantotakeRommeloutofthebattleplan.
AfterASquadrons1SAScommandingofficer,MajorWilliam‘Bill’FraserwastoldthelocationofRommel'sheadquarters,achateauhomeoftheDukesdeLa
RochefaulcauldinthevillageofLaRoche-Guyon,herequestedthatheandasmallteamshouldmakeanattempttoeitherkidnaporkillRommel.BillFraserwascertainlyawareofRommelandhisreputationasitwasRommelwhotookthesurrenderofBill’sDivisionthe51st(Highland)backinthesummerof1940.Men
fromhisoldcommandounitNo.11(Scottish)aspartoftheMiddleEastCommandosmadeanattempttodothesameinNovember1941inOperationFlipperinwhichhisexcommandingofficerGeoffreyKeyeswaskilledinthe
attempt,KeyeswassubsequentlyawardedaposthumousVictoriaCrossthefirsttobeawardedtotheSpecialForces.Fraserhadascoretosettleagainsthisold
adversarywhomhefoughtagainstsobravelyintheWesternDesert.Itwasalltonoavail,H.Q.wouldnotsanctionhisattempteventhoughBillpursuedhisrequest
withvigoureventuallyitwouldbeassignedelsewheremuchtothegreatdisappointmentofBillFraser.
BrigadierR.W.McLeodassignedsixspecially-trainedassassinsledbyFrenchSASCaptainJackWilliamRaymondLeealthoughhewasbornasRaymondCouraud.
95
On18thJuly,LeeandhisteamparachutedintoOrleans;theyfoundthatRommelhadbeenseverelyinjuredthepreviousdayafterhisstaffcarhadbeenoverturnedinanattackbyRAFHawkerTyphoonsandreplacedbyGuntherVonKlugeWith
theirplanredundant,theymovedtowardadvancingUSArmylinesonfoot,whileambushingtrainsandattackingGermanunitsalongtheirroute.Theyreached
safetyon12thAugust.
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OperationArchway.25-03-1945–27-03-1945.
Itwouldbetingedwithsadnessforthelossofsomeofthoseinvolvedsolatein
thedaybutmoreforthelossof2oftheoriginalLDetachmentmenwhohadbeencapturedduringtheirfirstoperationandhaddulyescapedfromtheItalianP.O.W.campsoncetheItalianscapitulatedin1943.BothRoyDaviesandJimBlakeneywererepatriatedtotheUKandbothwouldsadlylosetheirlivesOperation
Archwaywasinsupportof21stArmyGroupscrossingoftheRhinebutwasheavilylinkedtotheairbornesideoftheoperationnamedVarsity.
BillFraserandhismensetoutfromTilburyDocksonthe18thMarchandaftercrossingEuropetheymadetheircrossingoftheRhineriverat11.30hrsonthe25th
toconductareconnaissanceinthedirectionofBislichalongwithmenfrom2S.A.S.onthe26th2S.A.S.leftforconducttheirownoperationsleaving1S.A.S.toactasreconnaissanceforthe6thAirborneDivisionnortheastofHamminkeln,thefollowingdaytheymadetheirfirstcontactwiththeenemy.BillsTrooppassedthroughtheforwardCanadianAirbornetroopswhohadbeendrivenbacka
determinedenemyattackcausingsomecasualtiestothem-selves.Billsurveyedthesceneandsituationandsawachanceofattackingtheenemythroughsomedeadgroundontheirleftflank.Aftersuccessfullynegotiatingthegroundtheygot
towithin30yardsoftheGermanpositions,heretheymettroubleasawellconcealedGermanmachinegunopeneduponBillandhismen,theevasiveactiontheyhadtotakeleftBillsJeepstrandedinaditchoverturnedwithBillhimself
sufferingfromabulletwoundtohishand.BillsJeepwaseventuallytowedoutandtheGermanpositionseliminatedbutforBillFraserOperationArchwaywasoveras
hewastakentoaCasualtyClearingStationandeventuallyevacuatedbacktoEngland.
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OperationHoward29-04-1945–04-05-1945.
OperationHowardbeganonthe9thApril1945withthebulkof1S.A.S.departingtheUKonthe6thwiththemainaimofreconnaissance,intelligencegatheringand
disruptingtheGermanforcesaheadoftheadvancingCanadianArmy.
BillthoughwouldonlycomeintoittowardstheendarrivinginGermanyfromtheUKalongwith1otherofficerand18otherranksbutforBillthewarwaspretty
muchover
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PostScript.AsthesmallbandofmenevolvedintoRegimentalstatushetookcommandofA
Troop,1S.A.S.
WithStirlingbecomingaP.O.W.inearly1943BlairMaynetookontheresponsibilityoftheRegiment,BillFraserwasbynowoperatinginTunisiabutchangeswereafootandforashortperiodduringtheinvasionofSicilyandtheearlystagesofthecampaigninItalyFrasernowaCaptaintookcontrolofA
SquadronoftherenamedS.A.S.TheSpecialRaidingSquadron.
Fraser’smenlandedonSicilyatCapeMurrodiPorcoandachievedtheiraimwhichwastodestroyenemygunemplacementshealsotookpartintheoperationat
Augusta.
IntheItaliancampaignhewasinvolvedinactionatBagnara.
AtTermoliinItalyduringOctober1943hewaswoundedwhenaGermanshellexplodedclosebykillingmanyofthemencongregatedroundtheirtruckswaitingtomoveoffbuthisandthesquadronstimeinthistheatrewasnearlyoverand
duringDecember1943boardedaboatwhichwouldtakethembacktotheUnitedKingdomwheretheS.R.S.revertedbackto1S.A.S.
DuringoperationssupportingtheAlliedlandingsinNormandyin1944BillFraserparachutedbehindthelinesastheofficerincommandofOperationHoundsworthandafterthishewasawardedabartohisMilitaryCrosswhichwasfirstawarded
tohimbackinDecember1941.
Thecitationreadwhose‘untiringleadershipandspiritkepthismenalertandtheirmoralehigh’.
FittingwordsforamanwhoasamemberofthefamilyofScottishRegimentsthatitwasmostimportanttoputthemenhecommandedfirstandtoensurethatthey
werewellcaredforandlookedafter,asthesayingwentintheseScottishRegiments‘LookafteryourJocks’.
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BeitScottish,WelshorEnglishBillensuredthathefollowedthisgreattraditionandwouldbegreatlyrespectedandlikedbyallthosewhoservedwithhimduring
thewaryears.
WhilsthewasengagedonthisoperationhebecameawareofRommel’sHeadQuartersandcontactedhisownH.Q.toarrangeanattempttoeitherkidnaporkillRommelsomethingthathadbeentriedoncebeforeinNovember1941whilsthewaswithLDetachmentalthoughnotbythisunitbuthispreviousunitNo.11
(Scottish)Commando,OperationFlipperwasnotasuccesswithonly2Commandosabletomakeitbacktotheirlinesand1otherfromtheS.B.S.Fraserwasnotgivenpermissiontocarrythisouteventhoughhearguedstronglyforhiscase.AsitturnedoutanotherS.A.S.unitwasdispatchedforthis,OperationGaffto
becarriedoutbytheFrenchS.A.S.butbythetimetheyarrivedRommelwasalreadyoutofthepictureafterbeingwoundedbytheR.A.F.duringafighter
attack.
BillFrasersawthewaroutasaMajorwiththeSpecialAirServiceincommandofASquadron.Onthe27thMarch1945hewaswoundedinactioninGermanywhen
attemptingtooutflankaGermanpositionholdingupCanadianforces,theoperationwasknownasArchway.HisjeepwasfireduponbyaGermanmachinegunandhereceivedawoundtohishand.ThiswasBill’s4thwoundofthewar.
Justoveramonthlaterhereturnedtothewaronthe29thAprilalongwith19otherranksasthelastreinforcementsforOperationHoward.
BythefirstweekofMayhewasinPoperingheinBelgiumbeforegoingtoNorwaytohelpoverseethesurrenderoftheGermanforcesstationedthere.
Afterthewar’sendtheSpecialAirServicewereofficiallydisbandedinOctober1945andheeventuallyreturnedtotheGordonHighlanderswhohadabattalion
thenservingintheMiddleEast.
Hereheservedasacompanycommanderbutpeacetimesoldieringwaswhollyadifferentkettleoffishthanthatofactiveserviceinwartime.Thehumdrumlifeof
thebarracksbeingmilesawayfromthe,ifyoucancallittheexcitementandadventuresomethingthattheyhadallcravedforbackin1940whenhehad
initiallyjoinedtheCommandos,in1946BilllefttheregimentandhisJocksbehind.
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Manyrumoursfloatedaroundregardinghisendtohistimeinthemilitarymuchofitandcanbesaidalsoofhislaterunsubstantiated,perhapsthoughthetruthwasthatlifenowinarmymadeupmostlyofconscriptsandnolongerhadtheappealthatitoncehadandhewhenhistimewiththecolourswasuphechosenottore-
enlist,shouldwenotgivehimthebenefitofthedoubt?
TherumoursthoughfitinwiththemythscreatedinandaroundLDetachment,letusnotforgetStirling,hiscrutchesawirefenceandentryintoM.E.H.Q.alsothatofBlairMaynelanguishinginjailpendingcourtmartialforstrikingGeoffreyKeyes,rumours,halftruthscallthemwhateveritseemedtofitinwiththemythsand
mythsteriessurroundTheRegiment.
Thereisnodoubtthathedidsufferfromhiswarexperiences,afteralmost6yearsitisunderstandablenotforgettinghimbeingwoundedonatleast4occasions.
InthoseyearsmanyveteransstruggledtoovercomewhattheyhadbeenthroughandtherewassimplynorealhelpavailablehelpthatBilldesperatelyneededtore-
adjusttolifeasacivilian.Hecouldnotdrawonwhatveteransfromtoday’sconflictscandrawon,‘HelpforHeroes’hemostlikelyfeltisolatedfromtherestoftheworld,lostinawildernessnotunlikethedeserthefoughtduringtheyearsof
19411942.
WhatoftheJockswhowentwithhimfromNo.11(Scottish)CommandotojoinhiminLDetachment?
BobTait,JeffDuVivier,JohnnyOrton,JimmyStorie,JohnByrne,EdwardMacDonald,BillMorris,CorneliusMcGinnandofcourseBlairMayneallsurvivedthewarallthoughtheyarenolongerwithus,JimmyStoriewasthelastof‘The
Originals’thosewhohadjoinedtheranksofLDetachmentbackinAugust1941topassawayonthe8thJanuary2012.
Billdiedduringthewinterof1975intheareaofLeamingtonSpa,hehadbeenworkingasaCosting’sClerkforanengineeringcompanyinthenearbycounty
townofWarwick,muchhadgoneagainsthimduringhislife,andhismedalswerestolenfromhislodgingstoaddalastinjusticeinhislife.
HewillthoughitseemstobetheForgottenHeroofLDetachment.
.
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Sources.AlanOrton– BillFraser,LDetachmentsForgottenHero.
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AlanOrton–RoguesandVagabonds.
AlanOrton–Re-Birth.
AlanOrton–BeyondLayforce–MiddleEastCommando.
MalcolmJames–BornoftheDesert:WiththeS.A.S.inNorthAfrica.
Wikipedia.
TheDailyTelegraph.
MichaelAsher–TheRegiment.
J.V.Byrne–TheGeneralSalutesaSoldier.VirginiaCowles–ThePhantomMajor.
RogerFord–FirefromtheForest.
BillInnes–St.ValeryTheImpossibleOdds.
AnthonyKemp–TheSASatWar1941-1945.
IanMcHarg–LitaniRiver.
StewartMcClean–SASTheHistoryoftheSpecialRaidingSquadron‘Paddy’sMen’.
AlanMoorhead–AfricanTrilogy.
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GavinMortimer–TheSASinWorldWarII.
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GearoidO’Dowd–HeWhoDaredAndDied.
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www.sasoriginals.com
www.commandoveterans.org