Behind Enemy Lines

by Hosker, Griff

  He knocked on the Major's door. "Come."

  When I entered I saw a flag lieutenant and an Admiral. The Major said, "This is Sergeant Tom Harsker, Admiral. The one you have been keen to meet."

  Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten had been a destroyer captain who had lost a ship at Crete. He was now in overall command of Combined Operations. I never expected to actually meet him. He was related to the King and Queen!

  He stood and held out his hand, "I am damned proud to shake your hand young man. You have done great things. I was speaking to your father about you yesterday. He is damned proud too."

  "Thank you, sir."

  "Take a seat. Hugo, give the sergeant your chair. I want to pick your brains." He opened a gold cigarette case, "Smoke?"

  "No thank you, sir."

  He nodded, "I forgot, your father told me." He lit one and then said, "I shall come straight to the point. I like what you have been doing. More than that I want it to be a model we use elsewhere. You seem to handle yourself well behind enemy lines. In fact my people tell me that you have survived longer behind enemy lines than anyone else." He pointed at a map of France which was on the wall with his cigarette. "And that began on the retreat to Dunkirk. Now I have my own ideas about that. I think your skill with languages added to your natural skills as a commando make you the perfect material for what we have in mind." He paused and stubbed out the cigarette. "Well?"

  I was confused, "I am not certain what you are asking, sir. Do you want me to be an agent behind enemy lines?"

  He laughed, "Good God no! We have SOE cloak and dagger merchants for that sort of thing. No I want you to lead a small team to perform raids behind the enemy lines."

  "But that is what we all do in the commandos."

  "True but you will be operating directly under me. Major Foster here will pass my instructions on to you. This is not the large scale raids like St. Nazaire or the Lofoten Islands. This is smaller, secret raids right under Jerry's nose." He stubbed a cigarette out and leaned forward. "The thing is this wouldn't have worked had you not captured that E-Boat. That was a brilliant move, by the way. We are having her repaired and crewed by handpicked men from the Royal Navy. The same sort of chaps you have been sailing with. She will be able to take you in easier and more safely and bring you out. We have a young Lieutenant for her and he speaks perfect German. We want you to be ghosts behind enemy lines. We want you to appear and disappear at will. What do you say?"

  "I think it is a good idea, Admiral, but I think you overestimate the abilities of this humble sergeant."

  He smiled and nodded to the Major, "And that is where you are wrong Second Lieutenant Harsker."

  Major Foster came over, shook my hand and handed me my pips. "Well done, Tom. This was decided before you went to St. Nazaire. But the Admiral's new role is perfect."

  The Admiral continued. "You will pick your own section. I think that eight would be the optimum number to operate behind the lines. You have shown us the benefit of using a small closely knit unit." I nodded. I already knew who the men were. "Now choose your men and give them a seven day furlough. You and Major Foster will come with me to London. I want you to see the set up there and it will be easier to get your uniform sorted out. Then back to Falmouth. You, I am afraid, will get no leave. You will meet Lieutenant Jorgenson there. He is the captain of the E-boat and when your men return we will have a working up exercise. I want you ready to go back to France as soon as possible. We have a mission for you already. The details are still being worked out but you have shown that you are what we need in the Commandos. You think on your feet and that is what we need." He smiled, "I think your Sergeant Major has more details for you. We leave in an hour."

  I discovered that Lord Louis was always this way. He spoke calmly and pleasantly but grass did not grow beneath his feet. Reg Dean had the biggest smile I have ever seen. "Well done, Lieutenant Harsker! Would you allow me to shake you by the hand?" His handshake showed that his sentiments were genuine. "It is good to see a good NCO get promoted. " He rubbed his hands. "Now then sir, I understand you will be picking your team?

  "I believe so. I need eight men. I assume that means NCOs too."

  He nodded. "The Major and I have already had a discussion. I know his thinking."

  "You want some of my men for other sections."

  "Bang on, sir. To be precise the major wants Ken Curtis. He is perfect sergeant material. We want him to take over Horace Maguire's section. His injury will keep him sidelined for a while."

  I nodded, "Then I would want Paul Poulson as my Sergeant and Harry Gowland as either Corporal or Lance Sergeant." The Sergeant Major grinned. "Go ahead, Reg, tell me what you and the Major have come up with."

  "Just as you said, sir, and George Lowe as your Corporal."

  "That gives me three of my men. I have Hewitt, Groves, Fletcher, and Crowe. I am one short."

  I think the Major said eight including you, sir. I might be wrong..."

  "You are probably right. That makes sense. I confess it came as quite a shock to me. I had better go and tell them. I leave in an hour." I suddenly remembered Mrs Bailey. "I had better send a message to Mrs Bailey. She was making a nice stew for us."

  "Don't worry sir. I will tell her. Are you still going to use the same billet?"

  "The rank has changed, Sergeant Major, not the man."

  He smiled, "Aye you are right there."

  "I'll be off and thanks, Sergeant Major. I know that you put a good word in for me."

  He shrugged, "I was just thinking of the Troop, sir and it is no more than you deserve."

  The men were just heading for the canteen when I saw them. The nearby lecture hall was empty. "Poulson could you bring the men over here please I need to speak with them."

  "Right Sarge."

  I sat on the table at the front. "I have some little bits of news to give to you. Private Poulson, you are now Sergeant Poulson. Private Lowe you are now promoted to Corporal. When Harry is released from hospital he will be lance sergeant."

  I was disappointed in their reaction. You would have thought they had been demoted.

  "Did you not hear what I said? You are both promoted."

  "Yes Sarge but that means you must be moving off. We would rather be privates with you as the sergeant, Sarge."

  Now I understood. "I am not leaving you,. You do not get rid of me as easily as that. I have been promoted to Lieutenant."

  Their reaction said it all. It was as though they had won the football pools. I held up my hands to quieten them. "I do not have a lot of time. I am going to London to be briefed but there is more. We are to be a special unit under the direct command of Major Foster. You cannot divulge to the other sections what we are about. We will be operating largely behind enemy lines. While I am away you need to improve your language skills, communication and demolition skills. However," I smiled, "Before then you all have a seven day leave. Sergeant Major Dean has your travel warrants. I would make the most of it. I don't think we will get a second one any time soon."

  Thank you, Lieutenant Harsker!" They chorused it like children in a school. Then they saluted me. I had no hat and so I just stood to attention.

  Paul Poulson hung back, "Thank you for this, sir. I hope I am ready for it. I will try not to let you down."

  "After what we have been through that is impossible, Sergeant."

  He grinned, "Me mam will be dead proud! I can't wait to tell her."

  Chapter 17

  The Sunderland was waiting for us in Falmouth. I wondered if it was the same one which had come to our aid. Probably. The Major and Lord Louis sat together and I sat next to Flag Lieutenant William Tree-Johnson. When we were airborne he asked, "What is it like? In action I mean. I know you have the MM, I checked your records. What is it like knowing you could be shot at any time or captured?"

  "I don't know." He gave me a queer look. "No I am not being funny. You have no time to think and reflect you just react. Something happens and you try to do some
thing so that the lads you lead don't die and the mission is successful. Then, when you are on your way home you wonder how in God's name you did what you did."

  "I would love to take part in a raid."

  "Show me your hands."

  He held them out. "What have my hands got to do with it?"

  "My hands were like that before I joined up in thirty nine. Look at mine now. They are gnarly and tough as leather. They have sunk daggers into men's throats and they have clung from cliffs. I am afraid that you would need Commando training and that is rigorous. You would need so much time and then you would need the experience. It is not for everybody. I have seen men who I thought would be perfect material for commandos and they have not made it."

  "I could do that."

  "And then lead men who will have forgotten more than you know about fighting. The Germans we fight are not always noble and honourable. I have seen the results of the work of the Waffen SS. They are nasty bastards. Stay where you are; that is my advice."

  "But I just help his lordship."

  "And from what I have seen his lordship might just make the difference in this war. I like him."

  "He is inspirational. He is related to the King don't you know?"

  "I did."

  We sat in silence and then he said, "Is it true your father won the VC and was a fighter ace in the Great War?"

  "He is fairly inspirational himself, yes.."

  "God, what I would give to be a member of your family."

  We did not land in London itself. There were too many barrage balloons but we landed instead, close to Essex where a car waited to whisk us into Central London. Lord Louis and Major Foster had spent a great deal of time talking close together. I wondered what this mission would entail. It seemed obvious to me that they were going over some of the details of the operation. As we headed into central London, a depressing sight these days as many beautiful buildings had been destroyed and everything appeared wrapped up like some sort of parcel, Lord Louis said, "Would you care to stay with me in my house, Lieutenant Harsker?"

  "I believe you said my father was in town?"

  "Yes he is."

  "Then I shall stay with him. I haven't seen him since Christmas."

  "Of course, how remiss of me. I should have realised. Well if you give the driver the address he will take you there when he has dropped us off and pick you up tomorrow at nine. I fear it will be your busy day. I am afraid you won't have the time to have a uniform made tomorrow; still the day after should be fine."

  I knew I should have telephoned my father but I could gain entry by using the spare key. Even without that I was certain that, as a commando, I would be able to break in. As it turned out I did not need to do either. I rang the doorbell and he answered. He did not seem surprised to see me. "Ah Tom. Good to see you. The Admiral said he was going to see you. I thought you might drop in."

  I dropped my Bergen in the hall. "Did he give you the news then?"

  "News? I am not certain. He said he had a role for you, sounded all very hush hush."

  "I have been promoted. I am a second lieutenant and I have my own unit."

  It was a lovely moment for he was genuinely pleased. He hugged me. "Then tonight we celebrate and tomorrow I shall take you to my tailors and have you a uniform made."

  "Sorry, Dad. Tomorrow I have meetings all day with the Admiral. Perhaps the day after?"

  He nodded, "Good. Then we shall dine at my club. It is the only place in London these days where you can get a decent meal and the cellar is still excellent."

  He was right and both the meal and the wine were excellent. However I still regretted not enjoying Mrs Bailey's stew. I hoped that Sergeant Major Dean had made my apologies. Once back in the flat Dad opened a good port and decanted it. "I had been saving this for a special occasion. This seems like one!"

  Now that we were alone I told him of the St. Nazaire raid and the E-Boat. I saw him frown when I mentioned the 110s. "You were bloody lucky there, Tom. They are bloody useless against a Spit or a Hurricane but they are lethal against ground targets."

  "There wasn't a great deal we could have done. You taught me never to give up but I thought we were dead in the water."

  He nodded, "Never tell your mother I said that!"

  I laughed, "Of course not! She is bad enough as it is."

  "Be fair to her. It is harder sitting at home and worrying than being out there and enduring the danger."

  "You are right."

  "So what does Lord Louis have in mind for you?"

  "We are going to use the E-boat to land us behind lines and create mayhem although the first mission, next month, appears to be something bigger than that. I shall find out tomorrow."

  He nodded, "Are you happy with your team?"

  "The commandos I know. They are my section and I picked them all. Four of them are young and new but they are good lads. The navy boys are an unknown quantity but I have yet to be let down by the Jacks."

  "We will be involved too."

  "So you knew about this?"

  "No, Tom, Lord Louis wants more cooperation from the RAF and Coastal Command. I have been asked to expedite it. Some of the senior RAF officers are a bit too protective about their precious aeroplanes. They don't see we are all part of the same team. We have some good night fighters these days and we shall use those to provide air cover. I am pleased you told me what you did. I shall be able to give the pilots a clearer picture of what they have to do."

  "So you will be directly involved?"

  "No, I shall just set it up and brief them. Then it is back to North Africa for me. We are planning a push across the desert. Now that the Yanks are joining us we can go on the offensive a little more."

  We talked until half the decanter was gone and I must have fallen asleep. When I awoke, at four o'clock, I was undressed on the sofa with a blanket over me.

  Before I left the next morning, Dad gave me a key. "I might not be in when you return but we shall have dinner and tomorrow I will find some time to take you to my tailors."

  The room in the Ministry had high security. Apart from the Admiral, his aide and the Major, there were four senior army officers and Lord Lovat. He looked out of place. He was more like a country gentleman and the formal surroundings seemed not to fit him.

  "Gentlemen this is Lieutenant Harsker. He is vital to the plan I am putting in place. I will not insult you by swearing you to secrecy. All of you have been appointed by me. If I can't trust you... well." He stood and went to a map. He took a pointer. "This is Europe. Now that our cousins are joining us we can think about invading. I want a plan from you gentleman. By autumn I want to have landed an invasion force in Europe. We will not stay but I want us to go in and capture a port. The operation will be a way for us to learn what we can and can't do." I think I was the only one who was surprised. He continued. "Lord Lovat and Major Foster have already given me their ideas. I want some from you." He pointed to me. This young man will land with his men at the site we choose and reconnoitre the ground. This needs more than aerial photographs. This needs boots on the ground."

  Lord Lovat's Scottish burr sounded as anachronistic as Lord Lovat himself as he said, "Rubber soled shoes, my lord."

  "What?"

  "My chaps don't wear boots. Too noisy. Rubber soled shoes!"

  He laughed, "Well whatever the footwear Lieutenant Harsker will be our eyes on the target."

  "How about Boulogne? It is a short hop over the Channel and our guns in Dover could support the attack."

  "As Lieutenant Harsker can tell you that part of the coast bristles with heavy guns and the Germans are busy fortifying it. They see that as their most vulnerable coast."

  Another general nodded. "Then we either think of north of Boulogne or south." The Admiral nodded. "North is not feasible. The ports are not on the coast. We need a port which sits right there on the coastline."

  The first general said, "Then it has to be Dieppe."

  I saw Major Foster and Lord
Lovat exchange a smile and the Admiral said, "Exactly what the commandos said. Good. Then you gentlemen can come up with the plan. You, Lieutenant Harsker have your target. Major Foster will take you to operations so that you get a picture of what we do here at this end. The code name for this operation is Operation Rutter. We will work out more of the details."

  Major Foster said, as he closed the door, "Sorry I couldn't give you a heads up on all this, Tom. I suggested you when Lord Louis was appointed but he is a careful man and he had you checked out thoroughly. Naturally you passed with flying colours."

  He led me down to the basement. It was festooned with radios and maps. WAAFs and WRENs occupied the desks and soldiers manned the radios. On the wall were huge maps and there was a table which also had a map of the coast of France and the Low Countries. They largely ignored me. I was a lowly sergeant and I daresay much higher ranks normally visited.

  "Here they monitor the radio traffic and pass messages sent by you or the radio operator in the E-Boat. For our purposes that is one and the same.."

  "But we don't use radios."

  "You will now. You will have to have two of your lads trained as signallers and radio operators. As you have demonstrated, sometimes it is impossible to make a rendezvous. Now you can tell us. One of these radio operators and one of the female service personnel will be allocated to your team. One of them will always be available to speak with you. They will be on duty for as long as you are in France or the Low Countries or wherever. They will get to know you. This is important, Tom, we don't want you to be captured and used. They will get to know you. They will be as much part of the team as the crew of the E-Boat. I want nuances in your words to be picked up. That way, heaven forbid, if you are captured then you can let us know without telling us."

  We spent an hour talking to them. We spent a great deal of time looking at the maps and discussing how we would operate and what we would need. It took a long time. Major Foster finally allowed me to return to my father's flat. I had two days before I had to return to meet with the Major, have my final briefing and then head back to Falmouth.