Greetings All! I have just been given my late Dad's papers from WW2. In there I found things that I wasn't expecting, he wasnt one to talk much about what happened during WW2. I found a picture, that I had always understood to have been taken prior to Operation Pomegranate. In the picture are Tom Cox, my Dad, S.M Hay, "Sweeney Todd" and Ltd Hughes. Much to my surprise on the back of the picture, in Tom's writing it says ' Monopoli Italy 1943. Can anyone help me with a bit of info? Cheers Julia
Welcome Julia, this from a post from Jedburgh, should explain why he was there. Supplies of arms and food for the partisans were organised by No 1 Special Force HQ at Monopoli, south of Bari, from where Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents with the partisans and detachments of 2nd Special Air Service Regiment were also controlled. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/book-reviews/42455-new-books-special-ops-italy.html And I assume you meant Lt Hughes, James Quentin (Jimmy) Hughes - SAS - Special Forces - Roll Of Honour
Is this why your confused? 2-"Op Pomegranate"s 1944 Operation Pomegranate : 1944 - British attack in Normandy in support of Operation Goodwood. Operation Pomegranate : 1944 - British Special Air Service (SAS) raid against the airfield at San Egidio, Italy in support of Operation Shingle Best Rob
Thanks for that info, it makes it clearer, as to why it said Monopoli. I dont have much info about ops that he went on with the Hereford mob. As with many of his generation he didnt want to talk about it. Strange though that the picture was taken in Bari, and we all lived in the Barry area for many years! Any idea where I can find out more? I have his Army number, and know that he was is the Welsh Guards as well. Julia
Operation Pomegranate, as Rob wrote, was a raid planned against San Egidio airfield near Perugia (Italy) in support of Operation Shingle (the Anzio landing). San Egidio airport was a Luftwaffe reconnaissance aircraft base. The raid started on 12/01/1944 with an SAS team dropped near Colpiccione by a USAAF aircraft that crashed against Monte Tezio few minutes later. Germans were aware that something was happening because a single aircraft was detetcted in spite of a diversionary bombing conducted on the airfield. During the Tiber river crossing the team was disbanded and only two of the members (Maj. Widdrington M.C. and Lt. Hughes) reached the airfield and conducted the sabotage against seven parked aircraft during the night of 17/18 January. During the action one of the Lewes bombs exploded killing Maj. Widdrington and badly wounding Lt. Hughes that was captured and months later escaped and rejoined the friendly lines.