by Griff Hosker
I heard the Germans above us. They were talking of the ambush. It became clear that they knew the Navy were coming back but they did not know exactly when. I heard them talk of troops from Gravelines. Even if we disposed of these then it would still be unlikely that we could escape on the launch. I forced myself to think of the job in hand not the problems ahead of us. I tapped Gordy and signalled for him to go to the left and take that German. He nodded and I moved to my right.
Both Germans were wearing helmets and that would help us. I rose like a wraith behind my German as Gordy did behind his. I reached over and pulled back hard on the front of the German helmet. The strap bit into his neck and stopped him shouting. His hands came up to stop the choking and I pulled the razor sharp knife across his throat. Hot blood spilled on my hands and he shuddered before dying. I saw that Gordy had succeeded too. I dragged the body from the pit and rolled it down the dune. It tumbled and fell silently to the beach below. Gordy copied me.
I was just about to sneak back to Daddy when I heard the roar of an engine. It was the ML and he was coming in hot. In the distance I could hear the sound of German E-Boats. To my horror a flare flew into the sky illuminating the beach. The ML was a hundred yards from the beach. The whole of the beach opened up with machine gun fire which ripped into the wooden launch. I watched as the two gunners on the Motor Launch were scythed in two by machine gun fire. The young Lieutenant tried to turn the stricken launch. From the sea came the sound of a German cannon and the launch exploded in a fireball. Mercifully any left aboard would have known nothing.
Just then the Germans, who had been in their tents, emerged. The flare illuminated Gordy and me. I drew my Colt but before I could fire, the rest of the section ripped into them with Tommy guns. All was silent but as the flare began to die I saw the Germans on the beach pointing up. They had seen us. We were trapped in France and they knew where we were.
Chapter 3
I ran to Sergeant Grant who was at the far side of the German encampment, "The boat has been destroyed. There is no way home there and the Krauts are coming."
Daddy was a calm man, "We have two choices: surrender or get the hell out of here." He pointed at the dead Germans. "I don't think they will take too kindly to what we have done here so let's go."
Bill Becket said, "Where to? There are Germans everywhere!"
Bill was right. We were surrounded. Then I thought of the only safe place we had found. "Back to the wrecked house."
"Are you sure, Tom?"
"It is so close to the German camp that it is the last place they will think to look." I gestured to the Channel with my machine gun. "They will expect us to go towards the sea. They might think we have a back up ship to pick us up."
"Lead on!"
We had no reason to hide. We had to get inland before the Kübelwagen and the other Germans returned from the beach ambush and we ran as hard as only Commandos can do. We hurtled across the road and dived through the gaps in the hedges. I wanted to get to the safety of the woods as soon as possible. The Germans would go to the machine gun emplacements first and if we could make the woods in which we had sheltered we would be hidden from the road and we could crawl across the fields. Now that it was dark we might escape observation. It would be slow but the undulations in the fields would hide us. So long as it was dark we had a chance. We had to be back in the wrecked house before dawn or we would be either killed or captured.
In the distance I could hear the whine of the engine of the Kübelwagen as it screamed up the twisting trail from the beach. I also heard the deeper noise of a truck engine. It moved towards us and then receded into the distance. We reached the woods and I waited until Daddy joined us. He nodded. There was no sound of an engine closing with us and I decided to run while we had the chance. The Germans would be searching the tops of the cliffs. We ran across the fields. We managed to cross three fields before I heard the engines. It was a vehicle and it was closing with us. I dived to the ground and the others followed suit. I led us at the crawl until we reached the hedgerow which marked the next field.
I risked standing and peering through the thin branches. I saw the lights of vehicles on the road and the shadows of Germans. They were searching the crossroads close to the wood. As I had only seen them in the light of the vehicles I thought we might be able to run a little more. The searchers would be blinded by the lights they were using and we would be hard to see and impossible to hear. "Sarge, if we run at the crouch I reckon we can make the farmhouse in under a couple of hours. Better than crawling and risking them catching sight of us."
He nodded, "Right lads, We run at the crouch. I know it hurts but a bullet hurts worse."
He was right. With the Bergens on our backs and our Thompsons in our hands it was agony. But we kept on running and all those five mile runs in full kit paid off. We were rewarded, after an hour and forty five minutes with the smell of the German cooking fires and the faint aroma of aircraft fuel. We were close to our hidey hole. As soon as we saw the wrecked back door we threw ourselves in. Daddy pointed to Bill Becket and Ken Curtis and then upstairs. They nodded and disappeared up the damaged stairs to keep watch.
He spoke so quietly that we had to lean in to hear him. "The rest of you check your food and water. We may be here for some time." We took off our Bergens and he led me to the back of the building. Here we could talk a little easier. "This is a right pickle. You have done this before. Any chance of us stealing a boat like you did and sailing home?"
I shook my head, "If they are going to invade then every port will have more guards than fleas on a dog. We would stand no chance not to mention the fact that they now have more guns along the coast. And there are too many of us. We would need a big boat."
"What then?"
I could see that he was worried. This was way beyond anything he had experienced before. "Dad was in a position like this. And I was when I was stranded here before. The worst thing we can do is panic. So long as we have food and water we can survive. We have shelter and we are hidden. When daylight comes we will have a better idea of our position. If we can survive for a couple of days until the hue and cry has gone down then we might be able to come up with something better. We just have to keep our eyes, ears, and minds open. While we are alive we have a chance."
"So your plan is to sit on our arses and do nowt?"
I grinned, "There is no real alternative is there, Sarge?"
"I suppose not."
Because we had not eaten all day we still had rations. The water supply still worked. Daddy worked out that by eking out our supplies we could last three more days. That, of course, all depended upon the Germans. If they searched every building close to the beach then we were in trouble. We took a two hour watch each. When Gordy and I were on duty I heard the sound of aeroplane engines and went out of the back to look towards the airfield. The fighters were taking off. I looked at my watch. It was eight o'clock. That information might prove useful.
At the end of our duty we were relieved by Poulson and Connor. "Just going for a leak."
I headed out of the back and went towards the airfield. It was a risk but the fighters had taken off. The mechanics would be having their breakfast and the guards would have their attention on the roads. I was a little bolder than the last time and I crawled to the wire fence. The fence was not of German manufacture. In places it was rusted and I deduced it was the original one. The barbed wire at the top was broken in places. I crawled along and found a section which was overgrown with wild blackberries, nettles, and grasses. There was a drainage ditch which ran alongside and it too was overgrown. Animals, probably rabbits and rats, had burrowed beneath the fence. I took out my home made wire cutters and, by feel alone, I cut some of the fence above the hole. I did not think it would be seen. They would have to clear the vegetation first. I took a deep breath and then wriggled down under the fence. A couple of wires caught on my neck and I realised I had not cut enough of the wire. However I was able to look through to the a
irfield. There appeared to be no guard post at this end of the field although I could see, in the distance, patrolling sentries. If I could make the hole bigger then we could get into the airfield.
I crawled back and cut more of the wire. When it was done I raised my head to inspect the airfield. There were three fighters close by and they were covered by tarpaulins. They were obviously being repaired. I saw two, two seater trainers. If there were just two of us we could have stolen that and flown home. There were too many of us for that option. Then I saw a JU 52. It was just forty yards from the fence. This was a quiet corner of the field. The JU 52 was the German workhorse. It was used both as a bomber and as a transport. It had been the three engine transport aeroplane which had dropped German paratroopers into the Netherlands. Two mechanics were working on the port engine. They were the only aeroplanes on the field. I slithered back down the hole and then crawled. I headed back to the farm.
When I entered Gordy, who was having a cigarette out of the back, said, "Your neck is bleeding Corp."
I put my hand up and it came away bloody. "Bugger! Have you a dressing?"
He stubbed his cigarette out, "Aye. Let's get it cleaned up. Can't have you injured. You and the Sarge have kept us alive up to now."
He began to wash the wound and then applied the gel we had been issued. It would prevent infections. When he had finished he tapped me on the back. "All done."
"Thanks, Gordy."
He packed the medical kit away. "You reckon we can get out of this situation?"
I think Gordy was looking for a miracle from me. "We have been trained so that we can get out of most situations which would seem impossible to other soldiers. That run from Oswestry to Poole showed that. The problem here is that we are in the dark about what is around us. I guess that is why they sent us in. They need to know what is here. The next set of blokes will find it easier because of the info we take back."
He laughed, "So you think we will get back."
Just then Polly whistled. Danger. We grabbed our guns and ran to the windows. A Kübelwagen had pulled up at the end of the track leading to the farm. If they came as far as the building and entered they would discover that it had been used. I went to Sergeant Grant and shook him awake. He did not need my finger on my lips to tell him there was danger. We could hear the German voices. As they approached I took out my knife. The gun would make too much noise. If they discovered us we would kill them silently and try to escape before the others in the vehicle realised they were dead. We had one chance in ten of doing so. I went behind the door. I heard them approach, their footsteps sounded on the gravel path. It was only when they tried the door and found it locked that I remembered that we had entered through the wrecked part at the back.
I heard the Germans talking, "I told you Hans, it is a shell. There are rats and mice only. No one is here"
"The Feldwebel said to check. We will go around the back."
I turned and made the signal to hide. It was one of the many things we were good at. We could hide in plain sight. I heard them as they moved around the back. Then the thought struck me. Gordy had discarded his cigarette. If they looked down and discovered that they would know that someone had been there recently.
I dared not risk looking but I could hear them as they stepped over the broken back wall. "There is no one here."
I heard a match strike and then smelled smoke as they lit cigarettes, "This would have been a nice farm before the war." They were taking the opportunity of a quiet smoke. Their laziness might yet save us.
"It could be again. When we have invaded Britain and conquered it the war will be over. I could bring Freya here and farm. I like the sea and this land is easier to farm than in the Tyrol."
"You don't think the likes of us would get the chance of living here do you? You would have to be an officer."
Just then a voice barked out, "When you ladies have quite finished! What have you found?"
"Nothing Feldwebel."
"Then get back to the car. We have just heard that more of these Commandos were seen south of Calais. We will search there!"
I waited until the footsteps had receded before I risked lifting my head. The back was clear and I went up the stairs to join Poulson and Curtis. "They have gone Corp." Polly pointed to the truck and the Kübelwagen heading in the direction of Calais.
I went back down. "We are safe for a while Sarge. Some more of our lads have been spotted south of Calais."
"Well I am sorry for them but it has bought us some time."
I turned to Gordy, "You smokers will have to stop throwing away your cigarette ends. If they had seen your old butt, Gordy, they would have known someone was here."
"Sorry Corp."
It became clear, as the afternoon wore on, that we had escaped detection. We heard the fighters return and the airfield was filled with the noise of engines being repaired. Leaving Gordy on watch Sergeant Grant gathered us all together. "Right lads, I am open for suggestions as to how we get out of this fix."
Bill Becket nodded in my direction, "How about Tom's trick of stealing a boat."
"He has already told me that will be impossible now and I agree with him."
Ken nodded, "Then how about heading further north. Maybe they won't be as vigilant nearer to Denmark."
"Nice idea but that is a bit far. We have no maps and when we started to steal food they would soon find us. No we have to get out from here and in the next two days."
When I had woken from my nap the bones of a plan had begun to come together. I had seen the aeroplanes but no clear idea of how to use them. Now I did. "I have an idea, Sarge. It is risky and it might not work so if you don't want to try it then say so."
He smiled, "It can't be any worse than mine. I was going to suggest walking to Switzerland or Spain. Go ahead."
"We break into the airfield and steal an aeroplane. We fly home."
They all looked at me as though I was mad. Sergeant Grant shook his head, "A grand idea… if one of us could fly!"
I nodded, "I can."
"What?"
"When my dad was a squadron leader he taught me to fly. I even sat next to him when he flew a twin engine Wellington. I can get us off the ground and, with any luck I can land it." I shrugged. "At the very least I might be able to get us down in the sea closer to England." I saw the doubt on their faces and I stood, "But you are right it …"
Daddy laughed, "No, Tom, I am well happy about that. It is just that I am surprised. I don’t know about you lot but at least we have a chance this way."
"Before you get excited we have to get into the field. I have already found a way. There is a wire fence and I have cut a hole in it but we will need to make it bigger. Then we have the problem of starting the aeroplane."
"You have found an aeroplane?"
"They have a JU 52. They were fixing one of the engines. It still has two so even if they don't repair it then we can still take off."
Bill said, "What about the fighters? Won't they shoot us down?"
"Definitely so we have to steal the bus during daylight when the fighters have taken off and left for England. The field is quiet once they leave. That is our best chance."
Daddy looked around, "Right we will do it. After dark we all go with Tom and find the way in. What do we need?"
"Wire cutters."
As the afternoon wore on we rested and made sure we had enough wire cutters between us. Most had homemade ones like mine. They were light and serviceable. We left Ken Curtis to watch the farm while I led the others to the fence. It seemed further in the dark but I knew that was my imagination. I had told them what we needed to do and Poulson and Barker went down under the fence to enlarge the hole. The rest kept watch. If their cutters broke we had spares. We took the opportunity to familiarise ourselves with the ground. The two came back and nodded to us. I led them back along the ditch to the farm.
Once back in the farm, Daddy and I decided when we would make the attempt. "We have to be at the hole
before dawn. We have to get in within minutes of the fighters taking off. The field will be busy as a beehive before they take off and some eagle eyed mechanic might just spot us. Everything will need to be done really quickly. We have to use surprise."
"Right. We will get some shut eye now. We leave at three."
I managed an hour or so at best. I was too nervous. It was some time since I had flown. Dad had told me it was like riding a bike. Once you had done it you never forgot. I hoped that he was right. Of course with a large aeroplane I would need someone to help me operate the levers. I decided I would choose whoever the first one in the aeroplane was when we succeeded in gaining entry.
There was a chill in the air as we left our wrecked farm. The clear skies and cool air suggested a fine day ahead. That was good. It had been some time since I had flown and flying an unknown German aeroplane now seemed a more daunting prospect. I wanted an empty sky when I took off and no tricky side wind. As we moved down the field I took heart from the fact that my dad had done the same thing. There was always hope. We reached the fence and took off our Bergens. We would not get under with them on our back. The waiting was the hardest part. We had to be as still as possible. However the skill of comrades was shown when birds above us happily whistled their dawn chorus. We had become part of the land. No eagle eyed sentry would wonder why the birds were not singing.
The field came to light as mechanics noisily began work. I heard lorries as the fuel bowsers came to fill up the fighters. The smell drifted across to us. It was maddening not to be able to look at what was going on but we did not want to be seen. I, alone of the section, knew what was going on. For them it would be even worse. We had to lie in the ditch and beneath the bush and wait. It was while we were waiting that I thought of the camouflage netting we had had on the ML. Something like that would have hidden us well. It would be something else to carry but it would be worth it.
At last I heard the fighters' engines started and knew that they were going to take off soon. I wriggled, as slowly as possible, towards the hole we had made in the fence. I gently lifted the cut section and bent it up so that I could get my head underneath. My face was still blackened and I just peered through the long grass on the other side. I saw the fighters taxiing. The mechanics were standing around and watching. It was the same on a British field. Aeroplanes had been known to develop a fault while preparing to take off. The mechanics would only go for their breakfast when the aircraft were all in the air.