ACCOUNT OF ESCAPE OF 1877817 Sapper PARKER, Alfred RE, 11 SASB (Paratroops).

MOST SECRET.

M.I.9/S/P.G.(Italy) 1565.

RELEASED FROM SULMONA, CAPTURED BY GERMANS AND ESCAPED.

The information in this report is to be treated as MOST SECRET.

ACCOUNT OF ESCAPE OF 1877817. Sapper PARKER, Alfred. R.E., 11 S.A.S.B. (Paratroops).

Captured: Nr NAPLES, 15 Feb 41.                    Released: 10 Sept 43.

Left: TARANTO, 18 Oct 43.                             Arrived: LONDON, 6 Nov 43.

Date of Birth: 21 Mar 18.                                  Peacetime Profession: Motor Mechanic.

Army Service: Volunteered 4 Sep 39.                Private Address: 103 Ellesmere Road, Sheffield 4.

1941. CAPTURE. Other Members of Section:- Capt. Daly. Sapper. Prior. Sapper Tomlin and another Sapper.

10/11 Feb. We landed by parachute at about midnight on 10 Feb 41, part of a special operation to blow up the aqueduct in the DROGENA GORGE. The operation was partly successful. We were unfortunately “tipped out” into the wrong gorge. While we were making our way to DROGENA GORGE at about 0100 hrs (11 Feb), we heard explosions and guessed that the aqueduct had been blown. We altered our course for the coast and the pre-arranged rendezvous at the mouth of the River SEALI. On 11 Feb we sounds of pursuit and of dogs. We therefore lay up in a ravine by day and marched by night.

On the night of 13 Feb we ran into a snow storm and lost our direction, travelling in a circle. In consequence we were then well behind time. We had to be at the rendezvous at 2200 hrs on 16 Feb. At dawn on 16 Feb we were 18 miles from the rendezvous and short of food. Therefore Capt. DALY decided that we must walk by day, and at 1100 hrs we were captured by a  mixture of soldiers, carabinieri and civilians. We told them we were German airmen on special duty carrying despatches and had to be in NAPLES by 1400 hrs.

16 Feb. NAPLES. We asked for a car. All went well until the local mayor arrived. He asked for papers. None being forthcoming, we were handcuffed and chained and taken by car to a H.Q. in NAPLES.

We were searched, interrogated and even threatened with being shot. Apparently in consequence of a skirmish with our main party two civilians had been shot and died. To all questions I replied, “I can’t say”. This eventually stopped the questioning, although all sorts of tricks were employed, food, cigarettes and drinks being offered.

That night we were moved to a civilian jail. Our officer was taken away separately. Three of us were in one cell, the fourth in another cell. Until 22 Feb we were kept there, having had our fingerprints and photographs taken. Only one meal per day was given to us. During this period I was in solitary confinement for three days, and was then taken out and again interrogated.

On 22 Feb I was taken out and put in a military prison, also in NAPLES. There were other parachutists there. This prison was bounded by 25 ft high stone wall with patrol posts. Escape was impossible. In the search of our clothing the maps, money, and saws were found – in fact the searchers seemed to know where to look – but the compass collar stud and needle were not discovered. We stayed here until 2 Oct.

3 Oct. SULMONA. On 2 Oct we were taken in darkness by train and arrived in SULMONA on 3 Oct. All paratroops were contained in a separate compound for five or six weeks.

1941 – 1943. In SULMONA all escape plans seemed to go astray. It was suspected that there were informers. Small parties went out of the camp to work, but only occasionally.

The main work done was within the camp confines on a football pitch and a baseball ground. At al times we were heavily guarded.

In summer the food was fairly reasonable; in winter we nearly starved. Once I ate a cat, being pretty desperate. Red Cross parcels did not get through in winter. The Italians explained this as owing to lack of transport. The Italian guards did everything possible to foster quarrels amongst the prisoners.

One could always tell fluctuations in the war by the treatment given to us by the Italians. On their successes, the prisoners suffered accordingly, as they had reverses so our treatment improved. I gathered the impression that the Italians never really expected to win.

1943. 10 Sep. RELEASE. On 10 Sep 43 the S.B.O. took over the camp. At a parade he stated arms would likely be received. No one was to escape. No one would be sent to GERMANY. The same night 20 x O.R’s went off on their own. On 12 Sep the camp evacuated to the foothills. L/Cpl. G. Dent, Royal Sigs, and I were together and we got separated from the main body. We saw German trucks in the distance, and decided to walk back towards the camp. We met a Sjt who told us that the camp was surrounded, and that we should make for BARI or NAPLES.

We marched until 23 Sep, getting food and civilian clothing from farms. Often we were warned by farmers where German troops were located.

23 Sep. CAPTURE. On the 23 Sep, when about 5 miles south of CERIGNOLA, we walked behind a machine gun post and were captured by Germans. With us at this time were two Italians who wanted to join our Army. More Italians having been rounded up, we were marched to a H.Q. There we were interrogated together. DENT and I said nothing and passed for Italians. We were locked in a room. A short time later, a sentry appeared and beckoned two of us. DENT and one of the Italians went out, two minutes later four shots were heard and a scream. (NOTE: DENT’s home address is:- MICKLETON, BARNETCASTLE, Co Durham). When my turn came I walked out and said “I’m English”. I was taken to one side. The rest of the Italians, about 10 in all, were shot.

I was then taken to another H.Q. and when interrogated I told the I.O. that my friend DENT had been shot. I then landed up with a small section H.Q. and travelled around with them until being joined up with 23 new British P/W and one U.S. airman (1st Lieut. WILLIAMS).

5 Oct. ESCAPE. On 5 Oct the 25 of us were handed over to the German Field Police just before dusk and taken off in a lorry. The lorry some time later got ditched, and in the fuss I slipped off into the dark. I heard some bursts of Tommy gun fire. I guessed that 1st Lieut. WILLIAMS at least had also escaped. He had been talking of that from his capture. I knew the general direction of the front was East, but owing to the cloudy night I lost my bearings. Just before dawn I found a haystack and hid there. I was wakened by a shepherd who led me up a valley and pointed out my direction.

After this I found much difficulty in convincing Italian peasants when I asked for food that I was English, owing t the fact that I was wearing a German tunic which had been given to me by my last captors. Eventually I got civilian clothes and on the head f one valley about 9 Oct I watched the American Air Force ‘beat up’ German positions.

I dodged about sleeping in farms until 11 Oct when I set off for the British lines.

I reported to a Bn of K.O.Y.L.I. and the first man I met was a friend of mine who lived about ¼ mile away from my own home.

On 12 Oct I was sent to FOGGIA by Freed Movement Control. There I was interrogated. I was able to give some information about Germans in some villages. I was then sent to TARANTO. On 18 Oct I sailed to BIZERTA, arriving there on 22 Oct. As there was going to be a considerable delay before I got a train, I hitch-hiked to TUNIS on 25 Oct and there got a plane for ALGIERS. I left ALGIERS by boat on 27 Oct and arrived LIVERPOOL 6 Nov.