2

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

3

Bill Fraser ’s War Diary.

Contents.

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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.

8

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.

9

Steadfast.

10

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.

12

TheBlackHackle.

13

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.

15

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

17

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

18

downandNo.11(Scottish)playednopartinit.Theraidwasnotdeemedtobeagreatsuccess.

AfterdebussingfromtheirtransporttheymovedtoAlexandriaviathetransitcampnumber3atAmiriyaandthenonthe23rdApriltheyentrainedandtravelledtoHaifacrossingtheSuezCanalatKantaraandentrainingagainatKantaraEast

andproceededtoHaifainPalestinecrossingthefrontierat19.30hoursandonthe30ththeyembarkedforCyprusontheS.S.Warsawza.

ArrivingatFamagusta8TroopwassenttoLefkonicoonthe1stMayandheretheyguardedthecoastagainstahalfexpectedAxisattack,theysetupfieldsoffireanddugslittrenchesandalsopreparedbuildingsfordemolition.Onthe23rdMaytheymovedtoAkhyritoualongwith7Troopwho’dmovedfromKondea.Theyalong

withabattalionoftheNorfolkRegimentandtheusualancillaryunitswouldbetheonlydefenceavailableifanattackdidcomebutallitamountedtowasa

considerableamountofnuisanceraidsbytheAxisairforces.

FivehundredtroopsfromtheNewZealandExpeditionaryForcewhichhadarrivedaftertheGreekdebaclewereofferedthechanceofjoiningtheCommandoonthe4thMaytohelpbolstertheirnumbersbutonlyoneofficeracceptedandhedulyjoinedontheeighteenth.Onthe14thMayHisExcellencyTheGovernorofCyprusinspectedtheCommandowith9TroopactingastheGuardofHonour.TheywerealsopreparingforanotherofWavell’splans,thiswastobethecaptureoftheislandofRhodescalledOperationCorditeandshippinghadbeengathered

togetheratAlexandriabutduetothedeterioratingsituationinGreeceandtheeventualevacuationoftheExpeditionaryForcebythe28thAprilinwhichallthreeofLayforce'sshipswereactivelyinvolvedagainledtoyetanothercancellation.

19

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.

21

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.

61

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

64

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.

65

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

68

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.

70

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.

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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.

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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.

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BillFraserwouldforhisachievementsonOperationHoundsworthreceiveabartohisMilitaryCrossforwhose‘untiringleadershipandspiritkepthismenalertand

theirmoralehigh’.Anawardrichlydeserved.

FromFranceBillsmenreachedNewhavenfromwherebytraintheytravelledtoVictoriaStationinLondonandthenontoMoorParkandweregiven1monthswell

deservedleave.

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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.

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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.

AlanOrtonwithMikeBeckett–JiggeredAboutBeyondAllBelief.

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.

GavinMortimer–Stirling’sMen.

GavinMortimer–TheSASinWorldWarII.

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GearoidO’Dowd–HeWhoDaredAndDied.

H.W.Wynter–SpecialForcesintheDesertWar19411943.

www.sasoriginals.com

www.commandoveterans.org