by Griff Hosker
I turned, "As soon as Connor is down you pair follow and tell the Sarge we have company. We will follow when we can."
"Right Corp!"
I joined Ford at the top of the road. I could see three pairs of headlights, dim though they were, and there was a motorbike and sidecar, without lights well ahead of two other vehicles. One appeared to be another motor bike while the second looked to be a German vehicle of some description. I took out a grenade and laid it on the ground before me and then cocked my Thompson. "Wait for the order eh Norm?"
"Right Corp."
I lined up my gun so that I could spray the bike and side car. I was just about to shout, "Fire!" When I heard Sean's voice shout, "Commando Higgins inbound!"
I took the situation in a flash. The motorbike had the remnants of our friends. "Norm, it is a friendly but the ones behind aren't!"
Sean and his motorbike spun around behind us as the first Germans appeared. We fired our guns in short bursts. Norm hit the rider with his first volley. We had to dive out of the way as the bike kept going with a dead rider. The gunner tried to jump out but his webbing got in the way. It plunged over the cliff.
The Kübelwagen behind had a machine gun. They made the mistake of firing too soon before the barrel could depress enough to hit us. We both fired and then, as my gun clicked empty I reached down and pulled the pin on the grenade. The Kübelwagen did not follow the motorcycle and the driver spun it round, barely avoiding the tow truck. The grenade landed in the vehicle and we threw ourselves to the ground. The concussion from the explosion made my head ring and the debris flew the air. I stood and drew my Colt. There was no one else following.
"Keep watch, Norm!"
I turned and ran to the motorcycle and side car. Sean and Jack Johnson were leaning over Lieutenant Reed in the sidecar. Jack shook his head, "He's dead."
Sean said, "Poor bugger. He was hit and it saved Wally's life then Wally went to the beach to signal the launches and stood on a mine! A bloody waste."
Norm ran up. "Corp, more Krauts coming. I can hear their engines. It is a lorry this time."
"Right let's get down the ropes."
Jack said, "We take the Lieutenant with us!"
Norm looked at me as though he was going to object, "Right. We leave no one behind. Here take my rope and lower him with this one."
"What about you Corp?"
I will go down with the others on this last one. Go on Ford, you get down and tell the Sergeant what happened."
We tied the rope under the Lieutenant's armpits. The blood had congealed on his back and was sticky. We began to lower him. I heard the engines of the German vehicles. "I'll go and delay them."
I ran to the Kübelwagen. Two of the Germans had been thrown clear. I found three of their potato masher grenades. I broke the porcelain tops and attached the toggle to the next grenade so that there was a line of them I placed them at the top of the path so that when the Germans ran to the cliff edge they would set them off. I saw that Sean and Jack had already descended. I was the last one on the cliff top. Taking out my last two Mills bombs I went to the edge of the road. The Germans were some fifty yards down the slope and struggling to get up in their truck. As the vehicle moved towards me I took out the pins and lobbed them one by one high in the air. Then I ran for the rope; I pulled it and it was free. The other two had reached the bottom. There were two explosions in quick succession as the grenades went off. I had no idea if I had caused damage. I just wanted to slow them up.
I had no time for a steady descent and, after wrapping it around my back I stepped over. I flexed my knees and then sprang back and allowed the rope to run through my hands. I had not had time to don gloves and I knew that I would burn my hands when I slowed down. Burned hands were something I could live with. The cliff came up and I flexed my knees and kicked again. I heard a series of explosions from the top of the cliff. They had found my booby traps. I glanced down and saw the ground less than thirty feet away. I gripped the rope and, ignoring the pain, pulled it across my chest. I stopped instantly. I slowly lowered myself the last ten feet or so.
As I dropped, bullets sprayed from above. I turned and saw the others making their way to the two MLs. I aimed my gun at the top of the cliff and emptied the magazine. It worked for all the heads ducked back. As I waded through the surf I saw the wrecked remains of the German motorcycle and sidecar. The spread-eagled Germans told their own story. After hurling myself into the water I clambered on the ML. I heard bullets hit the water and the MLs' gunners fired their machine guns. They hauled me aboard; the Lieutenant spun the wheel and we surged away from the coast of France. We had escaped. The fact that only two of the other section had survived was a disaster but we were heading home. We had survived and that was important.
Chapter 6
The rating rolled me over. "Well jumped Corporal, you were cutting it fine."
"Thank the Lord we are safe now."
He shook his head, "Don't tempt fate, Corporal. There are a couple of E-boats out to sea. We have been ducking and diving to avoid them all night." He jerked his thumb back at the coast. I daresay Fritz will have told his mates where we are. They will be after a nice juicy target like a Motor Launch filled with Commandos."
I slithered down to where the others were waiting. There was just Sean, Jack, and Norm Ford on this launch. The rest were aboard the other ML. "What happened, Sarge?"
"We were unlucky. We had cut the wire and had just set the charges when the dogs found us. We used the Tommy guns and grenades to escape. The grenades set fire to the bombers and then we ran. Jerry was all over us and we had a running fight. We headed towards the road. We lost Jenkins and Dixon there. The Lieutenant wanted to head for the beach. He thought we had a better chance that way."
Sean shook his head and took up the story, "Aye and we might have made it if it wasn't for the troops coming down the road. There were two motor cycle combinations, a Kübelwagen, and a lorry. They opened up. We killed the crew of the first motor bike. There was a fire fight. Jerry dived out of his vehicles to try to surround us. There were just the four of us left by then. Lieutenant Reed told us to get aboard the motorcycle. He and Wally threw four grenades. They dived in the sidecar and we headed for the rendezvous. We were overcrowded but we escaped."
"I reckon you were lucky. You could be in the bag by now. I know you lost some lads but you did bloody well to escape."
Jack nodded, "So we thought. There was confusion in Calais and we breezed through. I couldn't believe it. No one was looking at us. I reckon they heard the bike and thought we were Germans. Then we came to a bridge over a canal and there were krauts there looking at some dead sentries. As we passed them we were fired at and that was when the Lieutenant was hit."
I had a sickening feeling in my stomach. That had been my decision. "That was my fault. I killed the sentries."
"It wasn't your fault. You were trying to escape. It was just bad luck. When we reached the beach at Sangatte, Wally was so keen to send the signal that he didn't see the sign for the minefield. He knew nowt about it. He just went up. Then the others caught up with us and, well, you know the rest."
"We were luckier than you then. We heard the explosions and we escaped after the bombers came over. If you hadn't stopped Jerry he would have caught up with us. We ran through Calais and it was only when we reached the canal we hit trouble. We told the MLs that the beach was mined. I borrowed the tow truck and we made it to the rendezvous."
Jack looked at the body of the Lieutenant. It had been covered by a blanket, "Do you reckon it was worth it? We left a lot of good lads behind."
"It is a trade off really. What were they on your field, bombers?" They both nodded. "And we had fighters. That is two squadrons of aeroplanes that won't bomb London or shoot down our Spitfires and Hurricanes any time soon. There are fighter pilots who will have a better chance of survival."
"But they'll replace the aeroplanes soon enough."
"Not as soon as you might think, S
ean and they will have to repair the airfields. Goodness only knows how many personnel they will have lost. We might have lost a couple of bombers although I didn't see any but if they had gone over in daylight then more than half wouldn't have returned." I pointed to Lieutenant Reed, "You know that he would say it was worth the sacrifice if he was here."
"You are right but it is such a waste."
"And you are thinking about Wally too."
"Aye you are right. We had been together since we joined up. When he had his wound I thought that was it. He would go through the rest of the war and survive."
I lay back on the pitching deck of the launch. "Don't make plans. Don't think about tomorrow. Just survive."
I noticed, behind us, that the sky was lightening. We would soon be home. I had just closed my eyes when I heard, "E-Boats!" I had tangled with these powerful beasts before. They were faster, bigger and better armed than anything we had. "Hang on!" The young lieutenant threw the boat hard over.
The launch heeled to port to take us away from the E-boats which were coming from the north east. I put my half full magazine into my Tommy gun. It would only be useful if they closed with us but it was reassuring having a weapon in my hand; no matter how inadequate. I looked astern and saw the huge boats closing with us. The ML was fast but the E-Boats could catch them.
The Vickers gunners were already in position. The Hotchkiss six pounder would be no use as it was forward of the bridge. The two E-boats were travelling almost twenty miles an hour faster than us and catching up rapidly. They had twenty millimetre cannons and they would tear through the wooden hull of our launch. Our young Lieutenant was doing his best. We were swinging from side to side to avoid giving the enemy a target but they were gaining so rapidly that it would soon not make any difference how much we swung our stern. I felt helpless. There was nothing that I could do.
When the leading boat opened fire I saw the tracer as it arced towards us. The skill of our Lieutenant was shown when the shells struck the space we had just occupied. Lieutenant Jarvis in the ML ahead was also weaving his way home. The others had a better chance of survival as they were ahead of us but as I could not even seen the English coastline it was likely that we would both end up in a watery grave.
I noticed that the leading E-Boat was not catching us as quickly and I began to hope that, perhaps, it had suffered some mechanical failure. When I saw the second one draw abeam of the other I knew that I was wrong. The Germans wanted to end this quickly and for that they wanted two ships to fire at us. The converging fire of six cannons tore through the starboard Vickers gun and the two crew were cut in half.
I jumped up to the gun. "Norm, you load and I'll fire!"
I was not going to sit idly by. If I was going to die I would, at least, die fighting. I reached the Vickers gun. The dead rating had not even had the chance to fire it. Dad had told me how reliable the Vickers was and that it had a long range. I would find out for myself now. "You feed the ammo, Norm."
"Right Corp!"
I tapped the side of the barrel to align it with the port E-Boat. I hoped they had tracer rounds. I squeezed the triggers gently and saw the rounds arc towards the German. They had tracer and I saw where they hit. I had the range. The gunner on the port side opened fire too. I adjusted my aim. I was firing too high. I gave a longer burst. Unlike my dad in the Great War I could reload. He had had to conserve his ammunition. We had belts of the stuff. My aim was better and I struck his bow. The other gunner joined in and we were able to fire at the cupola with the cannon in. We must have upset his aim for the shells stopped striking our launch. As we hit a wave my next burst hit the bridge. It was pure luck but I guess I hit someone for the E-Boat veered a little to port.
Every gun on the two German boats was now directed at Norm and me. We had no cover. I felt the rounds as they thudded into the hull. Suddenly smoke began to drift from the rear. I shouted, "You have smoke, sir!"
As the two E-Boats closed in for the kill I heard the double crack of two three pounders. The water spouts told their own story. Sean shouted, "It is a couple of MGBs! Well done Navy!"
We redoubled our efforts as the two MGBs poured their shells and machine gun bullets into the E-Boat I had already hit. It began to smoke and turned to port. We raked the side with the Vickers and I saw German sailors fall into the sea as we cut them down. The second E-Boat was now outnumbered and it, too, turned and headed home. The MGBs leapt after them. They would soon have to give up the chase for the E-boats were much faster but they would enjoy the brief reversal of fortunes.
The engine room rating came up, "Sir, the engine has been damaged. We'll need a tow."
"Thank you, Anderson." He picked up his megaphone; Lieutenant Jarvis had turned around to see what the damage was. "I'm afraid we need a tow old boy."
"Happy to oblige!"
As the sky lightened we chugged our way home. The two MGBS raced on either side of us and took station to escort us back home. They circled us like sheepdogs. I saw Bill and waved. There was something reassuring about seeing the same faces each time we sailed. We were like a large extended family.
It took us until almost dark to reach Weymouth. We could have put in at any number of ports but I think everyone wanted to take Lieutenant Reed home. Lieutenant Jarvis radioed ahead. Although we had seen to Private Connor's wounds all of us wanted him looked at by a doctor. There would be one waiting. I knew, even before we reached Weymouth, that Major Foster would be there. He and Lieutenant Reed had been friends. Lieutenant Reed had been immensely popular with everyone and would be sadly missed.
As we passed the outer harbour Jack said, "You did well Higgins. I am going to recommend that you be made up to Corporal."
He did not look thrilled at the prospect. "They'll all be new lads, Sarge. It won't be the same."
I pointed to Norm, who was sound asleep. "All these lads were new to Daddy and me. They are a good bunch and I wouldn't swap any of them. The two new lads who replaced Smith and Griffiths are good blokes too. I don't reckon we will get through this war with the same men we have now. If you wanted that you should have joined the Catering Corps."
Sean laughed, "You are joking! No, you are both right. Perhaps Major Foster won't want me as a Corporal."
Jack laughed, "I think you'll find that he will!"
There was a sombre mood as we took off the dead body. I looked at Lieutenant Jarvis. He had lost two men and had no bodies to return; they lay in the Channel. In the heat of the battle he had not noticed their deaths but I had seen the change on the voyage back. He was realising that they were gone. We stepped ashore and followed the stretcher bearers carrying Lieutenant Reed and Private Connor. Major Foster came over to Jack, Daddy and me.
"The RAF said that the bombing raid was a success. Both fields were destroyed. You can be proud of what you achieved."
Jack nodded and spoke for the three of us, "We are sir but we left a lot of good lads back there so don't expect us to be happy about it."
"I'm not and I, for one, will raise a glass tonight to Lieutenant Reed." He held up a manila envelope. "He was just promoted to Captain. I knew before you left but kept it as a surprise. Perhaps I shouldn't have."
It was strange to think of officers like Major Foster having regrets. He always seemed so confident.
That night, in the pub, it was a quiet atmosphere. The last time we had been there Wally had been with us and now he was gone. No one spoke about the death or about Wally. We didn't do that. Nor did we banter, as we usually did. There was some desultory talk about football but as there would be none for the duration that petered out. A couple of the younger corporals tried to talk about films but the exploits of John Wayne in 'Stagecoach' and Errol Flynn in 'They died with their boots on' were seen as unrealistic and that conversation died out too.
The Quarter Master asked, "Did you lads use those bits of camouflage netting?"
"We didn't need it but it will come in handy."
Surprisingly that made everyo
ne take notice and we were grilled about how we would use it. We were on safer ground when discussing professional matters. When we left the air of depression had been replaced by optimism. That was the kind of warriors we were. None of us dwelled too long on the past. It was the future which counted.
We had little ordinance to return but I pointed out to Daddy that we needed more ammo. "I was out on the way back. We need another two magazines each."
"Extra weight."
"I'd rather carry extra weight than be dead weight."
Once again we had a day off and once again we used it for laundry. We were busy washing when Sean breezed in. "Right Tom, you and me are going on a bender! I made Corporal!"
"Give me a hand with the washing and you are on!"
When we took the washing back to my room we passed the room which would be Sean's new digs; it was Wally's old room. He would have a constant reminder of the man he was replacing.
When we resumed our training and the daily five mile run it became more relevant than ever before. If we had not been so fit then we would not have escaped the airfield. We began to finish first each day and the other sergeants asked Daddy how he managed to get so much out of the section. Even though he was the most recently promoted sergeant events had conspired to make him one of the most experienced. He had tapped out his pipe and said, "There is no substitute for being over there. We can tell them until we are blue in the face that they need to do what we say but until they are under fire, and not on a range, then they will never understand."
The replacements for Jack and Sean's section arrived at the end of the first week of November. It was cold it was dark and it was wet. I had always found November a depressing month. We also heard that troops were being sent to Greece to help them fight the Italians. It was not enough that we were fighting the Germans alone, now we were fighting Italians as well. It seemed Britain and the Commonwealth were taking on the world.
Major Foster tried to find inventive ways of enlivening the training but it was hard work. The new Lieutenant, Marsden, arrived with them. He was young and he was keen.