Behind Enemy Lines

by Hosker, Griff

  I whispered, "Lowe, keep watch!" I led Polly down to the two buildings. The hut was open and there was a smell of tobacco and smoke. I saw that there were crumbs on the floor and an empty pot with used cups. This was where the fisherman had eaten before they left. We went to the second one and it was bolted. The lock was flimsy and rusty: it had not been opened for some time. I suspected since before the war. I took out my bolt cutters and had it off in a moment. Inside there was a musty smell and it was filled with cobwebs. No one had been inside for years. It was perfect. I doubted anyone would give it a second look and we could wait there until the fishing boats returned. It would be simplicity itself to steal one at night and sail home.

  "Get Harry. We will hole up here."

  While he went for Gowland I examined the interior. There were two rooms. One was obviously where they sold things. I saw ancient postcards and metal pails with children's shovels. There had obviously been other items but the rats and mice had had them. The only things that remained were non edible. The other two came in. "Shut the door."

  The back room showed more promise. There was a tap and a sink. I turned the tap and it squeaked before turning and a trickle of rusty water came out. I left it running and examined the rest of the room. It was where the owner had had their lunch or waited for customers. The water ran clear and I tasted it. It was fine. We could refill our canteens.

  "Fill your canteens now and then find somewhere to lie. We are going to sit it out until dark."

  The other two lay with their eyes closed but I could not sleep. Had I made a mistake? If anyone came then we were trapped. There was only one way in and one way out. I was counting on the fact that the lock was rusty and no one had been here for some time. Perhaps the owner was dead. I could second guess myself all day. It had not been planned that we were stuck in France. I was just lucky that I had had maps. The commandos who had landed with the destroyer were not as lucky. If they had escaped they would be wandering around France just using their compass. As we had discovered that could be disastrous.

  I drank some more water and looked at my watch. It was almost twelve o'clock and the fingers wound around exceedingly slowly. I had just put my canteen away when the door opened with an ominous creak. An old French woman stood there with her hands on her hips and a face as black as thunder. I was so stunned I didn't even reach for my gun. Instead I stood and said, "Good morning Madame!"

  Her face changed in an instant. She pointed to my shoulder flashes, "English?"

  "Yes, Madame."

  She closed the door. "You are the ones who blew up the dock?"

  "Yes, Madame. We were stranded here."

  She reached up and brought my face down to hers so that she could kiss me on both cheeks. "Good."

  "Madame, you must go. If you are found here with us then you might suffer for it."

  Poulson and Gowland were staring open mouthed. The woman was speaking too quickly for them to pick up anything. I saw Polly reach for his gun. I gave the slightest of shakes with my head.

  "Pah!" She said, "I am eighty years old and buried my husband in the Great War. The Boche do not frighten me! Let them come!"

  I was curious. "Why did you come in here?"

  She gave a sad smile and swept her hand around the room. "This was my shop. I sold things to those who came here before the war. It was little enough I earned but I enjoyed the smiling faces of the children. I come here each day to make sure that no one has damaged it." She wagged a finger at me. "And you have!"

  "I am sorry Madame. We are hiding here until it is safe to move tonight. We hope to get aboard a fishing boat."

  "Do not worry about the lock. I will get a new one. I know the fishermen. I will get you on board. They will be back by six or seven." She suddenly disappeared out of the door. For an octogenarian she moved really quickly! She reappeared with a basket covered in a cloth. She shut the door and, like a magician theatrically removed the cloth to reveal a baguette, wine, cheese, ham and an apple. "You will have to share it between you, I am afraid."

  I shook my head, "We could not deprive you of your lunch."

  "I have more at home and it is a small price to pay to those who still fight against our enemies. Now eat. No one comes here during the day. We are safe until night time. I am the only one who comes here each day to eat my lunch and to watch the sea." She broke the bread into three and tore it open. I had not noticed the butter but she spread it liberally and then placed ham and cheese in each sandwich. She handed them out and then poured wine into a glass for me. Handing the bottle to Harry she went to a cupboard and brought out three more odd sized glasses. She rinsed them under the tap and then poured the rest of the wine into them. Raising her glass she said, "Death to the Germans!"

  Bemused we joined in the toast and then devoured the food. After composite rations it was like a banquet. I was pleased it was just one glass of wine for it was rough and strong. It went straight to my head. She collected her things and put them in the basket. "I will put the lock so that it looks as though it is still attached and I will return when the fishermen do." She pointed behind her. "There is a German hut in the village and they have a radio. Do not leave until I return. Come and kiss an old woman!"

  We all kissed her on each cheek and she nodded approvingly. "Your French is good Sergeant."

  "My father was a flier in the Great War and we had a cottage to the north."

  "Good, then you now our country. We stand together. I am glad that you broke into my shop. Do not leave!"

  After she had gone Poulson said. "Will she not betray us, Sarge?"

  "I think I can say categorically that she will not. We have dropped lucky and no mistake."

  The wine made me drowsy. If it had not I might have heard the approaching engine noises sooner. First there was the sound of German trucks pulling up on the road above us. Gowland shook me and made the sign for danger. I pressed my eye against the crack in the door and I saw two ambulances on the road above and white coated medics rushing to the beach with stretchers. Then I heard the unmistakeable throb of an E-Boat's diesel engines. I ran to the front of the hut and peered through the crack under the counter flap. There was an E-Boat coming in and it had been shot up. I saw blood running from the scuppers and bandaged seamen. It tied up just forty yards from us. I could hear some of what they were saying. They shouted to the medical staff who were on the other side of the hut. Men were lowered on to stretchers. They had been badly hit in some sea battle. I counted twenty men being taken away by the ambulances.

  By my reckoning that left just ten men on board; an E-Boat had a crew of thirty. The Captain obligingly sat with his back to the hut while he smoked a cigarette. Two of his officers were with him.

  "We were lucky then and no mistake, Heine. Those damned MTBs suckered us into that trap as efficiently and effectively as we might have done."

  "If it were not for the Hurricanes, Captain, we would have destroyed those two boats."

  "You fool, Heine, that was the trap. We were just lucky that their engines were damaged or we would be prisoners already."

  "We were unlucky Captain not lucky. Those exploding shells incapacitated the gun crews."

  "No Heine, luck was with us. If those shells had penetrated the engine room that would have been unlucky. We only lost four men. The engines work and we can replace the ammunition. We were lucky and I intend to celebrate our luck. Leave Gerhardt and Klaus to watch the boat. I will send a relief at nine. We will go and enjoy a night in Carnac. Tell them."

  I saw the older officer, he had white hair, stand and shout, "Everyone ashore. Gerhardt and Klaus, you have the first watch. You will be relieved at nine."

  I glanced at my watch. It was three o'clock. If the two men on watch went below deck then we stood a chance. It was a wild one and filled with risks but we could sail back to England in a German E-Boat. I stared at the two crew men. They went around the E-boat to make sure that the ropes were all secure and, when they were certain that the officers ha
d gone, they went below decks.

  I turned to the other two. "We are going to capture the E-boat that is in the harbour. In a moment we will go outside and drop our Bergens on the harbour wall. There are just two sentries and they are below decks. We find them and incapacitate them. Then you get the bags Polly, and untie us. Harry, you have seen these engines before. You reckon you can start them?"

  "Yes, boss. So long as you can drive the bloody thing!"

  "Then we are on!"

  We opened the door and, after making sure that the coast was clear scurried around to the harbour wall. I dropped my Bergen and Thomson. I took out my sap and kept my Luger handy. When the other two were ready we boarded the boat. Our rubber soled shoes meant we made no noise and the two Germans obliged us by talking. They appeared to be in the cabin behind the bridge. There had to be two entrances and so I sent Polly aft to find the other one. I watched and he waved. This was it. I descended the steps.

  A voice said, "Who is it?"

  "The Captain sent me with some Schnapps!"

  I was just buying time but it appeared to work The dim light below decks meant they did not seem to notice my battle dress as I descended the stairs.

  "Well he has changed then. He is normally as tight as..."

  He got no further for I had reached the bottom of the steps and turned. He saw my battledress. He leapt at me and I swiped him, blindly, across the head with my Luger. His momentum and my blow smashed his head off the edge of the cupboard. Unfortunately he took me with him and I lost my footing. His companion whipped out a wicked looking knife. As he stabbed at me Polly brought his own sap across the back of his head. They were both out for the count.

  "Quick get to the engines. Polly tie this one's hands." I took out some cord and tied the hands of the man who had tried to knife me behind his back. I hauled him up the steps by his feet. His head clattered off every one. I dragged him to the harbour wall and dumped him. I ran to the forward rope and untied it. Poulson already had the second one on the harbour wall. As he went for the Bergens and guns I went to the aft line which held us to the harbour wall. I heard the engines start. I was just about to jump on board when one of the Germans swung his feet and took my legs from under me. I jumped up, pulled out my sap and smacked him again. Just to be sure I hit the other one too. There was no time to waste and I jumped aboard and ran to the bridge. Poulson untied the bow line and leapt on board. He waved at me.

  Bill Leslie had explained how these boats were steered and moved. I prayed he was right. There was a voice pipe next to the wheel. "Harry, I am about to move us away from the harbour. Everything all right down there?"

  "Aye aye skipper."

  Polly joined me. I nodded towards the two throttles. "Just push these levers."

  As he did so we leapt forwards and I turned the wheel hard to port. We surged towards the entrance which looked remarkably narrow. Poulson glanced over his shoulder. "Sarge, there are Germans running towards the harbour."

  "Get on the rear guns but don't fire unless you have to. Jerry said they were short of ammunition. We may need it before we get home."

  There was a compass. I headed west once we had cleared the harbour mouth. I should have used a proper course but I had not had time to plot one I just improvised and sailed west north west. I knew that the coast line jutted out here. It would take us closer to home and away from France. That was my sole intention. The old lady had said they had a radio transmitter in Carnac. It would not take them long to summon air support. I had to get us as far away as possible before they came. "Harry, is this the maximum speed?"

  "I think so. Have you pushed the throttles as far forwards as you can, Sarge? We are nowhere near the red here yet."

  I pushed hard. There appeared to be a notch and we clicked through it. Suddenly we took off. This was full speed. Poulson came to join me. He pointed aft with his thumb. "Those Germans had no weapons but they looked fairly unhappy Sarge."

  "You had better find a gun you can fire. Try them all out. From what they said they had a problem with ammunition. I daresay Jerry will send someone after us."

  "I don't fancy swimming for it, Sarge."

  "Neither do I and remember that our lads won't know this is captured. When you have checked the guns get the swastika down and see if you can find an White Ensign or Union flag."

  "I doubt it."

  "So do I but look eh? You never know they might have tried to fool us by flying a false flag too. There will be a flag locker near to the mast."

  There was a whistle. I leaned over the voice pipe. "Yes Harry?"

  "Do you want the bad news, Sarge?"

  "Go ahead."

  "We only have a quarter of a tank of diesel. I have no idea how far that will get us."

  "I will slow down after dark. Until then we go as fast as we can. If we end up drifting then so be it."

  I heard the different calibre guns as Poulson tried them all. Then there was silence as he searched for a flag. I saw the coastline to the north of us. It was German territory now and I imagined the messages being relayed down the coast, 'Watch for a captured Schnellboote!'

  He came back with a Royal Navy flag, the White Ensign. "You were right Sarge. I wonder why they had one."

  "Probably the same reason the 'Campbelltown' did, to deceive the enemy. Get it run up and then we can't be accused of fighting under false colours. Which is the best gun?"

  "There is more ammunition for the 20mm so the single one would be best. We would use less of it that way."

  "Good thinking." I looked up as the flag snapped at the mast. "That feels better. See if you can find a chart eh?" I knew the course I had been following but I had little idea of the speed. It would have to be an estimate. I glanced at my watch it was not even four o'clock yet and we were hours from both darkness and safety.

  Polly came racing up the steps and handed me a map. He pointed aft. "Trouble, Sarge, a Focke Wolf 190 approaching rapidly."

  "Get on your gun then. I intend to make us a hard target so give him short bursts and fire just ahead of him." The appearance of the German made my estimation of our position academic. I glanced over my shoulder and saw that he was racing along at just above sea level. He intended to destroy the rudder. I gambled and swung the wheel to starboard and after the count of three returned to our original course. The bullets whipped across the sea and I heard Poulson firing back. I needed the German to waste his bullets on us. He would have to return to base to rearm and by then it might be dark. Instead of coming around and attacking the bow he flew around to come after our stern again. That was a mistake. I could predict what he did and I suspected that he would try to predict my movements. I would have to throw him.

  "Poulson this time I intend to make a full swing all the way around, full circle. I will cover three sixty degrees."

  "Right Sarge!"

  I shouted down the voice pipe, "How is the fuel, Harry?"

  "Going down steadily."

  I pulled the throttle back a little. That too might throw the pilot's aim off. I was just grateful there was only one of them and he had no bombs.

  "Here he comes, Sarge."

  I heard the Focke Wolf's guns and I swung to port. The boat heeled alarmingly. I hoped that Poulson was strapped in. I heard a couple of bullets hit the stern guard rail and then Poulson's gun fired. As it came over I saw a tendril of smoke from the engine. We had a hit. I brought her back on to our original course and kept the same speed. We might as well save fuel.

  "Here he comes again and I only have one more drum after this one, Sarge."

  "Then make them count. The last ones worked."

  This time I tried something totally different. As he zoomed in low I pulled the throttles right back. Poulson had a long clear shot at him and his bullets hit the mast and then ploughed into the sea. As he zoomed overhead I heard the change in the sound of his engine. The smoke was thicker and he was in trouble. As he turned to starboard I knew that he was heading back to base. I pushed the throttles
forward. One danger was behind us. How many more lay ahead? I resumed the same speed we had been doing before we were attacked.

  Chapter 15

  "Poulson, see if you can make a brew or something. We might have a long voyage ahead of us."

  Harry came up to see what the damage was like, "It sounded horrific, Sarge, from below decks but there appears to be little damage."

  "They are a tough boat. What about the engines?"

  "Sweet as a nut but we are using the fuel at a prodigious rate. I reckon we have three hours more cruising at this speed."

  "Well you are the boss when it comes to the engines. I will slow down." I brought the throttles back so that we were doing what must have been twelve knots. It made sense but it went against every fibre of my being.

  Poulson brought up three mugs of something hot. Harry took a sip and wrinkled his brow. "What the hell is this?"

  Poulson grinned cheerfully. "No idea but it was in a pot in the galley. I tasted it; it seemed all right to me and I heated it up."

  I recognised the tastes. "I think it is a malted drink. Think of it as German cocoa."

  Poulson shook his head sadly, "No rum though Sarge, never mind."

  I raised my mug to them, "Here's to you two. You have done really well. I couldn't have asked for more. I shall mention you in my report. You deserve some recognition for this. There might be a stripe or two." Promotion meant more pay.

  "We are just like you, Sarge, we just did our job."