"You are taking a lot on Tom."
"I know but Hay has had a good idea. It is the simplest way to disable the port and it prevents pursuit doesn't it?"
"I know but your luck will run out one day."
"It has run out before now. I have been left behind on at least three occasions. I always get back."
He laughed, "Those were the days when you had just twenty miles of Channel to cross. This is Africa."
"Malta isn't that far away and if push comes to shove and you and the 'Lady' can't take us off then we will just walk back to Gibraltar!"
"Sir, German patrol boat."
"Thanks, Jameson. From now on German only."
Those who had a few words in German said, "Jawohl!"
Alan and I continued our conversation in German. "Take the binoculars, Tom, tell me what kind it is."
I focussed on the motor launch. It looked to have just a single machine gun at the bow. It was but thirty feet long and had a crew of less than ten. "Small harbour vessel. What is she doing out here?"
Alan gestured with his head to the cape behind us. "They must have an observation post up there. Probably sent a signal. It bodes well old chum. If this is the biggest thing they have in the harbour to scare us off then we are sitting pretty."
Alan steered the E-Boat towards them. He slowed the engines as they approached. Alan took the initiative, "Thank you for the welcome. We are short of fuel. Any chance of filling up here?"
"Where are you based? I do not recognise you."
He pointed to the west with his cigar, "Tabarka with the rest of the squadron."
"We heard one was damaged the other day."
Alan nodded, "Yes we ran into a Tommy. Hans was unlucky, that was all."
The officer seemed content, "There is a lighter with fuel a mile offshore. It is safer that way."
I asked, "How is it going in the desert?"
"Not good. We have truck loads of wounded every day and a constant stream of reinforcements. A freighter with tanks arrived only today." He shrugged, "It is another reason you should use the lighter. Every bit of harbour is taken up. Follow us. I will lead you in."
Once again we had been lucky. I saw that far from them not having enough warships in the harbour they had plenty. There were destroyers dotted in and amongst the merchantmen. All showed battle damage. They had run the gauntlet from Sicily and the RAF had taken their toll. The destroyers were acting as floating anti-aircraft batteries. That was a far more important job than investigating an unknown E-Boat.
When we reached the lighter there was a coaster on the other side filling up. The two lighter men shouted, "Either wait half an hour for us to finish or fill up yourselves."
"We are in a hurry, We will fill up." He then said quietly, "Dixon Armstrong, go and fill up. Wacker go with them in case the lighter men speak German."
Wacker emerged from his hack and wandered over with the two crew men. They unrolled a hose and attached it to the bowser. Harris took the end and unscrewed the inlet for the diesel tanks.
Meanwhile Alan and I scanned the ships and the defences. Rommel was, indeed being reinforced. This was important news and we needed to get back within range as soon as possible. By my reckoning it would be at least two days if we were to complete our mission. As we had recently topped up the tank it did not take long for us to fill up. We pretended that it took longer so as to avoid arousing suspicion. Then Alan said to Wacker. "We can go now!" Wacker tapped the other two on the shoulder and they returned to our boat. He waved his hand to the crew of the lighter, "Thanks." He turned to me, "Let's not outstay our welcome."
He turned the boat around and headed slowly out to sea. Once we had made the headland he opened up the engines. We had more than enough fuel now and we need not be careful with it. The sooner we reached Tabarka and finished this first task the sooner we could report back to Hugo. We went well out to sea so that we could approach Tabarka from the west. It was dark when we reached the uninhabited headland.
While we had been sailing west my section had been preparing for the raid. The explosives were in our Bergens as were the flippers and masks.
The men filled up the dinghies while I spoke with Alan. "We will set the charges for three o'clock in the morning. By that time we should be in the harbour. Scouse will send you the signal when we have the E-boat and then you can come in but if you hear firing then we will need a pick up."
"Don't worry. We will be there. We'll pick up on the seaward side."
I dropped into the dinghy and we were paddled the forty yards to the beach. It was deserted but Crowe and Ken scurried forward to check. The dinghies returned to the boat. We followed the scouts up the small hill and down the other side. From there it was just six hundred yards to the road. We had to be careful for we knew, from our voyages down the coast, that there was traffic at night in this part of the world. It avoided the RAF. Fortunately the road was empty. We made our way down to the bend which was the place we had chosen for our attack. When we reached there I set guards at the port end; the port was just over half a mile to the north east of our position but hidden from us by a rise.
Ken and George set to work, helped by Corporal Lowe. The rest of us stood watch and listened. They set charges at the side of the road and they placed some explosives in the road itself. We had chosen a spot with a pair of large palm trees. They had charges laid next to them. In all the charges covered twenty square yards. If the explosives did as we planned it would require at least two days work to repair it, longer if they wanted the road to last longer than a week of heavy traffic.
George raised his hand, "All set sir."
"Set them for three o'clock."
"Right sir."
Once set I checked my watch. It was one thirty. That left us an hour to get into the port, do some damage and then escape before the explosives went off. We fanned out and moved as silently as only Commandos can. We saw, from our elevated position, the whole of the port. There was neither barrier nor guard house at the tiny port but there was a pair of sentries patrolling. The E-boat was moored at the end of the harbour, close to the harbour mouth. Using my glasses I saw that they had a pair of sentries of their own and they were on a pair of rickety chairs on the harbour wall. It was quiet and I could faintly hear a radio playing in the E-Boat. The harbour had a dozen or so fishing boats. The houses close to the harbour looked to be those of the fishermen. I could smell the fish cooking in their homes. Most would have had a small courtyard to the rear where the families would gather.
Glancing to my right I saw the German flag flying from a brick building on the hill. I could just make out the black barrels of machine guns. I estimated that it was some five hundred yards from the harbour. The time it would take us to cover that would be how much time we had when the alarm was sounded. Hay and I slipped out of our uniforms. We jammed them in our Bergens. We would only have our hands and our knives but they would be enough. I gave my bag to Hewitt and Bill Hay gave his to Crowe. I nodded to Sergeant Poulson. He would command the section whilst we were underwater. We held our flippers and crawled down the sandy hill towards the harbour. I had chosen somewhere half way between the sentries. George, Ken and Scouse would take care of these patrolling sentries and the others would wait until we were aboard the boat before they surprised the two on the chairs.
We hid behind some packing cases. From the smell they had contained soap. The two sentries stopped on the other side and lit a cigarette. They spoke briefly. "These night watches are the worst."
"I know and those damned insects, always making that noise. It is unnatural."
"I get so bored I count how many steps it takes me to get to the end of my walk and turn."
I heard a hiss as the cigarette butt was thrown into the harbour and then I heard their boots as they marched off. I nodded to Hay and we slipped around the end of the cases and sat on the harbour wall. We slid in, silently and donned our flippers in the water. It was not easy. I kept my eye on the sentry to my
right. He was half way along his patrol. Scouse and Ken would be stalking him. I tapped Bill on the shoulder to show him I was ready. He nodded and we slipped under water. We dived down as deep as we could go and used our flippers to propel us the one hundred and fifty yards to the E-Boat. It was remarkably easy and the hull soon hove into view.
We rose slowly so as not to make bubbles. I took off my mask and hung it around my neck. I took off my flippers. I saw that Bill had already done so. I pulled myself along the hull until I came to the stern. It was relatively easy to climb up from there. I reached up and put my flippers on the deck and then took out my dagger. I felt like a pirate as I placed it between my teeth but it was the best way to free my hands and keep it handy. I pulled myself up slowly. There was no one on the deck. I crawled forward to the hatch which led below decks. Turning I saw Bill follow me. Of the two patrolling sentries there was no sign.
I crawled to the bridge and hid behind the armoured side. The main hatch from the mess was behind me. I peered over and saw the two sentries. I waited until Bill had joined me and then I scratched my dagger down the metal side. It was not a loud noise but an unnatural one.
I heard a German voice, "What is that?"
"Just a rope. You are imagining things. Besides it came from the boat not the dock."
Silence fell and I repeated the action. "There I heard it again and it is not natural. Come we will go and wake the captain."
"He will not be happy."
"Better unhappy than without a boat."
I heard their boots as they stepped towards the boat. If they made the boat then Bill and I would kill them. If all went well then Sergeant Poulson and the other lads would subdue them. I heard a grunt and then a loud splash. I stood. One of the guards was on the harbour wall, unconscious. The other was in the water and he shouted, "Alarm!"
Sergeant Poulson shot him once with his silenced Colt. I heard movements from below decks. "Throw us some grenades."
We were each thrown two grenades. As the hatch next to me opened I pulled a pin and dropped it down. The surprised sailor looked at me and I rammed my dagger into his eye. He fell back. I dropped the second grenade down. Closing the hatch I took cover.
At the same time Bill ran to the rear hatch. As it opened and a face appeared he kicked it hard. The head disappeared and he pulled the pins on the two grenades and dropped them down. My two grenades went off in quick succession. The sound cracked across the harbour. Even if those on shore had not heard the shouts they would have heard the explosions. Then Bill's went off. The E-boat seemed to rise a little out of the water.
I ran to the gangway. "Fred, get on board. Sergeant Poulson, call the boat. We will take the E-boat and scuttle her. We will swim out from the seaward side. Get the men out. Those explosions will wake the neighbours."
"Sir. You had better get a move on." He pointed to lights coming on in the brick building.
"Bill cast off. Fred give me your Colt. Let's get down to the engines."
I opened the hatch and smoke rose. It was like stepping into an abattoir. The two grenades had scythed through men trying to get on deck. As we passed the mess a bullet cracked out from the dark. I dived to the floor and fired at the muzzle flash as someone tried a second shot. I heard a cry. I turned on the light and saw the Captain. I had hit him twice in the chest. He tried to raise his pistol again. I took it from his dying fingers. I said, in German, "Sorry, captain, such is war."
We moved down towards the engine room. I felt the hull as we moved a little. Bill had done his job. He would now be steering the boat and letting what little breeze there was carry us to the harbour entrance. When we neared the engine room I whispered, "Put your barrel around the end and give it a spray."
He nodded and did as I asked. In the confined space the Thompson sounded inordinately loud. I heard a couple of cries. As I stepped in a surviving stoker swung a wrench at me. I just reacted. I pulled the trigger on the Colt until it was empty and the man had no face. The other two had been killed by Fred.
"Get the engines started and then get on deck. We want no heroes!" I handed him the empty Colt and took the Captain's Walther.
"Sir." He pointed, "Sir the hull has been breached. The sea is coming in."
"Good then half of my work is done already! Get the engines going and get up top!"
I went to the hatch which led below deck. Alan had shown me where the sea cocks were. I had opened one when I heard the sound of the deck machine gun firing. That was Bill. I opened the second and ran back on deck. As I did so I heard the engines start. Bullets ripped into the bulkhead behind me as I stepped onto the deck. Bill was firing the machine gun. "Sorry sir. They surprised me."
I saw that he was firing at men at the far end of the harbour. Alarmingly the E-Boat was no longer aiming for the gap in the harbour. It was also lower in the water. I raced to the bridge, oblivious of the bullets around me. I pushed forward the throttles as I spun the wheel. We started to head in the right direction. Fred appeared on deck. He looked a little disorientated.
I pointed to the seaward side. "Emerson, get ready to jump. You too Bill. Mr Jorgenson will be waiting for you. Get rid of your battledress and the Thompson. They will pull you down."
He threw the Thompson into the harbour and his battledress to the deck. The boat was slowly sinking. "Sir, what about you?"
"Hay will be behind you and I will follow when we are in position and blocking the channel."
Our sudden movement had upset their aim. We sluggishly cleared one of the harbour walls, the sea was just a foot from the deck, and I felt the swell from the sea as we moved towards the gap. I cut the motors. We had enough way for us to drift towards the gap. I heard a splash as Emerson jumped over. "Ready Bill, your turn."
"Right sir."
He emptied the magazine and then ran towards the sea side of the boat. Then one of those unforeseen accidents happened. He tripped and slipped . His head cracked into the mounting of the Bofors gun and he lay still. Just then a searchlight appeared from the other side of the harbour. Another boat had come from nowhere and bullets pounded into the side of the E-Boat which was getting lower and lower in the water. We could not get out to the 'Lucky Lady'. I would have to find another way out.
I crawled over to Hay as bits of wood were shredded from the deck. I pulled him towards the water. On the way my hand found my flippers. I grabbed them too. I found some shelter behind the torpedo tube and I pulled on my flippers. Bullets cracked and crashed all around me but I knew we were sinking for water lapped behind me.
I pulled Bill Hay backwards and our combined weight dropped us into the water. As we hit I put my left hand under Hay's neck. The German searchlight from the second boat was blinding those on the harbour wall who were firing at us and we were invisible. I lay back in the water and pulled Hay. My flippers moved us quickly through the water. I headed for the eastern side of the harbour. It lay in darkness and there were no Germans there. The E-boat was now almost completely underwater but the German gunners continued to pound her to matchwood. She would do her job and block the harbour. Hay was still alive. I felt the pulse in his neck.
The water became slightly warmer. I was nearing the wall. All I had to do was get Hay out of the water, manhandle him somehow, slip over the harbour wall and then try to swim to the 'Lucky Lady'.
I felt something metal touch my head; it was a gun and a German voice said, in English, "Nice try, Englishman but you are now my prisoner. One move and we will shoot you now rather than wait for the firing squad in the morning."
We were prisoners!
Chapter 18
Six Germans held their guns at me as I dragged Bill Hay from the water. They made no efforts to help me with him and I had to carry him. It made sense. I could not escape with him in my arms. The night felt cold and I found myself shivering. For some reason that annoyed me; I did not want them to think I was afraid of them. When we reached the middle of the harbour wall there were two German officers, a Major and a Capta
in. The Captain jabbed me in the middle with his Luger, He spoke in English. "So you are some of these English Commandos we have read so much about!"
"I am only required to give you my name rank and serial number. I...
The Captain laughed and hit me backhanded across the face with his gun. I staggered and Bill, now unsupported, fell to the floor. As I lay there, wiping the blood from my face he threw Emerson's battledress at me. "We do not need to know any more than this. You are Commandos and we know what to do with such gangsters. The Fuhrer has given orders!" He flourished an official piece of paper in front of me and read from it:
"From now on all men operating against German troops in so-called Commando raids in Europe or in Africa, are to be annihilated to the last man. This is to be carried out whether they be soldiers in uniform, or saboteurs, with or without arms; and whether fighting or seeking to escape; and it is equally immaterial whether they come into action from Ships and Aircraft, or whether they land by parachute. Even if these individuals on discovery make obvious their intention of giving themselves up as prisoners, no pardon is on any account to be given. On this matter a report is to be made on each case to Headquarters for the information of Higher Command."
He handed the piece of paper to his sergeant, "The Major has decided that you will be shot in the morning so that the locals can see how we deal with such gangsters. Your fellows on the boat will soon join you when they are captured. You have failed!"
Bill started to come to. We now had a little hope. If he was unconscious I could not even think of escaping. Awake then we had a chance. I tried to buy some time. "After the war is over there will be crimes for which you will have to answer." I held my identity disks, "I am a serving soldier and I demand to be treated as such."
The Captain ripped my disks from around my neck and hurled them into the harbour. "There! You are a saboteur with no identification. You will be shot." He laughed. "You are a fool. We will win this war and there will be no trials save those we hold for the Jews and those war mongering leaders like Churchill and Roosevelt. You are a paid killer and you have no rights at all in the Third Reich." He turned to his sergeant and said, "Take them away and lock them up. Keep two men on guard all night!"
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