大象传媒

Barry Callaghan was born in Leicester in 1921. In his story of his experiences of World War 2 he tells how he was working on his godfather's farm in 1939, aged 18. He joined the RAF, trained in Georgia and served in various locations, mainly North Africa and Italy. In 1944 he was shot down over Yugoslavia and with the help of partisans evaded the Germans and returned to Italy after eight days. He wrote his account of that episode almost immediately in a school exercise book "borrowed" from the girls' school where he was billeted. That account is reproduced here. His full account of the war is in a separate story (RAF 32 Squadron). After the war he settled on a farm in Cornwall, married and raised a family. Like many people, he didn't talk much about the war but in later years he set a full account out as he remembered it, written in the same exercise book. He died this year, 2005, on the first day of Spring.

April 2nd
Bailed out 2 miles East Loriste (Zagorje Peninsula) chute opened and straight into branches. German mule drivers looking for me, so left my chute and made uphill somewhat faster than usual. Bush very thick and about 10 feet high 鈥� Jerries gave up after about an hour and a half and heard the mules move off down the trail. Eventually crossed the road found a well and filled my water bottle, (also saw two or three lots of pack mules moving up and down the trail) made for the northern coast of the peninsula to look for a boat, but whole coastline from there to western tip bare. Ground wholly rock, and scrub three or four foot high. Approx. half an hour before dark approached an old peasant woman and asked her to fill my water bottle. Taken inside, fed, and introduced all round, after dark taken up two or three miles into the hills and hidden in hollow wall shored up with timber. (Walled Gardens also used during WWI)

April 3rd
Fed at regular intervals thro鈥檕ut the day- also plenty of Vino. At nightfall taken down to shore to await boat from 鈥� to take me to 鈥�. Boat did not arrive, returned to hollow wall just before dawn.

April 4th
Stayed in wall all day- no incidents. Told that Germans are searching for me.

April 5th
Nothing to report during day - diet for this period consisted of Figs, Almonds, Brown bread, Biscuits, Dried kidney beans, Eggs- apparently roasted in hot embers, and once some type of cabbage stewed with goats meat. To drink Vino, Rackia and in the mornings a billycan of coffee (made I think out of acorns).

Just before dark fetched out and introduced to girl Partisan complete with certificate signed by Big Cheese of Yugoslav National Army of Liberation. Covered my head and shoulders with big woollen shawl and led me down hillside with Germans on opposite number 鈥� most unpleasant feeling as I believe these fellows are issued with rifles. Once out of sight of Germans, met by two more Partisans and greeted with Communist salute, also given sandals to wear instead of my flying boots which make too much noise on rocks and have no grip on hillside etc. Crossed over to southern coast at fast walk. Arrived approx. 10:45pm. After recco. entered house on cliffs above water and drank Vino. Intended to stay there for night but at 11:15 six more Partisans entered having come over from Korcula to collect me. All piled into boat and started. Halfway across engine of German patrol boat was heard somewhere near. Partisans redoubled their efforts and we reached Northern shore of Korcula without mishap.
After another hours walk arrived at bivouac made of Italian groundsheets. Bush in this region twenty feet high.

April 6th
Slept for most of the day apart from eating at about 2pm consisting of British rations of white bread and weaners. Set off for Southern side of Island at dusk- given grenade- two Partisans with stens in front- gap of hundred yards and then remainders of partisan band and about a dozen women and children with belongings, being evacuated. No incidents and arrived at coast soon after midnight, challenged there by Partisan guard 鈥� many more evacuees sleeping in nearby bushes on cliffs awaiting boat.
Boat arrived at about 12:30 (Motor Boat) and all on board, journey about two and a half hours very cold when out of shelter of coastline. Arrived at Lagosta and partisans take me to house occupied by Commando Major stranded for night.

April 7th
Trip with Commando round island in L.C.I. Returned before dusk. Gave report to Island Partisan Commandant and left in L.C.I. at 10:00 o鈥檆lock. Picked up M.L. outside harbour and transferred to it. Landed at Komitsa approx. 3 am and scrounged bed with Commandos.

April 8th
Reported to Scotty who sent off signal to mainland to that effect.

April 11th
Left for mainland in Minesweeper (鈥淧rodigal鈥�)

April 12th
Arrived at Squadron at mid-day.

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