SAS in Tuscany 1943-1945 by Brian Lett

Author:Brian Lett [Lett, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Elite, Espionage & Intelligence, World War 2
ISBN: 9781844686360
Amazon: B008O8I0R0
Publisher: Pen & Sword
Published: 2012-07-23T04:00:00+00:00

16

Attacks and Disasters: The First Week

It is possible to reconstruct many of the events of Operation Galia from the original source documentation, much of which remains available at the National Archives in Kew, London, and at the National Archives in Washington. This includes the Galia debrief report (which was written hurriedly by Bob Walker Brown and was only ever intended to be a preliminary report), the Mission Blundell Violet report by Gordon Lett, the SAS radio message logs where they still exist, and the despatches sent through the lines by Gordon Lett to Charles Macintosh. The author has also had access to the original written messages retained by Major General Dany Bucchioni, OBE, and has relied upon Gordon Lett's book Rossano, which was published in English in 1955, and his earlier book Vallata in Fiamme (Valley in Flames), which was published in Italian in February 1949. Vallata in Fiamme was addressed directly to the people of Rossano and to Lett's partisan friends.

The author has also conducted interviews with both British and Italian veterans of Operation Galia and has studied accounts written, sometimes many years after the war, by British and Italians who were there. There are many different strands to the story.

Walker Brown was keen to move into action with all possible speed. It was obvious, and intended, that news of the drop should reach the enemy fairly quickly. One of the tactical advantages of splitting into small groups and attacking different objectives was that it would create the impression that the commando force was much larger than, in fact, it was. The plan, as reflected in the nominal roll of personnel, was that the party should divide into six sticks: Troop HQ (seven men), Sticks Nos 1 to 4, which comprised five men each and Stick No. 5, which had six men.

At this stage, the weapons carried by the Troop comprised American Winchester Carbines (a favoured and reliable weapon), a 3-inch mortar, Bren machine guns, and assorted side arms. Vickers heavy machine guns and ammunition were dropped in later upon request. The only trained mortar bombers in the Troop were Walker Brown himself and Parachutist Gordon ‘Lofty’ Rose; the only trained Vickers heavy machine gunners were Sergeant Rookes and Corporal Larley.

On 27 December, Lett was informed that his radio, miles away at Albareto in the Gotra valley where reception was better, was back in contact with base. Walker Brown, however, in the valley of Rossano, was unable at first to make any radio contact. His main radio operators, Cunningham and Robinson, remained with HQ Troop at all times. One radio set was in regular use, the other was kept as a spare. In bad weather, reception within the Rossano valley was often poor and Ted Robinson recalls being ordered to slog out of the valley up to the surrounding mountain ridges in order to try to get a signal.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.