August 1944
As July gave way to August, 211 Bty were taking part in Operation Decompose II. One of the only personal accounts of 111 Fd Regt’s time on Vis can be found in the pamphlet “Adriatic Venture” at the Imperial War Museum Archive. Regarding island life, the pamphlet states:
“Life on Vis was not, of course, all raids. Between operations there was plenty of time to spare and in many respects the island proved an ideal place to spend the summer. Before the weather became too hot there was plenty of football. The Regiment has always been proud of its football team and on Vis it excelled itself. The Island Knock-Out competition produced some formidable opponents and some exciting matches. A semi-final in which the Regiment defeated one of the Commando units was perhaps the high spot as far as the football went, but for excitement the final was unrivaled. After a tremendous match the Regiment beat the local battalion of the Highland Light Infantry by 4 goals to 2.
In the Island Swimming Gala we were no less successful. Swimming was delightful on Vis, where we has our own ‘bathing resort’ called Rukavac, a charming little fishing village. Here one of the great attractions was the Regimental Pub – ‘The Joiners Arms’ (shades of Bolton, Lancs!) – where you could buy tea and buns in the afternoon or a glass of wine in the evening.
Then there was the Gymkhana, This event, organised by the Regiment, to which the whole garrison of the island – British and Yugoslav – was invited, might be described as the social success of the season. Everyone turned out, from Brigadiers to the Partisan Brass Band and events included Jeep driving contests, mule racing and – above all – the ‘Vis stakes’, in which the Batteries competed in assembling and firing 25 Pounders which had previously been dismantled and laid out in the area of the smallest type of landing craft. This sporting event is said to have completely won over the Garrison Commander to the idea of using our guns on raiding parties.
All in all, life on Vis was considered by most of us a thoroughly enjoyable experience. We found that the isolation of the place, the lack of formal entertainments (though cinemas did, after a time, operate in the two little towns), were more than compensated by other things. The spirit of co-operation on the island was excellent: the strange assortment of units thrown together for the first time got along admirably. We got to know more of the other services – particularly the Navy – than ever before. We were all very proud of Vis. If half-a-dozen B24 Liberators landed on the airstrip on their way back from a mission (they only landed if they were in trouble and couldn’t reach their base) everyone on the island was concerned. When the Partisans held a national celebration, everyone on the island joined in.”
Excerpt from “Adriatic Venture – The Story of 111th Field Regiment R.A. in Italy, Jugoslavia and Albania”.
| 1st August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| 04:00hrs – Operation “Decompose II” main body – 211 Fd Bty RA + 8 x 25pdrs arrived LAGOSTA island. All boats concealing in a cove and lay up during daylight. |
| 20:00hrs – Convoy departed |
““Well we sailed on the 31st July at evening and arrived at a tiny island, Lagosta, early on August first. I remember saying to someone: “What a fine way to spend a bank holiday”. In a way it really was. We bathed and sunbathed during the whole of the beautiful day in a most wonderful cove – two or three gunboats, the L.C.I. and a few small landing craft. We sailed at eight-thirty that night and crawled at about five knots, zigzag fashion. We had to take turns to look out although actually none of us slept a wink.
It was quiet on the L.C.I. now – all the gunners were in landing craft, being towed behind us. “Our crew” consisted of Wally Smith and Mickey Pink wireless operators. George Mason I/C of the party. Myself, spare, just wanting to have a look at the place and half-a dozen volunteer gunners to fire the blanks.””
Diary entry from 1st August 1944 from Sgt Observer Frederick Sidney Williams, 212 Bty, 111 Fd Regt in his family’s memoirs “Our Fred’s War”.
| 2nd August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| 00:30hrs – Landings began at LUMBARDA – Korcula Island |
| 05:30hrs – Guns opened fire on targets in KORCULA town and OREBIC. |
| 08:50hrs – “Cease firing – empty guns”. Guns and personnel re-embarked and evacuated without mishap. |
| 09:30hrs – Convoy reassembled and said for VIS island. |
| 21:00hrs – Convoy returned RUKAVAC |
| 3rd August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| Guns unloaded from RCL’s and re-established in gun positions. Message received “Major Turner and OP party reached Lagosta from Korcula”. |
Medals awarded to Major Turner and Gunner Andrews
On 2nd August, during Operation “Decompose II”, Major P. Wilson along with 5 other ranks from 211 Bty and 4 Partisan fighters left their hide in the early evening light to the road connecting Postrana with Pupnat. The road, although only a single carriage-way, had a fair surface and was flanked on one side by an intermittent stone wall with thick thorn bushes on the other. Major Wilson and his men’s intent was to cut and booby-trap the communication cable that ran along the northern edge of the road.
As the group approached the road around 20:30hrs, they were caught off guard by an enemy Jeep containing 4 Germans traveling at speed along the road. Too far away to be engaged, the Jeep passed unscathed. Once the men reached the road, they set themselves near the thick bushes about 5yrds from the edge of the road and divided themselves into 2 groups. On the left were the 4 Partisan fighters and 2 British soldiers armed with sub-machine guns, on the right was Major Wilson with the remaining 3 British men, armed with grenades, rifles and sub-machine guns
The men did not have to wait in their ambush position long. At 20:50hrs, a vehicle was heard approaching from Pupnat – a Jeep with 2 German soldiers in. Major Turner’s group opened fire as it drew level with them, and threw a couple of grenades at the vehicle for good measure, which subsequently accelerated before crashing into a wall some hundred yards down the road.
Chasing their quarry, the men in Major Turner’s section dashed through the hedges lining the road towards the now stationary Jeep. The German passenger was stood at the back of the Jeep and shouted to Major Turner not to fire as his driver was injured. Major Turner yelled at the German to surrender but he froze as if waiting for something.
At this moment, the sound of a larger vehicle could be heard approaching. The German passenger who had been held a gun point dove for the horn on his jeep to alert his comrades in the other vehicle. One of Major Turner’s men raised their weapon and shot the passenger who fell where he had once stood. Almost immediately a German 5-tonne truck full of infantry came around the corner.
What came next was a chaotic and frantic skirmish. Major Turner and his men turned about their heels and opened up on the approaching truck from the road, firing directly into the cab which brought the vehicle to a halt. The men of the other section who had remained covering the road ran and emptied the magazines of their sub-machine guns into the back of the truck from approximately 20yrds. To give an idea of the close proximity, the intelligence report states that a Grenade was thrown which hit a German in the head, bounced off and exploded in the road.
The remaining Germans quickly regrouped and opened up with heavy but inaccurate machine-gun fire, which prompted Major Turner and the rest of his group to hastily withdraw through the bushes. Although the Germans fired flares and sprayed the area with machine gun fire long after Major Turner’s group had left, they did not give chase. Miraculously, Major Turner and his men escaped with zero casualties, whereas they were able to confirm five Germans killed (including the passenger of the Jeep), an unknown number injured and two damaged vehicles.
For their action, Major Patrick Sutherland Turner was immediately granted a Military Cross (M.C.). Gunner John Winsby Andrews, one of the men that immediately engaged the rear of the truck with his sub-machine gun and grenades was said to have shown “courage and initiative of a high order” and was immediately awarded the Military Medal.
“We sighted Korcula about twelve-thirty, loosed the barges to make their own way ashore and put out again, a mile or two. At 5:23a.m. the guns opened up with ten rounds of gunfire at a German transit camp – what a bloody reveille. We, by this time, were sailing at about three knots boldly up and down off Orebic – the reply came soon, the bluff worked. At 5.35 a.m. the Gerry gunners let fly at the “destroyer” short but close. Meanwhile our boys were having a grand time, shooting up guns, camps, ammo dumps and E boats in Korcula harbour – too damned scared to come out.
Spitfire bombers came about eight and lent a hand with the good work. I wasn’t sorry when at nine-thirty a.m. they decided to call it a day – he had really gone to town on us and dropped rounds all around us. Our red bearded skipper remained quite unperturbed through it all and stuck to his course firmly.
Well we got the boys off ok; most of them wet through with having to wade ashore. Everyone slept on the way home, tired, but very content. Old McTiffin did very well on that job, he went to a tiny island in the middle of the night hidden under a pile of wood in a very tiny boat. A couple of days before it started in order to observe the fire. Major Turner took a party and ended up on the hills looking down into Korcula town. On his way back after the “party” he ambushed some Gerries, flinging grenades and Tommy bullets into the back of their truck. Lt. Barnes took Joe Yates and set off five days early to climb the Peljesac Mountains and look down into Orebic. They were on their knees when they got back.
A few days after I got back Danny sent for me and we had a private talk. He and I were to go on a recce on Brac looking for gun positions. We made ready to go and at the last minute word came that the spot had been reinforced by 300 SS troops – I’m rather glad we didn’t go.”
Diary entry from 2nd August 1944 from Sgt Observer Frederick Sidney Williams, 212 Bty, 111 Fd Regt in his family’s memoirs “Our Fred’s War”.
| 4th August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| Major Tuner and OP party returned to VIS. 17:00hrs – Officers miniature range practice |
| 5th August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| Captain McTiffin DSO and OP party returned from OP at BADIJA Island via KORKULA Island and LAGOSTA. 14:30hrs – Regimental sporting event – GYMKHANA |
| 9th August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| Second-in-Command Major W. H. Cheesman RA left VIS Island to report HQ LFA, thence to reece Northern Dalmatian Island. Lieutenant D. Evans (476 Bty) sent to West end PELJESAC to reece possible gun areas around LOVISTE with a view to shelling German garrison at PUPNAT (Korcula Island). |
| 11th August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| Lieutenant Evans returned, having lost some time on reece in avoiding German patrol about 40 strong, which visited LOVISTE. Artillery Exercise – Practice in “Y” target procedure (A.T. Volume III Pamphlet 12) in conjunction with 11 Troop RSR (75 mm) and 111 Fd Regt’s Troop of 75 mms. |
| 13th August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| Major E. M. Winterbottom and Lieutenant R. Idle (476 Bty) sent to PELJESAC to complete reece of gun area at LOVISTE, and OP areas to observe PUPNAT and to cover approach road from German Garrison at OREBIC. Accompanied also by reps of Highland Light Infantry and 2825 Fd Sqn RAF Regt – who would act as covering force in the operation. Captain F. D’A. Wilson (476 Bty) to obtain information about dispositions etc of PUPNAT Garrison and to reece OP areas overlooking same. Lieutenant T. P. Allen (Survey Officer) sent to LAGOSTA to act as Regimental “Forward Agent” with Partisan Sector V HQ. |
Medal awarded to Captain Francis d’Auberville Wilson
On 13th August 1944, Captain Francis d’Auberville Wilson of of 476 Bty, 111 Fd Regt left Vis in the late afternoon in a Motor Launch (a small Naval Vessel) bound for Grscica on the island of Korcula. Captain Wilson’s mission was to recce the German positions in the inland settlement of Pupnat in the east of the island to see if there were any suitable artillery targets for future raids.
Reaching Grscica some 7hrs later at 11pm, Captain Wilson found somewhere to bed down for the night before heading north and into the mountains inland for the Partisan HQ in Blato as dawn broke. Although very pretty with its limestone coloured houses, terracotta roof tiles and plentiful linden trees lining the streets, Blato was still in enemy hands and not a safe place to be. Arriving at the Partisan HQ, Captain Wilson, by way of an Partisan interpreter, asked the Commandant for a guide to take him to the area of Pupnat. Some hours later, a guide called Visko arrived and after some discussion, a plan was made to reach Pupnat before first light on the following day.
Later that day at 6pm, Captain Wilson and Visko headed on foot north east to the coastal area known as Babina Cove, a journey of approximately 7 miles. Acquiring a rowing boat, the pair set off in the fading light in an easterly direction. Unfortunately, the boat was soon found to not be particularly seaworthy and the pair turned back for land where they would sleep until dawn.
The next morning proved to be more fortuitous, with Visko procuring another rowing boat that they used to travel to Vaja Beach before traveling by foot inland to Racisie. Now in the enemy’s backyard, the pair had to move quickly and quietly to not alert any suspicion. Disaster almost struck on entering the village when a German patrol emerged from the south east. A local Partisan member, witnessing the situation unfolding in front of him, quickly ushered the pair into his house until the patrol had passed by.
Once the coast was clear, Captain Wilson and Visko set off along one of the valley bottom towards Kneza and began making notes on enemy positions; Machine gun nest of Point 560, a 15-strong enemy patrol walking around grid reference 457883. Once dusk fell, the pair found refuge in the house of a local resident.
As dawn broke on the morning , Captain Wilson knew that he was going to have to come up with a plan get a good look at the enemy garrison in Pupnat which was situated in a basin surrounded by hills and tree’s on all sides.
The pair left the house around 8am with a new addition, a girl from the house where they spent the night, all donning women’s clothes from head to toe. Upon reaching the crest of the hill, the group met two girls from Pupnat village. After a short discussion it was agreed that Captain Wilson should go with the two girls towards the garrison. With one girl walking slowing in front carrying a sack on her back, Captain Wilson and the other girl followed behind putting olive springs into the sack, all the while making extremely valuable observations within 200 yards the enemy positions. Once complete, Captain Wilson hurried back to Vis arriving at 10:15am the next day.
Captain Wilson’s extreme bravery was noted, given that he would have been executed on sight if caught, and he was awarded the Military Cross for his actions. The medal citation requested “no divulgence at any time” relating to the Captain Wilson’s tactics, likely for the fear that it may make women a target if the information were to fall into enemy hands.
| 14th August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| Captain J. C. S. Jeffrey RA joined Regt and appointed Instructor of Gunnery. |
| 16th August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| Artillery Exercise for forthcoming operation (now called “GRANDFATHER I”) involving 476 Bty and 11 Troop RSR with Force HQ and three OP’s and Captain D. C. Ross MC RSR acting as Flying OP in biplane kindly lent by “Partisan Air Force”. Major Winterbottom returned with his reece party from PELJESAC having witnessed ambush of German patrol to LOVISTE by Partisans in which 12 were killed and 19 prisoners captured. |
| 17th August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| Captain Wilson returned KORKULA reece Message received “Grandfather I postponed – air support not available until after Kitchenmaid”. |
| 19th August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| Major J. B. H. Daniel RA, Captain J. S. Cutress (212 Bty), Captain J. L. Hart (211 Bty), 2 Warrant Officers and 1 Sgt went on “Planning and Regimental Course” at CTC. |
| 21st August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| Major P. S. Turner RA (211 Bty) left to act as “BLATO liaison officer” on KORCULA to arrange Partisan guides to OP’s and to supervise the occupation and evacuation of OP parties. Signals party left for LAGOSTA to establish relay station. |
| 22nd August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| Exercise for Grandfather I, 476 Bty + 11 Troop RSR. Air OP, X, E and F OP’s and Force HQ. Second-in-Command Major W. H. Cheesman returned. |
| 23rd August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| Captain F. D’A. Wilson (F troop), Captain G. C. McLeod Cavey (E troop), Lieutenant M. L. Phillips MC (RSR) with OP Parties departed from KORCULA Island via LAGOSTA. Major Winterbottom accompanied them to contact Major Turner and arrange for Partisan guides to go to Peljesac to meet advance parties. |
| 24th August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| 06:00hrs – Major Winterbottom returned. “Diversionary party” arranged on HVAR island by U.S. Special Ops Group. Air Vice Marshall W. Elliot CB, CBE, DFC visited RHQ for luncheon. |
| 25th August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| 14:00hrs – loading of guns and ammo on to RCL’s began – for Operation Grandfather I – at RUKAVAC. |
| 19:00hrs – Personnel embarked. |
| 20:15hrs – Convoy of LCI’s, LCA’s, RCL’s, ML’s and MGB’s sailed from RUKAVAC |
| 26th August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| 01:00hrs – Main convoy arrived Scedro and lay up during hours of daylight. |
| 02:00hrs – Advance party landed JEZDIJA Cove – Peljesac to reece routes to OP’s and prepare gun areas, and watch for German patrols. |
| 27h August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| 02:30hrs – Main party arrived PELJESAC, disembarked and occupied respective positions. |
| 06:00hrs – Guns opened fire on enemy positions in PUPNAT. |
| 12:00hrs – Evacuation of guns began |
| 13:15hrs – Evacuation of guns completed |
| 16:00hrs – Evacuation of covering force and Force HQ completed |
| 17:00hrs – Convoy sailed for VIS |
| 28th August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| 02:00hrs – Convoy arrived RUKAVAC |
| 29th August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| 12:30hrs – Brigadier G. M .O. Davy CBE DSO and Captain Black RN (SNO Bari) visited RHQ for luncheon and later inspected 476 Bty. Major Daniels, Captain Cutress, Captain Hart returned from CTC Course. |
| 30th August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| 06:00hrs – Major Turner, Captain Wilson, Captain McLeod, Lieutenant Allen and Lieutenant Phillips RSR returned from KORCULA and LAGOSTA. |
| 31st August 1944 – Vis |
|---|
| 08:00hrs – BBC News reports “Grandfather I”. |