by Griff Hosker
I looked at his shoulder. “Will that keep you out of things?”
He shook his head, “Nah, sir. I have had worse shaving. It will ache for a bit and I will have to keep a clean dressing but I should be apples! Any other injuries sir?”
“We were lucky. The French mortars and machine guns deterred them. And sir, the doc says I can come with you.” He gave me a grin. “I told him that we had a doctor at the field.”
“A doctor?”
“Yes sir, John Hewitt!”
The lorries to take us back to the field arrived just after dawn. We loaded Eric Scott’s body. We would bury him ourselves. I had a letter to write as soon as we got back.
We saw a great deal of work on the roads as we headed back. It slowed us down. This was France and the French were keen to repair the damage done to their country. We also saw troops arriving in great numbers. There was bridging equipment too. It would not be long before they crossed the Rhine. Captain Lemay had telephoned the airfield so that, as we arrived, Gordy and the rest of the section were waiting for us. They would not know about Scott but I knew that Barker and Hewitt, as old hands would be counting us off the lorry.
White and Foster carried the body of their fellow recruit. Barker shook his head as he watched the body being carried indoors, “Shame. He seemed a nice lad. First mission too. It is not right, sir.” Then he looked up at me and became business like. “Job done sir?”
“Job done. Of course the proof of the pudding will be if the number of rockets diminishes.” I turned, “Fletcher, you had better tell Bond to get in touch with London and report that the mission was a success and…”
“If it is all the same to you sir I will do it. It will be nice to hear that WAAF again.”
I nodded. I did not want to burst his bubble just yet. “How has it been here, Gordy?”
“Better sir, Warrant Officer Peters is a good bloke. We get on and he has helped us to get ship shape and Bristol fashion. The station commander? A bit of a…”
“Gordy!”
“Sorry sir, but I thought the ones like him were either behind a desk or promoted so that they couldn’t cause any more trouble. Anyway, sir, the hole in the roof is fixed and we have running water. We managed to use a couple of oil drums to make our own fire pit. There is plenty of firewood and we cook on an open fire. Cosy little billet here.” He glanced at Foster and White who had returned for their Bergens. “The young lads do alright?”
Lieutenant Poulson had wandered over, having made sure that everything had been taken from the lorries. He answered Gordy, “They were terrific, Sergeant Major. The new lads acquitted themselves well. Bill Hay said that Sam White was as cool as a cucumber under fire. He didn’t panic when the French started shooting. He just kept telling them that it was Commandos coming in. Even though he was covered in Scott’s blood he still had the presence of mind to paddle and to tell the French who we were. And Tommy Foster did well to splint Scott’s arm.”
Gordy nodded, “And when do we go over for the next op then sir?”
I pointed to Fletcher who was with Wally Bond setting up the radio, “That depends what London says.”
Lance Sergeant Hewitt brought me over a mug of tea, “Here you are, sir.”
“Thanks John.”
“It is easier being in the field than stuck here sir. We were just wondering what was happening to you. I felt so helpless, you know what I mean?”
“I think I do.”
Fletcher came over, leaving Bond to shut down the radio. “London were dead pleased, sir. It seems they knew that we had done something. The Germans were going doolally tap. Our lads picked up the radio traffic. The WAAF said as how they were going to monitor the number of rockets.”
“Thanks Fletcher.”
“I don’t think I have any chance with that WAAF sir. I tried all my best lines and she was just asking how the officers were. Some WAAFs are like that though. Taken in by pips on the shoulder.”
“Quite. How long do we wait until we know?”
“She said it could take a week. I have to get in touch the same time every day.”
I waved over Lieutenant Poulson, “We have been stood down for a few days. Have the men keep up their German lessons. Use Private White. He was a teacher. He should be able to make a better stab at it than Bill or me.”
“Right sir.”
“And see if Fletcher and Beaumont can scrounge some more ammo for the German guns.”
After I had found pen and paper I went to the table we used for our meals. I had a letter to write to Eric Scott’s next of kin. I took out the manila file with their details. His mum was a widow. His dad had been a fisherman who worked part time with the coastal forces. He had been lost when a German Kondor had bombed them. Having lost her only child, Scott’s mum would be left alone. This would be a hard letter.
I was struggling with the letter when Tom Foster came over, “Sir.”
“Yes Foster?”
“Is that the letter to Eric’s mam?” I nodded. “We both joined up on the same day and we were mates. He was a good lad. He wanted to join the Commandos to get back at Jerry for killing his dad. He was made up to be picked to go with you. He took it as a badge of honour. We all did. He wrote a letter to his mam, before we left.” He held it up. “ I haven’t had a chance to post it yet. He told her how he was going on a mission with someone who had won a V.C. He wanted to be like you sir. A lot of us do.”
“This isn’t helping, Tom. I feel badly enough that a man was lost on our first mission without thinking it was my fault!”
“No sir, sorry, sir. When we were coming back we talked in the back of the lorry. We both knew that the war we thought we were going to fight wasn’t the war we read about in the papers. Those Poles sir; they were little more than skeletons. If they were a dog or a horse you would have put them down. You did all you could for them. Those Jerries who stopped us, you didn’t kill them. You could have done but you didn’t. And I know that when you sent him across the river first it was to save his life. Eric knew that. It was just bad luck. What I am trying to say, sir and not very well, is that, if that was me lying there dead then I wouldn’t regret joining up or serving in the Commandos. I don’t want to die but I know that sometimes you have to stand up for what is right. We have stopped some of those rockets, perhaps all of them. They weren’t dropping them on Cockermouth or Haltwhistle. It doesn’t matter. They were dropping them on our country and our folk!”
I nodded, “Thanks, Tom. That helps. When we bury him would you say a few words over him? I will say my bit but you knew him better than the others.”
“It would be an honour, sir.”
I did find it easier to write the rest of the letter. That done I summoned Sergeant Major Barker. “Gordy, we need to bury Scott. Find out from Warrant Officer Peters what the procedure is. Thankfully we haven’t had to do this too often have we?”
“No sir. Will do. And sir?”
“Yes Gordy?”
“Get your head down! You look all in. Lieutenant Poulson and me will handle things.”
I nodded. I think writing letters of condolence was the hardest thing I did. It seemed to drain me. When we had been fleeing through Germany I had had no time to think and I just reacted. This was harder. I went to my mattress and lay down. I was asleep before my head touched the ground.
We buried Eric Scott at midnight. It was not planned, it just happened that way. There was a cemetery at the airfield. There were French and Germans buried there already. Eric would be the first Englishman. Warrant Officer Peters attended and brought a bugler from the station band. Tom made a poignant speech and ‘last post’ was played over the grave. It was touching and, somehow, brought us all together. Eric’s death had bonded the new with the old; the veterans with the rookies.
It took four days for the message to reach us but we had made a difference. Reports from Germany said that their production of rockets had fallen dramatically. The fall of rockets had slowed until now
it was a trickle. Fletcher was beaming. “That WAAF sounded dead proud of us sir! Anyroad up there is some bloke coming to brief us next week. A Major Sam Politho from the O.S.S.”
Lieutenant Poulson said, “Sir, wasn’t he with the Rangers at Amalfi and Salerno? The one who helped to get us those bazookas?”
I nodded, “I remember him. I wonder what the O.S.S. is? This means we have more time to prepare and Hay has more time to get fit.”
I wrote two letters. One was to Mum and the other to Susan. My letters would now have to be censored. Lieutenant Poulson, as adjutant would do the section’s and I would do his. I did not mind but I could not be as personal as I might like. Susan would understand. When we had had our last dinner at Bates’ hotel I had told her of the new arrangement. I finished and I was on my way to give them to him when I saw Sam White. He was the least Commando like of my men but he was as tough as they came. During our hand to hand practice he had surprised Private Maclean, the biggest Commando we had, by beating him three times out of three.
“White, I just wanted to say that I appreciate the lessons you are giving the men.”
“I am delighted, sir. They are more receptive to them than my students were. They see a real purpose in being able to speak another language. I find it refreshing that an officer should think of this.”
“You don’t have a very high opinion of officers then?”
“It is not that, sir. The ones who trained us were all right but they seemed bigger on brawn than brain. That came as a shock. I thought Commandos had to think on their feet.”
“They do. I suspect that now that we have so many Commandoes they are trying to get them as fit as they can.”
“Anyway sir, I like the way you run the section!”
I gave him a wry smile, “Thank you, White. I will sleep easier knowing that.”
He realised that he had made a gaffe. I think he said what he had done for genuine reasons even if it came out as patronising. He blushed and said, “Sorry sir.” He scurried off.
I gave the letters to Lieutenant Poulson, “Sir if we are going to be here for some time do you think we ought to divide it up; you know officers, non-coms and the like?”
I laughed, “Is this because you are an officer now Polly?”
“No sir, it doesn’t bother me, it was you I was thinking of. I mean you have nowhere private to go! It doesn’t seem right.”
“That is not a problem besides we all have somewhere we can go to be private; even in a crowded room.” I tapped my head, “In here. No this is fine although I am a little concerned that the Americans are coming to brief us.” I hesitated. Then I realised that I ought to confide in Lieutenant Poulson. After all no one had sworn me to secrecy. They had just said to keep it on a need to know basis and the Lieutenant needed to know. “There is a spy in our headquarters. Two other attempts were made to do what we did. The fact that we succeeded means that they were right.”
“But Fletcher has been on the radio to Headquarters!”
“Not quite. Hugo Ferguson is there along with Joe Wilkinson. Until the spy is caught they are our handlers.”
He grinned, “Sounds exciting!”
“Lieutenant!”
“No sir, I mean, I am shocked and all that but it is something that we achieved what others didn’t.”
I burst his balloon, “Captain Gregson and his Commandos were all shot.”
He sat down, “Good God sir. You must think me…”
“You weren’t to know. Now you can see why I am worried about this American Major. It suggests that we are going in, again, to replace someone who was killed. We were lucky. You and I know that. We won’t be able to repeat our escape act a second time. We will have to think of a new way to escape.”
“And if we are deeper in Germany then that will be harder.”
“Exactly. Keep what I told you to yourself and make sure the men are on their toes.”
“Of course sir and thanks for confiding in me.”
The American Major arrived alone and that was unusual. He drove himself and carried a briefcase chained to his wrist. I recognised him immediately. He grinned when he saw my insignia. “You were promoted too. Knew it would happen. There are a lot of our guys think you should have had an American medal too.”
“We both know that winning medals is either luck or politics. Come in to our humble abode.” He followed me in and I led him into the cavernous hangar. “So what is the O.S.S.?”
A bit like your S.O.E.. Wild Bill Donovan runs it. I got the job after working with Colonel Darby.”
“How is the Colonel?”
“He is in Italy. Had he been closer, then we would have had him take on this mission.” As he entered he rolled his eyes, “Not particularly cosy is it?”
“Functional is the word. And I am afraid that if we want privacy then we have to send the men out.”
He nodded, “I’m afraid I do.”
“That is not a problem,. I cupped my hands and shouted, “Lieutenant Poulson and Sergeant Barker. Take the men on a fifteen mile run. Pop and see Captain Lemay and then come back!”
Gordy grinned as though it was the most reasonable request in the world. “Righto sir. Come on my lovely lads, running gear!”
As they started to change Major Politho said, “I thought they would just hang around in the mess. It is minus two out there.”
“We don’t waste an opportunity like this. It will do them good.”
Lieutenant Poulson saluted, “See you later sir! We’ll try and pick up something decent to eat. We are fed up of rations.”
The Major shouted, “Hold up there Lieutenant. There are twenty steaks in the back of my jeep. A little bribe for the major here.”
“That will make the lads shift. We could break the Olympic record today!”
After they had gone I said, “Very generous of you.”
Smiling he said, “We like meat and if we can share it with you guys then so much the better. Besides you are going to earn it. You are going up against the S.S. He took out a photograph of a German S.S. General.
“This is S.S. Obergruppenführer Hans Kammler. He is a Civil Engineer who has risen up through the party. He has been given the V-2 programme and Hitler has given him control over some parts of the Luftwaffe.”
I looked at his face. He seemed innocuous enough but I had met enough of the S.S. to know that they were ruthless. I began to fear the worst.
“He is, at the moment, at Oberammergau. It is in Austria.” He took out some aerial photographs of the area. There were two red circles. “They have huge factories deep in the mountains. This is one.” He pointed to the larger of the two circles. I saw that it was close to a castle marked as Schloss Linderhof. “It is where they are assembling their rockets. Thanks to you their production has slowed up. In fact they may even have stopped. However, they are developing, in those mountains, a weapon which makes poison gas seem like a kiddie toy. I don’t know all the technical details but let us just say that a warhead on a V-2 rocket could destroy Paris or London. It is that powerful. You have done what we asked. But they now have a weapon they can use with the remaining rockets. We don’t know how far they are as yet but the closer we get to Berlin the more likely they will try to use it. The project is called Uranverein.”
“I saw that in the factory in Hechingen!”
He nodded, “It is something to do with uranium. You don’t need to know how it works what you do need is to stop them working on it.”
“This will be heavily guarded. If there is an S.S. general running it then he will be well protected.”
“He is but we have identified a weakness. Because of the bombing by the R.A.F. and U.S.A.A.F. they have had to build the barracks for Kammler, his scientists and his guards under the mountain too.” He pointed to the second, smaller circle to the east of Schloss Linderhof. “The uranium means that it is well away from the place they are manufacturing it. They have an underground barracks. One of the scientists there fled to Switzerla
nd. It is only seventy miles away. That is how we know so much about it. We would have sent a Mosquito to blow it up. They have the accuracy we need but it is just too far away and we can’t guarantee that they will succeed. We want you and your team to drop into Austria and blow up the entrance to their barracks. We want you to bury then alive.”
Chapter 6
“Come on Major, you know we are not killers! There will be innocent people in there.”
He shook his head, “I am sorry, Tom, this has to be done. It is extremely unlikely that there will be innocent men in the barracks. The barracks is there to protect the elite. These are the hard core Nazis. The scientists who were not fled before the war. If they had stayed there then God alone knows what might have happened. They would have had this weapon years ago. They are desperate. Apart from the scientists the senior S.S. officers live there.”
I looked at the map. “So the barracks is near to Linderhof?”
“It is. They have an S.S. garrison. They provide the sentries and the security. You will have to eliminate the sentries and gain entry to the barracks. We believe that the facilities are extensive. They have their own power plant. They have the ability to stay in there for years.”
“So when you say bury them alive that does not mean killing them. They could survive.”
“Some will but the only way in and out is through elevators.” He smiled, “You guys call them lifts. There are three of them. We want you to send explosives down them to blow them up at the bottom and then blow up the entrance.”
“How did you find all of this out?”
“I told you a defector came a week or so ago and another two of the scientists escaped six weeks ago. They made their way to Switzerland. It took three weeks to get them to England and another two weeks to debrief them. When the third one reached Switzerland we debriefed him there. He told us that they are close to finishing this weapon. It has to be done now. You are over here. Johnny on the spot so to speak. We still have our spy in SHAEF. Until we find them then we can’t use our guys. You are it.”