by Griff Hosker
We found a small cave along the valley sides. It was really just four fallen rocks but it would hide us from above. Hay and Fletcher quickly set to making tripwires around the perimeter while Hewitt sorted out the rations. I took out the map and added all the features we had seen. The little General would be happy when we got back. When Hay and Fletcher returned I said, "We each have a two hour stag. Use your watch to see what there is close by." I handed the glasses to Bill. "You can have first stag. I'll take second."
"Right sir."
Hewitt handed out the rations. We all had our own water. The rations were fairly tasteless but they would give us the energy we needed. I wrapped myself in my camouflage net and was asleep as soon as my head hit the ground.
Bill woke me up. He pointed to the high ground to the north east of us. "There are a couple of big guns up yonder sir. Eyeties again. They have machine gun nests in front of them."
"Thanks Bill."
I took the opportunity to look to the south and west. The high ground and my binoculars meant that I could see all the way to the coast. The Italians and the Germans appeared to have placed their anti aircraft guns facing the south. They were looking to Malta. This was crucial information. An attack to the east would be easier than an attack from the south. I returned to the camp and added notes to my map. I gave Scouse an extra half hour. My mind was filled with everything I had learned. I realised that we did not even need the others to land and investigate Noto and Avola. I had seen all that I needed to see. We had the time now to recce the defences on the hill.
"Have Hewitt wake me at three, Fletcher."
"Right sir."
We left the camp at four in the afternoon. It was a risk but we had the trees for cover. Making our way up the river we were able to skirt the Italian defences. The men there were very noisy. I could not understand their words but they suggested to me a relaxed regime. They contrasted with the Germans we had scouted at Dieppe. They had been silent and grim. They had been ready for war. These Italians were not. We crawled to within forty yards of their position. It was a well chosen site for guns. The steep sided river valley would slow up an attacker and the guns were protected by, not only sandbags, but also the natural rock. Satisfied we had seen all that we needed to we made our way down the river to reach the road once more.
We reached the river mouth at six thirty and it was coming on to dusk. My map suggested we had a seven mile hike to our rendezvous. The air was filled with the threat of rain and, even as I stared south the first drops of drizzle fell. As it would soon be dark I took a chance. Using the rain we washed the last of the black from our faces. We now looked more like locals. "Right lads put on the German field caps. Hewitt, take out the Zeltbahn." The Zeltbahn was the German equivalent of our oilskin. It covered the shoulders and the top half of the body. With the German caps it would complete the disguise. "We will just walk down the beach. That way we can check out the defences from the side our lads might be attacking. No English from now on. Scouse has a bit of German. If we meet anyone then I will chat to Scouse. Remember the Eyeties and Germans don't like each other. Don't smile at them. You are the master race, after all!"
I had noticed that the beaches were not as big as those in France. It was only ten yards deep in places. The sea deepened quite quickly too. There were few people around, in the damp evening air. The ones that we passed scowled at us and slammed the doors shut. We marched in step. It was what the Germans would have done. To the east the normally blue Ionian Sea looked grey. It could have been the sea off Scarborough.
The beach at Gallena was a little bigger and there we saw our first Italian soldiers. We saw that they had put barbed wire next to the road and the section had a machine gun behind sandbags. I heard the Italians shout something to us but we ignored them and marched on. When I heard laughter behind us I guessed that the comments had been unkind. The sand stopped altogether at Caponegro. We had to make our way over rough stones but there were no prying eyes there.
It was almost midnight when we approached Avola. I knew that we would have to be more circumspect there for there would be a curfew. Any Italian patrol we met might wonder why four German soldiers were marching in the rain so far from their unit. There was a derelict hut close to the beach. I guessed it had been somewhere which had sold food to those using the beach in pre-war Sicily. The door hung off its hinges and the wind had blown some of the wooden panels off. I led the men inside. We had shelter and we could talk.
"We have three hours to get through Avola and then rendezvous the other side of Calabernardo. I think it is less than four miles away but we are going to have to avoid detection. Avola is the biggest place along the coast save Syracuse. It stands to reason it will be defended. We keep the disguises but have your weapons at the ready."
"Sir."
"Now have a quick bite and a drink. We need to be alert for this last section."
As we headed south I heard the unmistakeable sounds of a number of aero engines and the sound was coming from the south. It sounded like bombers. I had seen no military targets yet and I wondered what the target was. The sirens from the town told me that they had efficient air defences. We hurried down the beach. The flashes from the guns to our right identified the positions of the anti-aircraft emplacements. The bombers were heading inland. Searchlights played out along the hillside and we saw the large guns we had seen from the river as they added their firepower. We used the diversion to hurry past the town and clear the prying eyes of the Italians. Their eyes were to the skies and not on the ground.
Chapter 4
There were just a couple of hamlets between us and Calabernardo. They were silent as we passed through them. The guns had stopped by the time we saw the tiny harbour of Calabernardo. However we saw the German flag flying and German sentries patrolling. Their coal scuttle helmets were unmistakeable. We could not pass the port. We would have to head through the town. As we headed towards the narrow streets of the fishing port I glimpsed the familiar sight of an E-Boat. I hoped that Sandy had seen the vessel. It would make mincemeat out of the schooner.
We turned south as soon as we could. We slipped through the streets like fleeting shadows. I could smell the sea. If all had gone well then the schooner should have been just three hundred yards away over the other side of the headland. I led. Every sense was attuned to spotting the enemy. It was fortunate that I had my Colt out for as we emerged from the alley at the sea wall which overlooked the small bay I saw, twenty feet away, two German soldiers and they were pointing out to sea. I heard the one with the binoculars say, "There is a ship there and there are dinghies! Telephone the harbour!" As the other cranked the field telephone my Colt spat out four times and both men fell to the ground. The bullets killed them both.
"Over the wall with them!"
Even as my men took the guns and binoculars from them I was peering over the wall. I could see that Sergeant Poulson and his men were rowing back to the schooner. There was one crunch and one splash as one sentry hit the water and the other the rocks. When daylight came he would be discovered.
"Let's go!"
We ran down the path which led along the sea wall and then down the old stone steps which led to the small beach. It was a very narrow and dangerous path. If we had not been wearing rubber soled shoes then we might have slipped over the side. The recent rain had made it very slippery. When we reached the beach I said, "Scouse, signal!"
He took the lamp from the Bergen. The presence of the E-Boat was unexpected. I doubted that Sandy would have seen her. The harbour wall would have hidden the vessel from the sea and the 'Dragonfly' would have stood well out to sea. The schooner would not reply to our signal. That would be seen from the land but Bill hissed, "Boats!" and I knew that they were coming for us.
There were two dinghies both crewed by my men. We said nothing and we all helped to paddle across to the schooner. I clambered up first and made my way to the stern. "Trouble, Sandy, there is an E-Boat in the harbour yonder."
> "Bugger! That wasn't here last month. Chief, get the sails and the anchor up, we are leaving now!"
We barely managed to get the dinghies back on board before we heeled over and set sail south.
"You had better get below decks. I will head west, away from the harbour. The wind is from the north west. As soon as we turn we can make better speed."
We needed no urging and we went to the mess. With the blackout curtain in place we lit an oil lamp. "Maps!"
Before we did anything else we would collate our information and make copies. If the worst happened and we were attacked there was a chance that one set would get home. There was no point in taking such risks as we did and not being careful.
We were still adding to the maps when the curtain from the galley opened and the cook said, "Captain had some fish stew made for you lads and some stoker's cocoa. He reckoned you needed it."
I nodded. "You lads who have added your info get some grub. The sergeant and I will finish up." The smell of the food was inducement enough to hurry and finish the maps. "What do you think, Sergeant?"
"A better prospect than Agrigento sir. There were guns and troops but nothing to worry us. I reckon a couple of sections of Commandos landed before the invasion could knock them out. The stuff we saw was nothing like they had at Dieppe. There were no concrete tank traps and we saw no mines at all."
As I ate the stew I reflected that Dieppe was now the yardstick by which we measured degrees of danger. The poor Canadians who had been slaughtered in that abortive attempt to gain a port had, probably, saved thousands of lives. That plan would not be repeated.
I lay down on my bunk. There were just four bunks in the schooner's mess and the rest of the section insisted that we have them. I lay down and closed my eyes. I was too pumped up to sleep and I listened to the section as they spoke of the operation and smoked. I suppose I must have dozed off for I was suddenly shaken awake by Sergeant Poulson who whispered, "Trouble sir! It's that E-Boat."
"Weapons!" I grabbed my Luger and a grenade and went to the curtain. We had stopped. We bobbed up and down on the water.
I could hear the German captain's voice as he spoke to Sandy, "Next time you stop as soon as I order you to!"
Sandy was a fine actor and he managed to speak German with an Irish accent. "This is a sailing ship, Captain. You should know it takes time to lower our sails and come about."
"Do not presume to tell me what I should know. My men will come aboard and search you."
I dropped back down the stairs. "Sergeant take half the men and go out through the galley. Jerry is searching. If they get close we have to take out the E-Boat. Issue the grenades."
"Sir!"
I led the four men who were left to the stairs. All had their Thompsons and grenades festooned around their necks. We were armed and dangerous.
"There is no need for a search. Your colleagues never come aboard."
I heard the loud hailer again, "If by colleagues you mean those spaghetti eaters then do not insult me. I know you fly the Irish flag but I do not trust you. I will bring aboard twenty men and we will search your boat from top to bottom!"
There was a bump as the E-Boat nudged us. I heard the sound of ropes being thrown and I took the opportunity to slip out through the curtain and roll behind the mainmast. Hay and Fletcher followed. I held up my hand to hold the rest. Glancing around the mast I saw that the Germans just had one machine gun covering Sandy at the stern. I pointed to the gunner and then Bill. He nodded. The trick would be to wait until the Germans were all on board.
Sandy's crewmen were tying the ropes the Germans had thrown. The German captain was being careful. He would not attempt to board us until it was secure. I waved Lowe and Hewitt over and they joined us. The wooden dinghy was also next to the mast and it gave us cover. I caught Sandy's attention. I pointed to my gun and he nodded. He was lounging by the stern and I knew that he had a Webley concealed there.
The German captain snapped, "Board them and watch for tricks!"
I waited until half of the Germans had boarded before I hissed, "Now!"
I stood and, holding the Luger two handed shot the German captain three times in the head. Bill's Thompson scythed through the gun crew. While my men slaughtered the boarding crew with their Tommy guns I ran to the E-Boat's side. I knew exactly where the radio room was and I took the pin from a Mills bomb and lobbed it over the side of the bridge. "Grenade!"
I dropped to the deck and the grenade went off. As the air cleared I heard, "Grenades!" as my men threw their own grenades down the length of the E-Boat. It was carnage. Other crew men had heard the gunfire and were racing to help their colleagues. The chatter of Thompsons deafened me but I heard Sandy shout, "Cut those lines, lower the sail!"
Fletcher was next to me. I grabbed two of his grenades and said, "Bill, follow me!"
I jumped aboard the E-Boat. A German Petty Officer emerged from the engine room and I shot him at point blank range. I took my two grenades and threw them into the engine room before shutting the hatch and jamming a rifle through the handles.
"Down!" Bill and I took cover.
"Tom! Get back!" I heard Sandy's voice and then the deck below us moved as the two grenades took out the engine room and her crew.
I saw that the schooner had drifted a little way away from the E-Boat. We would have to swim back. "Bill, head forrard to the ammunition. Let's blow this bugger up!"
He grinned, "Right sir."
There was a sudden fusillade of shots as my men shot a group of German sailors who had emerged through the aft hatch. We knew from 'Lady Luck' that the ammunition was stored below the waterline close to the bows. There were two ventilation pipes to take away dangerous fumes. Bill handed me a grenade and we stood over the two pipes, "One, two, three!" On three we pulled the pins and dropped them in and then turned to dive over the side. I dived deep and I kicked as hard as I could. The grenades had nine second fuses. How far could I swim in nine seconds? My legs kicked as fast as I could manage and I went as deep as I dared. The concussion from the explosion was more powerful than I had expected. It hurled me forward and I fought to keep my mouth shut. I thought my head would explode. The force threw me up to the surface and I popped up like a cork. I was forty yards from the schooner. I turned around and saw the E-Boat settling into the water. Flames leapt up and ammunition exploded as she slowly sank. Around her were the bodies of the crew. I desperately sought Bill. I caught sight of him ten yards away. He was face down in the water. I swam to him and turned him onto his back. Putting both arms around his stomach I pulled hard three time. He gave a cough and began to splutter. He was alive.
From behind me I heard Sergeant Poulson, "Just hang on sir, we are coming!"
Bill coughed for a few more minutes as I heard the dinghy approaching. "That's it sir, I am giving up the fags! I didn't have enough wind then!"
We were quickly hauled aboard, "Best get a move on sir, Mr Magee says that he is not certain if Jerry got a radio message off."
We all set to paddling and, even as we were dragged to the deck, the 'Dragonfly' was flying. Sandy shouted, "Get below, you lads. They will have aeroplanes up soon. We need to be as far away from here as we can."
When we reached the mess deck I saw Hewitt tending to George Lowe and Alan Crowe. I looked at Sergeant Poulson, "Is it bad?"
He shook his head, "George didn't duck quick enough and he has shrapnel. Crowe was unlucky. Bullets hit the wooden rail and drove splinters in his arm. It looked a mess but Hewitt thinks they will be fine and won't need a hospital." He shook his head, "Sir, if you don't mind me saying so that was the maddest thing I have ever seen! You and Hay could have been killed."
"We both know that an E-Boat has a big crew. If they had stood off they would have made matchwood out of this little ship. Besides I know that Bill here is the best swimmer in the section."
Bill smiled, "Was, sir. You showed me a clean pair of heels. It was a good job you were there."
"I got you int
o bother, Bill, the least I could do was to get you out."
I thought we had escaped the scrutiny of the Germans but a shout from the deck dashed those hopes. "Ju 88 stooging around. Best grab a life jacket! We may be swimming."
I hated being below decks and not being able to see what was going on but I obeyed orders, "Right Sergeant, issue the life jackets. Corporal, put the maps in waterproof packets."
Bill handed one packet to me. He took one himself and handed the third to Sergeant Poulson. If we went down then the information would get back to Malta. Even if they found our bleached bodies the information would get through. "Better pack our Bergens too."
One of the ratings came below decks. "Captain says that the Jerry is circling. It looks like they have sent for another ship to investigate."
"Thanks."
That was a problem. We had already met an Italian Corvette and I knew that there were other naval vessels close to hand. The 'Lady Luck' could easily escape any pursuer and even shoot down the Ju 88. We were a sitting duck. I took off my battle dress; it was soaking anyway and I went up on deck. I hated not knowing.
Sandy shook his head, "Sorry about this, Tom. They must have missed the E-Boat. I daren't even use the radio; they might be listening and if he decided to that bomber could blow us out of the water. We will just have to try bluffing it out."
"But you aren't hopeful."
"No. I think the German would have said he was investigating a schooner. When we blew it up it meant they would worry about it."
"How far from home are we?"
He pointed to a little blob on the horizon. "That is Ghawdex."
"That is so close we could almost swim."
He laughed, "You could, Tarzan! The rest of us would struggle!" He looked up at the billowing sails, "And the annoying thing is that we have never travelled as fast as this. Look at her! She is glorious!"