Dieppe

by Hosker, Griff

  "Are we to be shot naked? That would not impress the locals would it? Give us a little dignity at least."

  The Captain said to the Major, in German, "The man has asked for clothes. He has a point. We will look foolish if we shoot two men in swimming trunks."

  The major snorted and waved a dismissive hand, "Find them some trousers. One can wear the Commando jacket. Give the other one of those Italian ones they left behind."

  The captain turned and said, "We are not barbarians. We will give you clothes but you will still be shot!"

  I still supported Bill as we were led away. He said quietly, "What's happening sir?"

  "Apparently Adolph Hitler has issued an order which states that all Commandos will be shot as soon as they are captured."

  He looked up at me, terror in his eyes, "Really sir?"

  I smiled, "That is their plan but let us see." I put my finger to my lips. If we were going to escape then it had to be soon, while our boat was close by. They would shoot us in the morning; of that I had no doubt. We had no weapons. We were in swimming trunks. Our only advantage lay in the fact that they did not know I spoke German. Who knew what benefits we might reap?

  Despite Bill's obvious injury and my bleeding face the Germans made no concessions and the barrels of their rifles jabbed in our backs as they propelled us towards our cell. I saw that they were taking us to a building which was close to the road we had mined. They had not taken my watch. As I was supporting Bill I was able to tell the time. I could see the face. It was two thirty. The bombs would go off in thirty minutes. That was our time frame. Thirty minutes to escape. Hopes of finding our ship receded. With another German looking for them beyond the blocked harbour entrance Alan would be heading back to our supply base. I would need to come up with another plan. First we had to escape certain death at the hands of the firing squad and then we avoid the mine. After that I would think on my feet. When we reached the building the door was opened and we were thrown into it. I stubbed my toe on something sharp.

  "Just hold still, Bill, until our eyes adjust. God knows what is in here."

  "But sir, how do we escape?"

  "Shhh, at least one of them speaks English. Say nothing. You are a Commando. Follow my lead."

  "Yes sir, and thank you."

  "Thank you?"

  "For helping me. The last thing I knew I was running to escape and I fell. When I wake up I am on the shore. It doesn't take a genius to work out you saved me."

  "We never leave anyone behind, Bill. Not in this section!" As my eyes adjusted I saw that they had thrown us into a store used by the men from the fishing boats. I reached down to feel what I had stubbed my toe on. It was a needle used to repair nets. It was as long and as thick as my finger. We had a weapon. I held it up. I pointed to it, then Bill and mimed, 'Search'. He dropped to his hands and knees and began to look. I began to feel my way around the walls. I found first one and then a second bisht hanging on hooks next to the door. They were not the normal white ones; they were dark in colour. I put one on. Bill stood triumphantly holding a second netting needle. I handed him the bisht. He put it over his head.

  I reasoned that if there were needles then there would be nets. I searched around until I found one. It was damaged but it would serve a purpose. I gave one end to Bill and we went to the door and stood on either side. I had no idea how long had elapsed but I heard boots approach and a voice say, in German, "I have their uniforms. One is wet."

  The guard outside laughed, "Well they cannot catch a death of cold! They are to be shot tomorrow. They only need clothes to cover their dignity. I think that these Commandos have courage. They are fools but brave fools."

  "Hans, cover the door, Fritz, you open it and I will throw the clothes in."

  I now had to rely on Bill Hay's training and his reactions. If there was any doubt about his ability to be a Commando it would manifest itself now and this would end in bloodshed, ours. I looked at him and held my needle and net in my right hand. He nodded and did the same.

  A German voice said, in English, "Englanders, move away from door or shoot you now we will."

  I said, casually, "Righto but my friend needs medical help. He is lying down again."

  "What?"

  "Friend, hurt!"

  The door opened. To the Germans it would appear black. The German with the uniforms in his hand did not throw them but peered in.

  "Now!"

  We rushed forward. The German with the uniforms in his hands got in the way of the man with the gun. We pushed him to the floor and the net wrapped around him. I stabbed at the man with the gun as Bill stuck his in the eye of the German who was holding the door. I stamped down on the neck of the German wrapped in the net. I grabbed the fallen rifle and smashed the stock into the head of the man with the needle in his shoulder. He went down like a sack of potatoes. While Bill grabbed a second rifle I took the papers from two of the Germans. Who knew when they might come in handy. Bill checked that the rifle had a magazine and we ran. I looked at my watch. The explosives would go off in ten minutes. I ran towards them. I gambled that we would be fast enough to pass them and be on the other side of the road when they went off. The explosives would buy us time.

  We had only killed one of the Germans and one of the others groggily raised the alarm and began to shout. Our dark cloaks hid us from sight. But it would not take them long to work out where we had gone. I saw the road we had mined. It was two hundred yards away in the dark. Suddenly a fusillade of shots rang out. They were firing blindly and the bullets zipped over our heads. They knew where we had gone. I heard a klaxon sound from the brick building. When you were running at night you did not turn around and show a white face.

  I wondered about the timers. Sometimes they could go off a minute or two early or a minute or two late. As we ran over the mined road I prayed for the latter. "Head for the beach. Up and over!"

  I counted on the darkness helping us. I heard engines behind us and the flash of headlights. We had turned and run up the hill not a moment too soon. The night's exertions and the blow in the face had sapped some of my energy but I found a fresh surge as I heard a machine fire. It was aiming down the road and not up the hill. Then I heard a sound I dreaded, a flare being fired into the air. "Keep going!" The top was tantalisingly close as the flare lit the sky above us and gently floated to earth on the parachute.

  Below us I heard. "There, on the hill! After them!"

  I turned and, firing from the hip emptied the magazine at the Germans I could see. It was not a Thompson and I fired single shots. Two went down, one clutching his arm. The rest took cover. I followed Bill and shouted, "Down! Dive! Down the hill."

  We both dived forward and began to roll down the other side of the hill as the parabellum bullets zipped into the space where we had been and then the sky was lit, not by a flare but the light from the explosion. The charges went off almost on time. The slight delay had saved us. The explosives seemed to ripple. Stones and pieces of debris flew through the air. The sand was thrown around making a mini sandstorm. The air was ripped apart by the concussion. I had not covered my ears. I had been taken by surprise and I could hear nothing. Once the wave of concussive air had passed over us I staggered to my feet and hauled Bill to his. I pulled him down the slope. We had moments only. Soon more men would come and we had to be in the water. Our only chance was to swim back into the harbour and steal a fishing boat. It was a tall order but, as far as I could see, it was our only chance and it was one thing the Germans would not expect. What kind of fool went back into the trap from which they had just escaped?

  I threw away the now useless rifle. I could hear nothing. I guessed Bill was equally stricken. I turned him to face me. I pointed to the water and mimed swimming. He nodded. I took off my bisht and rolled it up before me. Bill, curious, copied me. We had an improvised life belt. The air trapped between the layers would give us extra buoyancy. I stepped into the sea and Bill followed. It was bizarre for we were moving through an almost s
ilent world.

  Once we were deep enough I put the bisht under my hands and, leaning on it, began to kick. Now that we were in the water there was no hurry. The only splash we made came from our feet and there was little to be seen of us in the blackness of the night. To help me get a better sense of direction I led us directly out to sea. Once we were fifty yards out I would turn at ninety degrees and swim parallel to the shore.

  I turned and, perhaps the sea had cleansed my ears or they were now functioning better, but whatever the reason I heard the low throb of an engine. The ship which had stopped us escaping had not followed the 'Lady'. It was still looking for us. I stopped and trod water. Bill appeared next to me. I looked to the land. There was a slight glow behind the blob that was the hill. My hearing was returning for I could hear the sound of shouts and the motors of trucks as they started their search. Torches appeared on the hillside as they sought us.

  Putting my mouth close to Bill's ear I said, "I can hear a German boat. They are looking for us. Tread water until it recedes."

  "Sir."

  I listened desperately for the direction of the sound of the boat's engines. It was gone. Had they shut down their engines or had they left? I could see nothing. Then I heard a voice from just behind us, "Lieutenant, grab this rope!"

  I paddled around and saw Sergeant Poulson and my men. There were two ropes. I grabbed one and, after waiting until Bill had his, began to climb up the side of the hull. We were hauled up. Sergeant Poulson held his finger to his lips. With blankets draped around our shoulders I was led to the bridge. I could feel the throb of the engines beneath my feet but they were idling and could barely be heard.

  Alan put his head beneath into the radar hut and stooped to see the radar screen. Symons, the radar operator, pointed to the north. I guessed that meant the ship which was hunting us was there. Alan turned the wheel. Very slowly the E-boat rotated until the bows were pointing away from the shore. He nodded and pushed the throttles forward. We were almost like a salmon leaping. My eyes had adjusted a little to the dark and I saw that the gun crews, complete with coal scuttle helmets, were closed up. We knew that every vessel we met would be an enemy. The Germans had no such luxury. Their gun crews might hesitate if they saw German helmets. On such tiny things are battles often decided.

  Suddenly a searchlight appeared alarmingly ahead of us. The Oerlikon began to fire and then the two German tube machine guns. The light went out and there were shouts and cries from those struck. The Germans were using tracer and I saw where their boat was. It too was an E-Boat. It was at an angle to us and their captain was desperately trying to get away from us. Alan was aiming for the midships of the E-Boat. He had nerves of steel. I heard him say, "Ready Sergeant?"

  "Yes sir!"

  Just when it seemed obvious that we would tear into the other E-Boat and both of us die in a shipwreck he hurled the 'Lady' to port. At the same time half of my men let rip with their Tommy guns while the other half threw grenades. The German sailors were too busy trying to get their vessel out of harm's way and it was desultory fire which came in our direction. As we passed I saw men falling into the sea and then, as we headed for open water, saw and heard the explosions as the grenades went off. One or two must have fallen down hatches for after the small ripples of explosions there was an enormous one as the E-Boat was blown out of the water. The night suddenly became dark once more.

  Alan lit a cheroot and, as the match flared, saw my face. He hissed, "Get Mr Harsker down to the sickbay! He is wounded."

  "Hay took a knock too."

  "Get them both down. We are not out of this yet and we shall need them sooner rather than later."

  Hewitt appeared, "Come on, sir. That looks like it will need stitches."

  After the darkness of the deck the sick bay, or rather the mess they converted to a sick bay when we were in action, looked as bright as day. Johnson, the SBA asked Hay, "What happened?"

  I answered for him, "He tripped and banged his head off a metal stanchion. He was out for some minutes."

  "Concussion." He looked over to Hewitt. "You happy to be stitching?"

  "No problem. He is my officer, I will do it."

  Bill Leslie appeared with two steaming mugs of cocoa. "Captain thought you might need this sir. Stoker's cocoa. Double tot!"

  "Thanks Bill and thank the captain for coming back for us."

  "Don't be daft sir, we can't leave our mascot behind. You bring us good luck!"

  Hewitt washed my face with alcohol. "I should really shave you but your face is still bleeding. When you have finished the cocoa sir then lie down. You must be weak from the loss of blood."

  "I feel fine." It was a lie. I felt a little dizzy. I had felt so since the explosion. I had put it down to the concussion. Perhaps it was blood loss. The cocoa kicked in and I put the mug down and lay back. Hewitt had the needle ready. "Small stitches, Hewitt. Lieutenant Jorgenson is the pirate; not me."

  "I'll do my best sir."

  Despite my best efforts to stay awake the warmth of the sick bay and the cocoa sent me to sleep. When I awoke Hewitt was wiping his hands. He smiled, "You had a good hour sleep sir. You have a little more colour in your cheeks. I am afraid you won't be able to shave until those stitches come out."

  I looked over. Hay had gone, "Where is Hay?"

  "Gone to get dressed, Johnson passed him as fit."

  I swung my legs off the table. "And I need to dress too."

  "But sir I haven't passed you as fit yet!"

  I grinned, it was a mistake, it hurt. "Rank Hewitt!"

  There was a mirror on the wall and I glanced in. The stitches ran in a long line from close to my eye down to my mouth. It gave my face a lopsided look. Bill Leslie was right, I was lucky. An inch higher and I would have lost my eye. I glanced at my watch. It was four thirty. Dawn would be breaking soon. I had no doubt that Jerry would be keen to get to us. There would be aeroplanes and ships searching the Med for this rogue E-boat.

  I felt better back in uniform. As I headed up on to deck I saw that the sky was lighter and Alan still had the guns closed up. I passed Emerson. He was wearing a Navy top. "Changed services, Fred?"

  He laughed, "No sir. One of the stoker's gave it to me. Glad you made it out alive. I felt awful leaving you there."

  "You obeyed orders and you did your job."

  Sergeant Poulson came over. His face was filled with concern, "We thought we had lost you then sir. Lieutenant Jorgenson though, he kept saying as how you would get out somehow. We lost the E-boat and he waited. He said you would swim back to Gib if you had to."

  "Not quite true but I am glad he waited." I remembered the Hitler order. " Sergeant, you had better tell the lads that Hitler has ordered all Commandos to be shot on sight. Even if we surrender we will be shot. They ought to know."

  "But sir, that is against the Geneva convention!"

  "I know but Jerry thinks he is going to win the war..."

  I joined Alan to watch the dawn rise behind us. As we sipped our mug of tea and ate the corned beef sandwiches on stale bread I told him of our ordeal and the Hitler order."We shouldn't be surprised Tom. I mean you have told what the Waffen SS did. I think it is a good idea to tell your chaps. There seems little point in surrendering if they are only going to get shot. This may well backfire on the Austrian Corporal."

  The sun had just risen above the horizon when Midshipman Rowe shouted, "Fighter sir! Coming low out of the sun!"

  "Action stations!"

  Everyone ran to their weapons. My Thompson was in my cabin. I took out my Colt. I saw that it was a 109 and he was coming low and fast. He was using the sun to blind us. The machine guns rattled and the Hotchkiss pumped shells towards the fast moving aeroplane. He opened fire at two hundred yards and I felt the shells crack into the stern. Phillips, the Hotchkiss gun layer, suddenly fell backwards with his guts spilling on the deck. The 109 roared over us as bullets flew all around him. None hit. He rolled and dived to attack us bow to stern.

  "Midd
y, get on the Hotchkiss!"

  "Sir!" The young Midshipman ran aft to be the gun layer. On a small boat everyone mucked in. The 109 opened fire again. Midshipman Rowe was torn apart by the bullets as was Taylor the gunner.

  Alan pushed the throttles forward. We needed as much speed as we could. The 109 had banked and came in again hard and low. We had no Hotchkiss and we were helpless. The fighter fired one long burst and then, amazingly, banked and headed east.

  Bill Leslie said, "We were bloody lucky then sir."

  "I don't think Mr Rowe would agree with you Chief."

  "Sorry sir, you are right. I just meant he had us dead to rights. One more pass and we would have all joined the young gentleman."

  Alan was shaken. He shrugged, "He might have been out of ammo."

  I shook my head, "No he had ammunition." I peered at the charts. "We have just left Tunisian waters. Perhaps he had orders not to violate Vichy France."

  Alan looked at me, "The invasion?"

  "They could have wind of it. Who knows?"

  Just then a stoker came on deck, "Sir, the Engineer says we have been holed and we are losing fuel. He reckons you ought to get as far west as you can before we run out, sir."

  "Right." He pushed the throttles forward and we surged through the sea. "What were you saying about luck, Leslie?"

  "Me and my big mouth eh sir? I have jinxed us."

  We discovered, as we raced west, that it was not only the fuel tanks which had been damaged. The rudder was sluggish and the transom was holed too. The only good news came from Wacker, some hours later as we headed for our supply base, "Sir, I have Lieutenant Ferguson."

  "Tom get down and give him a report. Tell him we need at least a day or more to make repairs."

  I went down to the radio shack and put on the spare headphones. The signal was very weak. It must have been a fluke atmosphere which enabled us to talk. I wasted no time. I told him what we had seen in the harbour at Tunis and what we had done; including the Hitler order. When I gave him the report about the 'Lady' there was a brief silence.