The three officers came in with Reg Dean. The third officer was a new lieutenant: Lieutenant Green. Major Foster, in contrast to Captain Grenville, grinned at us. We were a team and the major was part of it. “Well chaps it seems that, once again, our specialist services are required.” He jokingly wagged a finger in my direction, “I blame you Sergeant Harsker! You make rescuing Generals look so easy that they are sending us off again.” He nodded to Reg Dean who took out a map and pinned it to the blackboard which was used by the mess orderlies for the daily menu.
The Major beckoned us forward so the eight of us were in a loose semi circle. I saw that Captain Grenville did not appreciate the proximity of so many non commissioned officers.
“As you must have realised with so many of our fellow commandos learning to use parachutes and Lord Lovat and 12 Commando only recently returned from Norway there is a shortage of experienced commandos. Now I know that you all have new recruits and we have two new officers but, be that as it may, we are still experienced enough for this mission.” He took his swagger stick and tapped the map. “The Channel Islands. As you know the powers that be decided to make them open to prevent damage to the civilian population. The Germans have begun to build defences to prevent us from taking them back. Here at Les Lands, close to St. Ouen, on Jersey, they are building a gun emplacement. They intend, according to our information, to put four 155 mm guns there. They would have a range of over twenty thousand yards. Our job is to damage the gun emplacements.”
Captain Grenville asked, “Why not use the RAF? They could level the whole island if they wanted to.”
That in itself proved that he had not done this sort of thing before. Major Foster said, “Civilian casualties. They are using forced labour to build these emplacements and they are housed close by.”
Reg Dean said, “And that means you have to go in softly, softly!”
“Quite so, Sarn’t Major. Now there is a small bay to the west of the tower. At low tide there is a ribbon of rocks which makes the approach tricky. The cliffs are not sheer and we shouldn’t need ropes but they are tricky. At the top there are two gun emplacements and a round observation tower. As yet the guns have not been mounted. Our mission is to destroy the three targets. Each target will be assaulted by one section. Sergeant Harsker and Troop Sergeant Major Dean will be the screen preventing the garrison from interfering.”
Troop Sergeant Major Dean asked, “How many in the garrison, sir?”
”There are fifty guards for the labour force and another thirty guarding the site itself. The Germans are worried about the resistance attacking them and most of their defences appear to be to the east, the landward side.”
“When do we go sir?”
“In two days time. The tides will be right. We have to be in and out within four hours or we risk the MTBs and launches being grounded on the rocks.” He tapped the map again, “It sounds hard but I think we might have a good chance of pulling this off. Six months down the road and they will have put barbed wire all over the cliffs and have machine guns dotted all over the place. It would be good to think we could destroy it but so long as we slow down the progress by at least half a year, then we will have succeeded. Let’s get down to the details.”
We had one day to practice and to gather all our equipment. I was happy with my section but I knew that some of the other sergeants were worried. At least half of my section had more experience than any other commandos in the whole troop. That gave the new recruits more confidence too.
Chapter 3
We were to travel across the Channel on an ML. The benefits of being so close to the harbour paid off for we had but half a mile to carry our Bergens to the waiting boat. Mrs Bailey let us use her lounge for our briefing. This was our first mission behind German lines and we needed the whole section to be prepared. Troop Sergeant Major Dean joined us and watched as I briefed them. “Empty your battle dress and trouser pockets.”
They all did as I asked. The old hands had nothing in them save cigarettes and matches. The new ones had pictures of sweethearts and letters. Grimsdale even had a bill from a grocer.
I nodded, “The cigarettes, pipes and matches are fine. The rest stays here on this table.”
“But Sarge! That is a photo of our lass.”
“And you need it to remind you what she looks like?”
“No Sarge but…”
“Listen Groves, if we are captured you give your name rank and serial number. Nothing else. We are commandos and the Gestapo and SS would love to get their hands on you. Imagine if they had a letter from your wife. They could use that to break you. You don’t need it with you.” I pointed to Poulson, Lowe and Gowland. “These three have nothing like that on them. Focus on the mission. Nothing else.”
As we headed down the front toward the launch Troop Sergeant Major Dean said, “I hope the other sergeants are as firm.”
“They will be, believe me. What made you come on this little jaunt? Not that we don’t want you.”
“Shortage of officers. Captain Grenville reckoned a section without an officer might not do its duty.”
“That is a load of…”
“I know but this is good. I have spent too long behind a desk while you lads go and do your bit. I have been champing at the bit to get back to the war. I don't want putting out to pasture just yet."
We marched the men down to the waiting launches.
I recognised Bill Leslie as we approached the boats. He was on MTB 371. He gave me a cheery wave. “Watch your wallets lads! Army is here!”
“Just get us there in one piece eh, old son?”
“We always do! Mountbatten’s taxi service that’s us.”
Captain Grenville and Fred Briggs’ section appeared behind us. “Get a move on Harsker. We have to board too.”
I saw Bill roll his eyes. I explained, “Sorry, sir. You are in good hands here. This is a good crew.”
I saw the crew smile and nod. Captain Grenville snapped, “No more than they should be. We are all on the same side you know.” He led his men on board 371. Poor Bill would be stuck with him.
Some people just didn’t get it. The Troop Sergeant Major said, “I can see now why they were so keen to get shot of him from the Guards.”
“The Guards?”
“Aye he transferred. He wanted action he said. Major Foster told me. Apparently he is well connected.”
“Stick that on his gravestone then.”
“That’s a bit harsh Tom.”
“I’m sorry Sarn’t Major, but the day you think you are better than someone else is a sad one. Without these navy lads we would be up the creek without a paddle. I know how valuable they are." I shook my head. People like Grenville annoyed me. They were snobs who thought they were better than everybody else. "Rights lads, follow me. There is our launch."
We were waved aboard our launch. “Perhaps Captain Grenville will realise that after this mission. He hasn’t done it before has he?”
“Perhaps not, Sergeant Major.”
The older hands showed the new lads where to stow their bags. We had learned through experience how to keep our Bergens out of the way of sailors who were used to their tiny home. We were temporary passengers. We left three hours before dusk. It would take six or seven hours to reach Jersey. For the daylight hours we would have the cover of three Hurricanes who would fly above us and protect us from enemy attack. We were still stowing our Bergens when we felt the launch slip away from the harbour. Unlike Poole and Southampton, as soon as we left the coast we felt the swells coming in from the Atlantic. I smiled when I saw three of the new boys race to the stern to empty the contents of their stomachs. Even Reg Dean looked a little green.
He shook his head, “This is the first time I have been on one of these. Is it like this the whole way?”
“It will get worse in the middle section especially as we won’t have an horizon there. You get used to it.”
One of the hands came aft, “Anyone fancy some cocoa?”
Gordy nodded, “Stoker’s cocoa?”
I said, “Just straight cocoa, thanks. We’ll save the other for the journey back.”
He disappeared and the Troop Sergeant Major asked, “Stoker's cocoa?”
“Cocoa laced with rum. Very nice too but not before action.”
We watched the sun set and the Hurricanes waggle their wings as they headed for home. I pointed up, “That’s our guardian angels gone. Now let’s hope there are no E-Boats out there.”
The young Lieutenant who commanded the launch said, “Amen to that, Sergeant.”
We slowed down to eight knots as we approached the island. Major Foster’s boat led and we were tail end Charlie. I did not envy the crews of the four boats for they would have to wait for us and they would be within range of the German guns.
The Lieutenant said, “Better get your men ready Troop Sergeant Major. We land in thirty minutes.”
We went below decks. Gordy rubbed his hands, “Right lads get yourselves blacked up. It’s Al Jolson time!”
Gordy always managed to make me smile. His humour was invaluable just before we went into action. It relaxed everyone. My old hands had made sure that every magazine had been loaded by hand and the guns cleaned. We had no demolition charges but we had extra Mills bombs and magazines. We hoped we could get away without being spotted but I was not confident. We had too many new men. Mistakes happened.
We took only three Bergens ashore with us. Polly, Harry and George carried all the spare ammunition and grenades. My webbing was festooned with them but they had the spares. Reg nodded and I led the men on deck. Gordy took half down the starboard side while I took the other half down the port. I could see the island ahead. There were breakers showing where the savage rocks waited to tear the guts out of an unwary captain and his ship.
Once we had passed the spit of land the water became calmer and the Lieutenant edged us closer to the launches ahead. In the small bay we had the room to land together. It was important to move quickly up the cliff. As soon as I saw the beach I jumped into the sea. I managed to land six feet from the bows and the water came up to my waist. I forced myself through the surf to the shingle, stones and sand. I cocked my Thompson and peered up at the cliffs. The Major had been right, they were not steep. We would not need ropes. We would use hand signals only. The Troop Sergeant Major ran alongside me and tapped me on my shoulder. I ran to the foot of the cliff. We were in the centre. The Major would take the tower to my left and the other two teams would deal with the emplacements on my right.
I put on my safety and slung my machine gun around my back. The first part was easy and I virtually walked up the shallow slope. It was when I was a third of the way up that I saw the problem. The slope was not steep but the surface, was covered in light sand and slippery shingle It could prove to be treacherous. It had not shown up in the aerial photographs. We would just have to deal with it. I turned and made the signal for follow my line. It was here that the rubber soled shoes would come into their own. They gave a better feel to the ground beneath our feet.
I glanced up the dark slope. The shadows could prove to be deadly allies of the Germans. There could be loose rocks hidden from sight. I moved to my right. Moving diagonally across the slope was safer. I saw a rock to my left and I grabbed it. It allowed me to climb back up to the slope to my left. We were making progress although not as much as we had planned when we had first viewed the site. Above me I saw the gap between the tower and the emplacements. That was our route. I could not worry about the other three sections. My section had to be in place and protect them while they laid their charges.
Suddenly I was aware of a shadow above me. It was a sentry. I had to think fast. If he glanced down he would see us, raise the alarm and then all would be lost. I moved as fast as I dared. I drew my dagger as I went. I had no Bergen to slow me down and I never took my eyes from his back. Then I heard a grating noise as one of our commandos slid and fell a couple of feet down the slope. The sentry heard it and turned. He was six feet from me and I saw his face as he saw me. I sprang forward with my dagger held before me. Even as his mouth opened to scream my dagger hit his throat and my weight knocked him to the ground. Blood erupted all over my arm and face but he made no sound save the thud of his body hitting the ground.
I was on my feet in an instant. I sheathed my dagger, grabbed my Thompson and had it cocked in one swift movement. My breathing was laboured and I forced myself to slow it down so that I could hear. There was silence. I looked to the right and saw the new Lieutenant and his section as they approached the emplacement. To my left were Gordy and Polly. I waved them forward as Reg tapped my shoulder. We moved down the slope towards the huts. I saw, a hundred yards away, the wire fence around the workers’ huts. I caught a glimpse of the two Germans from the glowing butts of the cigarettes. I turned and, seeing Ken and Harry gestured towards the sentries.
They slipped silently towards them as I located the guard hut. I saw the slight glow from the door. I waved an arm so that the rest of my section would follow me. I heard the sound of voices from within. From the size of the hut I guessed that there would be, perhaps twenty men inside. There were two doors. I pointed to the rear door and Gordy took Crowe and Scouse Fletcher. Reg was with me and we moved to the front entrance. I had to improvise a plan. When I reached the door I waved to my section to spread out in a half circle and then mimed to the Troop Sergeant Major that I was going to go inside. He gave me a questioning look. I nodded firmly and he shrugged.
I nodded to George Lowe to open the door. He held it and used three fingers to count down. As soon as the door opened I stepped inside and said, in German, “No one move or you will be shot.” I was lucky. There were four men seated around the table which was close to the door. They had cups in their hands. My Thompson was inches from the head of the nearest one. Reg was next to the one at the far side and, before anyone could move the rest of my section were in covering the rest.
George had the Bergen with the rope and the lengths of cord. “Get them all tied up.” We had practised this many times but this would be the first time that we would employ the strategies taught to us. The number of guns pointing at them cowed the Germans. All was going well. I watched with pride as all fourteen men in the hut were securely bound. I was just about to leave when I heard a shot.
Troop Sergeant Major Dean shouted, “Outside!”
We raced outside. Harry and Ken were there. Ken said, “It wasn’t us. It came from the gun emplacements.”
Troop Sergeant Major Dean said, “It makes no difference anyway. The cat is out of the bag now!” He pointed and I saw Germans running up the slope from the huts which contained the compound guards.
“Spread out and keep low. Wait until I give the command and then short sharp bursts. Right Crowe?”
The lad from Manchester nodded, “Right Sarge! I ain’t filling no more magazines that’s for sure.” Reg and I took the centre of the line. Gordy was at the extreme left and Ken the right. I saw the Germans running blindly up the hill. We were crouched with darkened faces. We were as close to invisible as it was possible to get. The Germans were so focussed on their footing that they made the cardinal error of failing to look up. I waited until they were thirty yards from us and then I shouted, “Fire!”
The thirteen Tommy guns fired as one. The air was filled with the smell of cordite and the sound of screaming Germans. They were scythed down. The survivors turned tale and ran. Reg said, “You hold here while I go and find out the SP.”
As he ran off I shouted, “Gordy, Ken take half the section back to the top of the ridge form a line there.” I saw that I had Polly, Harry, Scouse Fletcher, Bert Grimsdale and Alan Crowe. “You new lads are doing well. When we fall back go as a pair. Scouse, you go with me. Back, then cover. Right?”
“Right Sarge.”
I knew that the other teams would need time to set their charges. We had to buy them that time. I had no doubt that they would have sent for reinforcements.
I worked out that we had fifteen minutes at most. Jersey was small. Nowhere was more than fifteen minutes away. Our elevated position meant I could see lights in the distance. When I saw five pairs approaching I knew that we were in trouble. They were vehicles and were coming from the main garrison. I shouted. “Reinforcements on the way, sir!”
“Fall back in five, Harsker!” It was Troop Sergeant Major Dean’s voice I heard.
The men who had taken shelter when we had scythed down their comrades now began firing blindly up the slope. “Gowland and Poulson, start lobbing grenades. Keep their heads down.”
“Right Sarge.”
I turned to the three new boys who were all close to me. “Take out a grenade and pull the pin. When I say then lob them as high in the air as you can manage. We want an air burst. When you have thrown them run as fast as you can up the slope to the others.”
“Right Sarge.”
They all answered me but I could hear fear in their voices. “You are doing fine. Keep calm and do what I say. We’ll get out of this.”
Harry and Polly’s grenades began to go off and the firing below us ceased. I heard the noise of German trucks as they ground up the road. Behind me I heard Reg Dean, “Right Tom, get out of there!”
Bert turned to move. “Wait until I tell you. Right?”
“Sorry Sarge!”
“Harry, Polly fall back and join Gordy!”
“Right Sarge.”
“Ready. Throw!” I pulled back my arm and threw as high as I could. The other three did the same. “Now run back to the ridge!”
As they ran I gave a long burst with my Thompson. Below me I saw the four grenades go off. The explosions illuminated the charging reinforcements. The blast knocked them to the ground and the wave of concussive air hit me too. I turned and ran. I heard the sound of heavy machine guns as the reinforcements cleared where we had been. I reached the ridge and dropped down next to Gordy and the Troop Sergeant Major.
Reg Dean patted me on the back, “Well done. Five more minutes and we can leave.”
Behind Enemy Lines Page 3