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de Cent – Douglas and Gillian

see also Ian English’s ‘Assisted Passage’.

1/ Douglas’s Diary. (Scratchy) from Bologna 10th Sept. (mentions Gregson escape) to 3rd Dec. -21 days before getting through.
2/ Gillian’s additional comments day by day after she joined him.
3/ Summary of 1st two chapters of G.’s Biography ‘Good morning, gentlemen, please be seated’ and 15 proposed Chapter headings.
4/ 2 Obituaries (Times and Independent) of Douglas.
5/ Gillian’s account of her story in ‘Chideock Remembers’ (50th Anniversary. Misc.)
6/ Official reports -in Italian Of Enquiry by Italian Generals on the escape of General O’Connor, Carton de Wiart, Brigadiers Hargest & Miles, who both got into Switzerland, Combe & Boyd. Copy, in Italian, of letter left by O’Conner to his batman and cook.

[handwritten note] List separately

[handwritten note] and correspondence Keith Killby and G de Cent and Theodore de Cent. Two out of three widows.

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[handwritten note:] 1st rough

Douglas & Gillian de Cent.
Douglas de Cent was among the first to support the Trust but he had not disclosed any of his story of escape from Bologna and through the lines with an English girl and others, whom he had met on the way and was to marry later. Unfortunately, Douglas died in October 1995. His obituaries were in the Times and Independent. It was Ian English’s excellent ‘Assisted Passage’, that revealed some of the story for it was he and Scotty White got through the lines with Douglas and Gillian. Now, thanks to Gillian, the Trust archives have been greatly enriched with the story of the only known English girl to be on the run and get through the lines. In her learning of languages Gillian had, instead of being run over by it, jumped on the running board of Hitler’s car as he swept through Munich. Then she had taken up Italian and in Florence and just as the war began in 1939, had married an Italian. They lived at Fiesole, outside Florence, unmolested even when Italy came into the war. Nearby however was Castello Vincigliata, very much looking like an old Florentine Castle but actually built by an Englishman some hundred years before. Suddenly they were both put in prison. Six of the Generals and others had escaped from the ‘Castle and were suspected especially when the Italians found a note she had sent in with her husband, who had entered as the ‘mate’ of an electrician. In the woman’s jail in Florence, run by nuns Gillian was called to be interviewed by Italian officers who she found standing round the room as she entered. ‘Good morning, gentlemen, please be seated’ in perfect Italian rather took the wind out of their sails. As no charge was brought her father-in-law was allowed to send in food – from a restaurant which one day included a little parcel of beans in a heavily screwed piece of that day’s paper – saying the Axis had been driven out of North Africa. Later transferred to a camp near Tolentino in the Marche she led her fellow prisoners, mostly Yugoslav women, in improving their lot and with money sent by her father-in-law obtained several amenities and even visited a very cooperative dentist in Tolentino. When the Armistice came she told one of the more friendly guards to order her a taxi and so with a friend went to Tolentino. Later with a Yugoslav she set off for the south and with two others reached the southern face of the Gran Sasso but avoiding L’Aquila they stumble on beneath the funicular up to the Hermitage where Mussolini had been rescued as German troops pass above them. Some of the smallest and remote villages had seemingly set up a king of ‘Coop’ for helping POWs. One is the stepson of Montgomery (‘Behind the lines’ by Colonel Richard Carver given by him to the Trust). At one village Gillian barters for a new pair of boots – a very precious article in those days. After meeting up with Douglas and his companion they spend a day with gypsies who bake a hedgehog for them to eat. They cross the Pescara river by the bridge and dam which other lucky POWs found. They are joined by a German deserter who, leaves his cap which Gillian uses to keep precious salt until quickly buried, when other Germans snoop around the camp thinking that Gillian, looking scruffy and with fluent Italian, is obviously another ‘Contadina’. A German soldier gives her a sack of potatoes. After joining up with Ian English their story, as described by the latter becomes a nightmare of endurance, perseverance as they dodge through the front lines climbing and slithering up and sown endless hills. The made it on Christmas Eve.

[handwritten note] Gillian is writing a book of his adventure. By the chapter heading and outline of the book in the works, which K.V. has been privileged to send it will make a very good read.

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Further points gathered by reading Gillian de Cent’s additional notes to Douglas’
Diary and her account ‘Fun and Fear In Italy 1943-458 in ‘Chideock Remembers’.
Gillian had almost been mowed down by Hitler’s car in Munich, but rode on running board instead.
When taken for interrogation by Italian officers when in prison she finds them standing waiting for her so she enters and says ‘Good morning, gentlemen, please be seated.’ Which takes the wind out of their sails.
As not charged for any crime, she is allowed to have meals sent in, which her father-in-law does.
After Tolentino joins with a Yugoslav – Marco.
Gillian had still got some money, her gold watch and some jewellery.
seeing two strange figures Gillian speaks to them in English – Douglas and Dick.
They meet up with gypsies who get them to eat baked hedgehog. Being near Ortolano is mentioned. When passing under funicular it is carrying German soldiers up to Hermitage.
woman offers to wash their clothes. She brings back thin worn old Italian clothing. In Carpineto G. [Gillian] manages to get a pair of boots. (What did she have to pay?) Marco at one stage had been carrying hers and lost one.
They meet a German deserter and though he soon leaves them he leaves his cap which G. uses to keep the salt in and which she immediately buries when Germans snoop around. Later given a sack of potatoes by a German soldier. 7^th November they meet an English Major who is Montgomery’s nephew. (most probably his step-son who was at Carpineto and Civitaquana at the time. He also crossed the Pescara at the ‘bridge and dam’. G. and de Cent says power station and bridge.).

de Cent. Douglas and Gillian
see also Ian English’s ‘Assisted Passage’.

1/ Douglas’s Diary. (Scratchy) from Bologna 10th Sept. (mentions Gregson escape) to 3rd Dec. -21 days before getting through.
2/ Gillian’s additional comments day by day after she joined him.
3/ Summary of 1st two chapters of G.’s Biography ‘Good morning, gentlemen, please be seated’ and 15 proposed Chapter headings.
4/ 2 Obituaries (Times and Independent) of Douglas.
5/ Gillian’s account of her story in ‘Chideock Remembers’ (50th Anniversary. Misc.)
6/ Official reports -in Italian Of Enquiry by Italian Generals on the escape of General O’Connor, Carton de Wiart, Brigadiers Hargest & Miles, who both got into Switzerland, Combe & Boyd. Copy, in Italian, of letter left by O’Conner to his batman and cook.

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Copy of Translation of Newspaper Article.
Roskilde Avis, 08/03/1946

English Captain in the Danish-English Association.

Last night the Danish-English Association had a meeting in Roskilde Realskole. The chairman-auditor Lundsgaard welcomed and allowed the night’s speaker Captain D.C. de Cent to speak. The Captain lectured upon “Escapes from German Prison Camps” in a most interesting and thrilling way.

The Captain started his lectures in telling about the mood in England after the breaking out of the war. Then he told about different things from England camps in the East, West-Africa and South Africa. In Africa Captain de Cent was made a prisoner by the Italians and led to Benghazi where he got a glimpse of Mussolini who at the time was in an intoxication of victory. Locked up in the holds of two transport streamers some of the prisoners were taken to another camp. Here the watch was very strict as the Italian and German officers were sent to the Russian front if an Englishman succeeded in escaping. During this stay the Captain emaciated 18kg.

All the day in such a camp you were speculating how to escape and by means of spoons, forks and knives it was attempted to make subterranean tunnels. The Captain and a friend succeeded in getting out and for three weeks they were in the German and Italian lines until they reached the English camp the day before Christmas Eve.

Captain de Cent came to England some months before the invasion and until this began he was occupied in teaching the invasion forces the tricks which could help them to get out of hostile prison camps.

The lecture was eminently applauded and the chairman ended the interesting evening by thanking the speaker for the excellent lecture.

[handwritten note, possibly caption of following photographs] Theodorine [de Cent], see letter 10^th June 1996. Dick Ellis.

[two photographs, one of group of men, possibly prisoners in a cold climate. The other of a soldier, possibly Dick Ellis? in a hot climate.]

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Roskilde Tidende 08/03/1946.

“Never Give Up” An Englishman with this for motto in the Danish-English Association.

Last night captain C.D. de Cent of the Royal Artillery was a visitor in the Danish-English Association. He had not been speaking for many seconds to the members of the singing-room of Roskilde middle-class school before you understand that he was a typical representative of English humour. Wittily and delightfully and really too, he made a causerie over his adventures during the war and these were neither few nor uninteresting. De Cent started his military career when the war began. Dunny was his introduction to the soldier-life, but soon it became earnest. Via South-Africa, Bombay and a diplomatic task in Teheran he reached to the war of the desert and the proper title of the lecture “escapes from German Prison camps”. At El Alamein de Cent was made a prisoner, but he was not at all intending to spend the rest of the war as a prisoner, however. Already at the entrance of the prison camp he jumped off the motor-lorry and disappeared. In company with another officer they stole from German motor lorries and tried to reach the English lines. They did not succeed, but with laughter you were hearing about their trial to possess themselves of a motor lorry under which unfortunately a couple of Germans appeared. “English: the Germans asked, but they shook their heads, answered “Italians”, and conversed the Germans for a long while before they took cordial leave – and disappeared. One day’s journey from the English lines they got into a scraped. De Cent was made a prisoner again and conducted by the retreating troops to Benghazi and from there to Italy. There were many opportunities for new trials of escape but weakened by gangrene in one leg and by dysentery the captain had to follow to Bologna in North-Italy. Here in return it became earnest. Delightful was the story about the secret subterranean digging out which should have been used if a donkey had not walked over – and fallen through.

To make a long story short – and this de Cent had to do many times last night de Cent escaped and reached Morocco where he celebrated his lucky escape so cordially by means of wet articles* that he began to play puss in the corner with a frightened hotel-owner. Captain de Cent ended by showing strategic value of every prisoner\s trial to escape. It is a sort of sabotage because an escape mobilizes a big force for search and lays further claim to organisations which beforehand are hard strained.

The applause was very cordial last night. Captain de Cent had highly gained the sympathy of the audience. The chairman I.C. Lundsgaard thanked on the members’ behalf.

[handwritten note referring to the sentence marked *] In spite of how this reads. I assure you it does not refer to articles of clothing.

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24^th July 1996
Dear Mr. Killby,
I am afraid you will not have heard from Nicholas yet. He had to go to Milan on business and, at the moment, is very busy with stands he has to prepare for all the conferences coming up. He has said he will have photocopies made of the documents he has as soon as possible but does not know the whereabouts of Douglas’ diary, although he will enquire.

Meanwhile I am sending you a photocopy of the original typescript I made, at least 15 years ago, of the diary when Douglas lent it to me. It was tatty and scribbled so you will understand that I could not decipher every word. Also the beginning and end are obviously missing. When I could not read a word I have inserted, in brackets, what I thought was meant. You will see that the last word is ‘Guardiagrele’ but the date is 3rd December, three weeks before we got through the lines or, rather, about 20 days. We certainly did not stay at Guardiagrele for all that time so think I am correct about Castel dell’ Sangro, but do not want to argue with Ian.

Please keep this copy private for the time being. I hope to come to London about 13th August and perhaps we could meet and discuss matters then. I have quite a lot of other matter I have written up, plus notes on research at the PRO.

Are you on the telephone? I found your name, with the above address, in an old London directory I have, but could get no reply. Perhaps it is merely an office as I rang in the evening. It would be easier to contact you by ‘phone to arrange a meeting or you could call me before I come up.

I have also an unfinished script in which I have inserted my own recollections after each day of Douglas’ diary. If I have time I shall try to complete this.

I look forward to meeting you.
Yours sincerely, Gillian de Cent

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03/07/1996
Dear Mr Killby,
After posting my previous letter I suddenly realised I had made a stupid error. In paragraph 4 please substitute Castel dell’ Sangro to Castel dell’Angelo which is, of course, much further north and without taking time to check now, I believe was the place Douglas and Dick Ellis had slept before our meeting at Capodacqua. Excuse the scribble but want to catch the post. Sincerely, Gillian de Cent.

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Copy of Diary of DOUGLAS de CENT in Camp at Bologna.

Copied and provided by Gillian de Cent who met up with D. de C. on 20th October being on the run herself.

10th September. Recounts escape of officer under lorry. (Tony Gregson – see his account.) Hides in roof.
12th September. Escapes from camp after it is abandoned by Germans who had taken most with them. Offer payment to be hidden and fed until Allies arrive but master of the house cancels the arrangement.
16th September. Get into civilian clothes
18th September. Show Italians leaflet – said to have been dropped on Bologna about 14^th – asking Italians to look after POWs (In files)
21st September. Hear Germans are offering £20 per head for escaped POWs.
28th September. Good description of the kitchen cum living room of contadini

3rd October. Reached house within sight of Forli-Florence road.
4th October. for (?) Falperona read Mt Valdarno 5th for main Casena road read Casentino
6th October. Seem to get into Calmodi Monastery – later or also used by Generals etc. Monks seemed to live the life of country gentlemen. In the confusion of hospitality, they got two lunches one day.
10th October. Having crossed the Fano road the day before they were entertained by a lady, whose husband was absent, who flirted with them both and called them ‘Belli’
19th October. Having left VISSO (w. of Monte Priore, part of Sibillini) road leads them through (Here is written Gualdo which is miles to the East of Sibillini) (then) Castel san angelo (next on map to Vieso) and Castelluccio for the night. Hear rumour of 20 year old English girl, formerly of Rome, having a studio near. Meet Brit. O.R.s [British Other Ranks] in uniform who had heard news in English
20th October. (Day of meeting with Gillian.) Get down to Capodacqua.
21st October. ‘Gil halfway across (road) when a passing German motorist sent us scuttling back. Meet paratroopers come in to help and given money by them, to shelter.
but, like others, prefer to remain in hills than cross plain to get boats from the coast.
They prefer to keep north of L’Aquila on southern face of Gran Sasso
23rd October. N. of Assergi they go under the funicular railway to where Mussolini was taken by Germans
26th October. Have moved further east in the Village of Castel del Monte, deepest into the Campo Imperatore where some 200 POWs and Yugoslavs have been housed and fed in spite of Germans being around
30th October. Spend the night in a mine

1st November. Taken into Castel del Monte after dark to a house, ‘The Germans are in this village but the spirit of the people is the beet we have yet met. We were given mufflers, trousers and jacket and pressed to stay.)
2nd November. Go to Villa Celiera (West and slightly N. of C. del M.). The villa e had been ‘shot up’ by the Germans the day before and burnt 3 houses but a British Major escaped
5th November. Searching for boots for Gillian and Marco but Carpineto (due south of V.C.) has been drained dry.
7th November. ‘We brought home a German soldier who has escaped from the Army’.
21st November. Crossed the Pescara river at Power Station. (Found by quite a few but not by KK who with 2 Americans spent a whole day crossing it, 1 Railway and 2 roads before spending night at Turrivallgnani) and spent night at Lettomanopallo.
22nd November. Pretoro
24th November. Between Rapino and Guardiagrele getting near front.

3rd December. ‘The front is close to-day and we hope to be free tomorrow. Guardiagrele.’ Gillian de Cent this is 20 days before they got through. See also ‘Assisted Passage’ by Ian English.

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Further points gathered by reading Gillian de Cent’s additional notes to Douglas’
Diary and her account ‘Fun and Fear In Italy 1943-458 in ‘Chideock Remembers’.
Gillian had almost been mowed down by Hitler’s car in Munich, but rode on running board instead.
When taken for interrogation by Italian officers when in prison she finds them standing waiting for her so she enters and says ‘Good morning, gentlemen, please be seated.’ Which takes the wind out of their sails.
As not charged for any crime, she is allowed to have meals sent in, which her father-in-law does.
After Tolentino joins with a Yugoslav – Marco.
Gillian had still got some money, her gold watch and some jewellery.
seeing two strange figures Gillian speaks to them in English – Douglas and Dick.
They meet up with gypsies who get them to eat baked hedgehog. Being near Ortolano is mentioned. When passing under funicular it is carrying German soldiers up to Hermitage.
woman offers to wash their clothes. She brings back thin worn old Italian clothing. In Carpineto G. [Gillian] manages to get a pair of boots. (What did she have to pay?) Marco at one stage had been carrying hers and lost one.
They meet a German deserter and though he soon leaves them he leaves his cap which G. uses to keep the salt in and which she immediately buries when Germans snoop around. Later given a sack of potatoes by a German soldier. 7^th November they meet an English Major who is Montgomery’s nephew. (most probably his step-son who was at Carpineto and Civitaquana at the time. He also crossed the Pescara at the ‘bridge and dam’. G. and de Cent says power station and bridge.).

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CHIDEOCK REMEMBERS

VE and VJ 1995

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FUN AND FEAR IN ITALY 1943-45 -G. A. de Cent

On Tuesday morning, 31st March, 1943, I was at the home of some friends between Florence and Fiesole. The husband-a Colonel in the Army Medical Corps -arrived back at the house well before his normal lunch time and extremely agitated. The previous evening General Carton de Wiart and several other senior officers had escaped from Vincigliata, a PoW camp for senior officers near to the house of my Italian husband and myself. (I had married in late September 1939 and was therefore an Italian citizen.) The Colonel said that my husband had been arrested and that officers of the S.I.M. (Italian Military Intelligence) were on their way to pick me up too.

My hostess immediately made me a quick meal of an omelette, which was to be my last food that day. Just as I finished it the S.I.M. arrived. They were perfectly polite but insisted that I accompany them up to our house, which they wished to search.

I kept quite calm throughout; it was not the first time I had found myself in a difficult position. Five years earlier, when I was a student in Munich, I happened to be in the Marienplatz when Hitler returned from Austria after the Anschluss. There was suddenly a vast crowd, shouting and heiling and the pressure was so great that I faced two options: either to be pushed under Hitler’s car or to jump on to the running-board. I chose the latter. I was on the offside from Hitler, who was heiling away and did not even glance at me; neither did the two guards in the back point their guns at me! I got off as soon as possible but imagine that the outcome would be very different nowadays.

But back to Fiesole. The search went well, despite the guns (which were licensed) until, looking through a bookcase, a piece of paper fell out of one of my books. My expression must have changed, since my husband had promised to burn it. It was a message I had translated into English some time before when he had reason to visit the camp. That turned the tables. I was allowed to pack a few necessities and say goodbye to my small daughter; then I was driven down to San Frediano, a women’s prison in Florence. There I was searched and such things as nail-scissors, writing materials and money were listed and taken from me. I was fortunately placed in

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solitary confinement, because I was considered dangerous; I should have hated the conditions of the other prisoners -mainly Yugoslavs -who were four to a cell with no space to move between the cots.

The interior of the prison was run by nuns; these fell into two categories – the older ones who were quite pleasant, probably because they had a vocation, and the young ones who were not, almost certainly because it was then still the habit of parents to force their younger daughters who had not married into a convent. However, we were treated reasonably well probably, as I found out only the day before I left, because they belonged to a Maltese order. In Rome, at the Regina Coeli prison, I later learned that the nuns beat the prisoners.

Only a few minutes after the door of my cell had been locked I heard the Victory signal tapped out in Morse. I found the sound came from a pipe which appeared to run along the outer wall of the cells. Life was sometimes quite amusing and I managed to find ways of communicating with the other prisoners. Every evening they sang loudly, presumably their own patriotic songs. Whenever I did not want the nuns to enter my cell I poured water into the washbasin and stripped off.

On my second morning Suor’ Teresa came to my cell and said I was wanted for a further interrogation by the S.I.M. officers. She led me through a labyrinth of corridors and we eventually came to a small attic room. When I entered the officers were standing around and, without thinking, I said: “Good morning gentlemen, you may be seated”. They stared at me with amazement and asked where I thought I was and that I spoke as if l were meeting them for tea in a luxury hotel. However, they did sit down. I think this saved my life as my father-in-law was first told I had been shot but then found out that one of the officers was doing all he could to save me.

I was questioned some more but there was, in fact, nothing about the escape that I could tell them. I had passed the British officers out walking under guard but had made no attempt to contact them in any way. I was never charged with any offence but merely held, I suppose, on suspicion.

That lunch-time, instead of the previous day’s prison fare, I was brought a delicious meal-two courses-on a tray with cutlery.

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I asked the nun who accompanied the girl carrying it why? She told me that because I had not been charged my father-in-law had been informed and was entitled to have one meal a day sent to me from a nearby restaurant. Things were improving.

Before long I was allowed to go to the chapel in the mornings. I enjoyed the music but, more importantly at that time, I could see the main gates from the prison courtyard and how they were guarded. I was given sewing to do but when they found I was not good at that (deliberately!), I was taken down to an office to do the accounts. An opportunity to acquire writing materials! Until then I had had to rely on toilet paper and pricking myself with the needle and using my blood to write notes to the other prisoners. To do this I had to stand with my back to the cell door blocking the Judas-hole with my head. Since the other prisoners had work to do they were often in the corridor so I could choose an appropriate time, call out that I needed to go to the lavatory and drop my note by a prisoner I knew by sight when the accompanying nun was not looking.

After about three months I was summoned one morning to the Mother Superior’s office. She asked me to sit down and then told me I was to be transferred to a concentration camp in the morning. I would be picked up, taken up to our house to collect more clothes and other necessities, then to the station to catch a train to the camp. She was a very pleasant person and we had a short chat. It was actually from her that I learned that the Order was a Maltese one and the Mother Superior was definitely Maltese, not Italian.

On returning to my cell I collected my few belongings and had an early night. I did not know what to expect the following day.

The following morning I was up early and as soon as I had washed, dressed and had my meagre breakfast I was taken down to the office where I had first entered the prison. There I was handed the few things which had been taken from me upon my arrival at San Frediano. I signed the list which had been made originally and was then handed over to two men in plain clothes, who escorted me to a car outside the prison gates.

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We drove through the town and up to Fiesole. The guards were not unwilling to chat. I learned that they were Intelligence Officers and were not in uniform at the special request of my father-in-law. Personally I should have preferred them to be visibly military so that all who saw me would realize my predicament.

When we reached our house I was greeted delightedly by my little daughter, my father-in-law and my dog. The guards sat down and made themselves comfortable whilst I went upstairs, had a bath, washed my hair and piled together on the bed everything I thought I might need, both for daily use and for escaping later. Ever since my arrest my mind had been set upon that!

After a while my father-in-law knocked at the door and came in. When he saw the mass of things I had put ready he was appalled; we went through them together and made a separate pile of the items I would not normally need, such as boots, socks, jewellery (to sell, if necessary) and warm winter clothes. On his advice I sorted them into two piles, one of which we hid for him to send to me later, the other I packed with clothes, bed linen, blankets and toiletries.

I went downstairs again, surprised that I had been left so long alone. There was a door from near my bedroom into the garden, which was on a hillside. It did not appear to have been guarded but now was not the moment. There was coffee and food ready downstairs for me and the guards and I had a little while longer to play with my daughter. Leaving her was the most painful part as she could not understand why I had to go away again. She was only three.

The guards drove me back down to the town and on to the railway station. I had been told we had to take the train there to Bologna, then change for the journey south to Tolentino. We arrived in plenty of time and I was able to do what I had planned -tell them I wanted to go to the ‘Ladies’ and post some letters I had scribbled as the letterbox was just at the door. It worked and they didn’t even notice. I even received tactful acknowledgments at the Camp.

I always enjoyed the train journey to Bologna because of the landscape to the west of the railway which always seemed to me to be Bennozo Gozzoli’s background to his fresco ‘The Adoration of

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the Magi’ in the Municipio. I was soon chatting away with the guards who seemed very friendly and not a bit like ardent fascists. The journey passed quickly and we arrived at Tolentino in the late afternoon. It was a very small station and a long walk up the hill to the camp but the guards carried my baggage for me.

I couldn’t see the Camp from a distance as it was surrounded by trees. We reached a large metal gate and some uniformed guards let us in. At the top of the drive was a large house and there were various outbuildings. It did not look like my idea of a concentration camp.

We went up a few steps into a large entrance hall and another guard guided us to the Commandant’s office. He hardly spoke to me but called for the woman in charge of the interior of the camp. I took an immediate dislike to her too. She escorted me upstairs and I had to carry my own baggage. I could hear voices in a room beyond the hall and she told me the prisoners were having their evening meal but it was too late for me to have anything. Upstairs there was a large landing with many doors opening off it. We turned to the right and went into the end room where she told me I should sleep. Then she left me.

I had a look round; there were four cots, one of which was obviously not being used so I presumed it was mine. It was beneath a south-facing window and near a second one looking east, down over the hill we had climbed. The room was quite large but had no other furniture. At right angles to the door by which we had entered was another door which, I found, led to a small powder-room built on a turret, with a small window looking down at another wing of the house.

I was not alone for long. The other prisoners were anxious to see the new arrival. Again they were mostly Yugoslavs but there was a small minority of other nationalities. Sharing the room with me were a Macedonian, a Polish girl with whom I am still in touch and another Englishwoman, although Italian by marriage, who was released a few days later. Many of the prisoners were there simply because they had been stranded in Italy at the outbreak of war and had no funds; others were ones who had been picked up with Italian soldiers. I soon settled in and learned about the organization of the camp.

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Because we had not been charged, we could not be made to work. We had to go down for roll call morning and evening; otherwise our time was our own. About three or four girls voluntarily did the cooking for them in an alcove on the first floor. They appeared to eat better than the rest of us; we seemed to get a diet of ratatouille at each meal. Once a week two of the cooks were taken by two guards to Tolentino to buy food and, if people gave them money, bring back other necessities. I soon learned, however, that we could buy eggs, flour and chickens from the peasants whose land adjoined the camp and the guards seemed to take no notice.

My Polish friend, Liselotte, had French friends in Tolentino and I wanted to meet them. So I told the disagreeable matron that I had bad toothache. She was not very sympathetic. I insisted that I must see the Commander. He agreed that I might go to Tolentino under guard to see the dentist and that Liselotte might accompany me in case I needed assistance. Another success!

An appointment was made and one afternoon we walked down the hill to catch the train. From the Tolentino station is was quite a long walk to the town. The dentist’s house was quite near that of Liselotte’s friends. He turned out to be a very pleasant man, very anti-fascist. He did not allow the guard into his surgery, but said he would be responsible for us. I explained the reason for our visit; he was very sympathetic and said he would write a note for the Commander that we needed weekly treatment. When I asked him how much I owed him he laughed, refused all payment and said: “Badoglio paghera!”

It was nearly two hours before the train back was due. We walked into the town, sat with the guard (his name was Botticelli) in the cafe in the main square and took in the layout. Then we did a bit of shopping; I bought a small paraffin cooker. Then we went to a small trattoria where we had a good meal and bought one for the guard as well.

By this time the Italians were beginning to realize that they were losing their part of the war. Pantelleria had fallen; the Commandant of the Camp there had escaped and was transferred to ours. The atmosphere was much pleasanter after the previous one had left. He brought his wife with him but decided that their quarters which, were below our room, required some renovation.

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The workmen scattered all their equipment in the entrance hall and quite a lot of it disappeared so I was able to set up lighting in our room so that we could read under the bedding after the blackout.

By this time, in small separate parcels, my father-in-law had sent me all the items I had put aside, so I had my rucksack, climbing boots and warm clothes as well as my jewellery and some money.

The first we knew about the Italian surrender was loud cheering on the evening of 8th September from an O.R. camp not too far away. The next morning the Commandant summoned us all and announced that we were free to leave. Most of the inmates had nowhere to go and stayed in the camp. Only about four or five of us survived as the rest were taken to Germany. I told the guard, Botticelli, to call a taxi and my friend, Liselotte, and I went to Tolentino. I expect we were the only people to leave a camp in such style!

We found a room above the cafe in Tolentino and then went to visit the French couple we knew. A couple of British ex PoWs turned up. Everyone was very cheerful but then some carabinieri came along so we felt it better to disperse.

The following morning I decided to have my hair done. Just as I was about to leave the shop the Square was suddenly flooded with German vehicles and foot soldiers. I hid behind the typical Italian screen of bottle-tops and string until it was safe to slip away. I did manage to telephone to my father-in-law who promised to send some money. He was delighted to hear from me.

The Germans were searching the town so, with our French friends, we decided we must leave in the morning. They knew a German Jew, also in open camp, in a hut to the east of Tolentino.

I packed everything but necessities into two leather suitcases I had. The reminder went into my rucksack. (The cases were left at the cafe and returned to me via the War Office after the Allies took Tolentino!) That night we stayed at a house outside the town which a priest had recommended.

We walked the following morning along the north bank of a small river which led us to the east of Tolentino. It was a very hot day and quite a long walk to the hut which was situated at the western end of a valley with high, steep mountains on either side. Finally we arrived there and I was so exhausted that I fell asleep on

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a heap of stones -the only time in my life that such a thing has happened.

We had brought food with us and we’re warmly welcomed. The hut had only one room and we all slept on the floor that night. The following morning we discussed our plans. My friend was considerably older than I and did not feel able to try walking south to the Allies lines. She decided to find a place to hide until the end of the war. The others felt the same but decided that the three of them should not go together for reasons of safety.

Next day I returned to Tolentino. It seemed quieter and there were no Germans about. I was able to withdraw from the bank the money my father-in-law had sent and shared this with my friend. We spent another night in the hut but all left early the following morning. Our French friend had made each of us an omelette sandwich.

I was determined to make an effort to get to the Allies’ lines. In order to follow a different route I climbed up a very steep mountain to the north, having to hold on to tree branches to keep from sliding down. At last I was out of the forest and climbed over a ledge on to more level ground. I met a peasant who told me that if l went to a house to which he directed me I should meet a British escaper there. I found the house but the escaper turned out to be a Yugoslav. However the farmer who lived in the house allowed me to stay and gave me a comfortable room and food. In return I helped with the grape harvest, first picking the grapes and then trampling them with our bare feet into an enormous vat. I cannot remember that we ever washed our feet. The Yugoslav, whose name was Marco, helped too but also spent a lot of time at a cafe a little further north. I asked him if there were supplies available there and he found there were, so I gave him some money and be bought a whole ham and various necessities. I then thought it was time to get going and, with some difficulty, persuaded Marco that we should start walking south. He wanted to stay until the arrival of the Allies but I thought that would be too long.

We set off, heavily laden with our supplies, in a southerly direction. The first few days were fairly easy going; we found peasant families who allowed us to stay, sometimes in their houses, sometimes in barns. One day we came upon an isolated house and

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there was my friend from the camp with about four British PoWs. They wanted me to stay but I was determined to get on and none of them wanted to leave. In fact, they stayed there until Rome was taken the following year. One evening we came to a monastery and, for some reason, the monks were reluctant to let us stay. However a woman working there persuaded them to let us into a stable. She told me I could have a chicken so I had to catch one and kill it by slitting its throat. But we were hungry. From later research I think this may have been the monastery where some senior British officers were hiding and that was why the monks did not want us there.

Eventually, on 19th October, we arrived at Capo d’Acqua, just two or three houses above a river, not a village. The people there were very friendly and we were able to stay the night. The next morning Marco and I were standing on a small bridge over the river, discussing our next move. I was for continuing. Suddenly I saw two men striding down the track towards us. To my eyes they were obviously British so I spoke to them. It was Douglas and Dick who had escaped from Bologna. They too wished to reach the Allied lines and I suggested we join forces. To begin with they were somewhat dubious about having a woman with them and discussed it at length between themselves. Eventually they agreed we should give it a try.

We set off early the next morning in a southerly direction. I was much happier to be with two of my countrymen. Towards midday we met up with some gypsies making charcoal on the edge of a wood. They invited us back to their encampment for a meal the only time I have eaten hedgehog baked in clay, but it tasted delicious. We thanked them and hurried off as we knew we had to cross a river before dark. The northern side of the river was a gentle slope with scattered bushes and a glorious smell of herbs in the hot sun. I was to cross first whilst the others took cover. Just as I got into the water a German patrol car drove round the bend. I ducked down quickly and fortunately was not seen. We all got across safely and a little later met some British paratroopers (probably from A Force). They had been dropped to lead the hundreds of escapers to the Adriatic coast where they would be taken off by sea but had found that most were too frightened to cross the coastal plain.

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However, they did give us some money which was useful as mine was running out.

The following day we met up with two more British officers who had also been in Bologna. They joined us and we continued to the north east side of the Gran Sasso range where we found shelter for the night. The Italians were somewhat undecided at this time as Badoglio had issued a manifesto that it was the duty of the Italians to aid escapees, whereas the Germans were rounding up all they could find and punishing severely any Italians known to have helped them. Whenever the Italians assisted us they always asked for our names and addresses but fortunately they were happy with those of the men. I don’t think I ever considered how serious my own position could be if, as an Italian citizen, I had been caught by the Germans with a party of escaped PoWs. However, I never had any doubt but that I should survive and return to England.

A local peasant offered to guide us over the Gran Sasso so we set off early next morning from near Ortolano, carrying a vast amount of supplies, inducting half a sheep which we had bought the previous day. It was very hot and the escarpment very steep. To our dismay, when we stopped for a drink, we found that our hosts of the previous night, meaning kindly, had filled our water-bottles with red wine which did not slake our thirst. Two more disasters followed: Marco had been trailing behind carrying, among other things, my walking boots as I had decided to wear plimsolls because of the heat. When he joined us I was horrified that he had only one. We searched for a while but could not find it; we thought he had done it deliberately as he did not want to continue. On top of which the guide insisted he must return home!

Fortunately some shepherds came along from the opposite direction and showed us a way to get down the almost perpendicular drop at the top of the mountain and directed us to a huge cave above a stream, where we could spend the night. It was soon full of sheep as the shepherds were moving their herds north away from the German lines. We collected wood and lit a fire to cook some of our mutton and obviously did so too low down since, within a few minutes, the whole cave had filled with smoke and we could only breath lying flat. However we did manage to eat and fill our bottles from the stream.

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The following day we continued south along the ridge, meeting more shepherds with large flocks of sheep. We could see L’Aquila to the south west and the funicular to the top of the Gran Sasso carrying German soldiers up and down. One of the shepherds told us that Mussolini had been rescued from there only the day before; later I found out that this was only Italian histrionics since it was then 24th October and Skorzeny’s brilliant rescue had been on 12th September.

And so it continued: walking by day, hiding up at night where we could, in caves, shepherds’ hut or, if we were lucky, in houses or stables. In one hamlet we were told of a cobbler who might have some boots so Douglas and I went to see him. He was a very unpleasant chap and I just stopped Douglas punching him, but I did get a reasonable pair. Near Castel del Monte we were housed in a long L-shaped building belonging to a mine. A priest was organising assistance there for PoWs. The first night we had beds but the next one there was an alarm that the Germans were coming. The rain was torrential and we spent a dreadful few hours rushing across muddy ploughed fields and through olive groves. We then moved up to a cold and draughty hut near the top of the mountains; the priest brought food each day. There were quite a few British up there. A sorry incident was when a woman from the village offered to wash our clothes but next day she returned not with our things but a bundle of rags. All our warm clothing had gone!

The weather was now deteriorating and we decided we had to move on again. A British major was said to be operating near the coast so we walked south east. We met up with him in a small settlement high in the hills and he said that if we returned in two days we might get off by sea. When we did so the houses had been destroyed and those inhabitants who had not been killed by the Germans no longer wanted to speak to us. I later heard that this was part of Op. SIMCOL from Bari but that the ship which was to take out the prisoners had been destroyed. Returning west we walked disconsolately just below the crest of a mountain range; it was frosty and I remember the beautiful bare branches of the beech trees against the moonlit sky. The Yugoslavs were the main danger there since they insisted on walking on the skyline in full view of the Germans down below.

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We had heard it was very difficult to cross the Pescara river. Rather than all go together Dick and Marco set off first and Douglas and I the following day. If we anyone I explained that Douglas was my deaf and dumb brother since I could easily pass as a Florentine. When we arrived at the bridge-I think it was at Torre de’ Passeri we had an unexpectedly friendly reception and it was explained to me that all we had to do to cross was to sign that we had been allowed to do so. We continued onwards to the south west until some days later, we met up with Ian, Scotty and Jack by this time, although they left us for a while later on. Food was becoming scarce now and the weather colder. We were all covered in lice.

We then moved on to the mountains north west of Castel del Sangro. First we had a wooden hut but after an encounter with a German deserter (I had removed his Luger and buried it) we were suddenly visited by about three armed Germans. The deserter had left us by then but had forgotten his cap which I had washed and used as a container for a quantity of salt we had been given. The men were sitting outside and I quickly told them to look as if there were chatting and to keep repeating all the Italian words they knew. I managed to retrieve the cap and salt without being noticed and buried it under the back of the hut. I was in dead trouble later for getting earth in the salt! I pretended to be getting on with my chores and, after about ten minutes, the Germans moved off.

At that time we were situated between a team of German paratroopers at the top of the mountain and a large number of soldiers at the bottom. One day, when I was going down to the village to try and get some food I was stopped by a German with a rifle slung over his shoulder. He then pointed to a sack and gestured that I should go over to it. It was full of potatoes and he told me to take it so I heaved it on to my back and went back up the mountain. The others were delighted.

By climbing over a small crest to the south of our hut we could get into what looked like the crater of an extinct volcano. A little to the west there was a waterfall spurting out of the rocks from which we got our drinking water and used it as a shower. When it was my turn the men all turned their backs on me and stood in a tight semi-circle so that no one should see me. Once the snow fell we used the frozen area below the waterfall to roll in and

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get rid of some of our lice, although it did not take long for them to breed again. One day, as I was walking over the crest with Douglas, a German plane swooped down and shot at us; Douglas was able to throw me behind a bush and hide himself; they missed us and fortunately the pilot did not have a second try.

This was mid-December. We were becoming more and more tired and hungry and had decided that we must very soon try to get through the lines. Castel del Sangro was still occupied by the Germans and was under constant fire from the Allies. Going down to the village one day I heard voices behind a hedge and saw that new guns were being installed. A few days later guns were all around the tip of the extinct volcano. We were all doing recces to find the best way down to the Sangro.

On 23rd December we decided we really had to leave. Early that morning a shepherd gave us a dead sheep. We didn’t know what it had died of but would have eaten it anyway. However, we ate the remainder of the potatoes and told the other escapers that, should we not be back by the following morning, they could have the sheep.

In the afternoon we went round the top of the crater and laid up there to see what was happening. It seemed fairly quiet. As it became darker we started down the mountain by a path we had already discovered, going as quietly as we could. Only once did we hear footsteps but lay down and were not noticed. Further down we came to a large mass of bamboo through which our path lay. One man approached; we stayed still and he took no notice of us.

Our last and worst obstacle was a 20ft high clay bank, very wet and slippery, and we could see no way round it. We managed to climb up and slide down the other side. We were then faced with a second. I think there were about six in all. It was on the last we had the greatest difficulties as there seemed to be no foot or handholds. I became completely stuck. Ian, the tallest, came back up and managed to help me down. Not long afterwards, as dawn was breaking, we came to a made-up road. We sat down on the verge to discuss what to do as we thought it might be mined but we were so tired that we couldn’t care any more and decided to go on. There was a bend and then a building on our right. Seeing no one we walked quietly up to the building, looked in and there were British

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soldiers. They were horrified we had managed to enter undetected but we didn’t care. We had made it!

We were driven to the headquarters and interrogated briefly. When the officers were satisfied that the men were genuine escapers and I an evader we were given a medical examination and de-loused. Clean clothes were provided, although it was difficult to find a uniform small enough for me. The commanding officer said that, since it was Christmas Eve, we should stay with them for the following day, otherwise we would be separated for Christmas.

Great celebrations on Christmas Day-singing, dancing, too much food and drink after a long period of semi-starvation. On Boxing Day we were taken by train to Bari and, as they had warned us, separated. Except for Douglas and Dick, that was the last I saw of the others but recently I have re-made contact with Ian and Scotty. Jack was killed in an accident in France just after D-Day.

Because I was the only one to know all the gun emplacements on that part of the Sangro I was flown back to England the following day via Sicily, Algiers, Rabat, Gibraltar and finally to London. The funniest episode was in Rabat where I was taken to an American camp. They asked if I would like to play cards and said I wouldn’t know the game so would play for low stakes. It was ‘Hearts’, the favourite game of an uncle. I didn’t let on but beat them all!

In London I was taken straight to Northumberland Avenue where I was interrogated. An overnight stay was arranged and then the following morning I was put on a train to Winchester. My mother, aunt and uncle met me at the station.

By this time I was bright yellow. The doctor came, diagnosed jaundice, a diet and two weeks in bed. He was followed by the village bobby, saying I had entered England illegally, stating that I had British nationality when I was Italian. This was true but I had been instructed to do so and given a telephone number for the authorities to ring. That sorted things out.

There were many more interrogations: Baker St., Scotland Yard, the War Office and Airey Neave who wanted me to parachute into France. However, after a long rest I joined a German department of the Foreign Office and later went to work as a quadri-lingual interpreter in Switzerland. I received many extra clothing coupons and ration coupons. All’s well …

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[handwritten note:]

[handwritten note] copy of diary of Douglas de Cent. Typed and supplied by Gillian de Cent. In Bologna Camp.

(last words at top of 1^st page)
fracas as a necessary safety precaution

10th September
Still no news about our ultimate fate. Jerry taking very little interest except on guarding the camp. Everyone feverishly constructing hides in case we are moved. Rumours of landing at Rimini in addition to Naples. Second officer escaped tonight under the ration lorry. Carried out under the noses of two Boches armed with tommy guns. Co-operated by forming a screen. At this rate the camp will be clear in another three years.

11th September
News of sudden move to Modena?? at 2 p.m. Germans say they are moving for our own safety and not to Germany. Good. [?] Jules, Dick, John, Bill and self resolved to hide in the showers with view to possible escape later. Little happened until later in night. Several (1 word illegible) and search parties armed with .70 m [?mikes]. Rifles etc. -on a butcher’s knife. My greatest [?thought] when one gentleman was coming opposite my hide suddenly put a round up the spout. During the night we came down on the floor as we were dropping of (sic) our 3 inch [2 words illegible] with weariness and cramp. Once up I didn’t come down. My efforts were accompanied with a crescendo of off-stage effects which ill-equipped me [?men] for rece(sic) [?recce] work. Dick and John carried this out. Germans were active throughout the night until about 4.30 a.m. Outside lights left on all night. No chance.

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12th September
Dick’s outstanding forecast that he will be out of the camp by today has but twenty four hours to run. Few alarms except one major one when a [? Regular [1 word illegible] himself in one of the compartments. Great coming and going in the camp and about 8 p.m. the camp is almost deserted. about 10 o’clock we decide to make an attempt. Several other parties have already made it apparently successfully. We / Dick and I / leave behind two Red X [cross] boxes full of goodies to ensure greater mobility. a bitter pill for each of us. Everything goes according to plan and outside we say farewell to John & Bill.

13th September
Little happened for remainder of night. We accost one woman for water. Look for cover about three and find the going a hot and exhausting business. No [1 word illegible] during middle of day except a false one. about ten o’clock we decide to carry on walking due south. Our immediate aim is to approach a likely looking house and obtain water as our bottles are empty. We walk until midnight without success. the going is good and the moon is high.

14th September
Soon after midnight a trough of water conveniently placed outside a farm for animals gave us a chance to refresh ourselves at least outwardly. We succeeded in (?) fouling the water very thoroughly and left it lime a bathroom on ‘[1 word illegible] night’. However we both felt vastly refreshed and but for the ants and mosquitoes which seem now [3 words illegible] part of one’s kit, almost [1 word illegible]. Perhaps our greatest physical

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feat we have each accomplished for many moons / Ron King’s (7) fencing class included (one word illegible) when we took to the foothills proper. To say that we enjoyed this trip up to the high ground would not be strictly truthful. Dick, in particular, used most derogatory remarks about the nature of the view, the steepness of the climb and the amount of attention shown to him by his private swarm of ants. However we reached the top with the aid of a glass of beer, and dragged ourselves over the edge. After a long and well-earned rest we walked the plateau until we saw a farm. Decided to wait until the occupants showed signs of life and then switch the sex appeal on them. It seemed to work for a long time. Dick had his trousers molested, we each received a large portion of pane a thorough wash and an (one word illegible) knowledge of Italian dialect. It was amusing to note the large number of young males in the house. (late Italian army) who were pleased to call themselves escapers. After having learned there were 42 Boche divisions in the country we decided it would be a good thing to stay on the farm until the Allies came. This was very amicably settled at the agreed sum of £200 the two, but the arrangement was rescinded later when the master of the household was informed. Thus at the moment of writing we have taken accommodation for one night only – double bed in a in a bed which apart from the millions of persistent flies possesses two ripping roaring cockerels who disagree with siestas anyway. After an hour or so things improved and the ladies hid their sorrow at our forth coming departure and we spent the remaining few hours happily improving our Italian conversation. We made a good and early start about 8.30 p.m.

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15th September
Nothing of note happened until about 3 a.m. A dog succeeded in rousing an entire household to our ultimate advantage. Our reception augured well for my birthday; as immediately we were presented with a loaf of bread and half a cheese and shown to a couch of straw / with its usual complement of insect life). The day proper (English time) started with a wash and molto mangiare. Bread, Ham, Fruit and wine. We went to ground for a short time when the local representative of the Fascist Party paid the house a visit. Dopo the birthday celebrations gained momentum and by lunchtime both Dick and I were carrying quite a heavy load. As is usual with Dick after a full belly his thoughts turned to things of a more intricate nature and his face assumed that bestial expression. It is worthy to note that the system of feeding seems to be communal. Friends and relations seem to have settled in the mountains at these farms until after the war. Twelve seem to be the average family. They live simply but appear to have plenty to eat. There is no drainage and all waste is thrown on the floor. We slept off the results of the wine but were at the bottle again with undiminished vigour in the evening. Dick hard making eyes at Sylvana. (?) Theresa .. perhaps should be Teresa.. was pretty but too young. We decided to stay the night and move a short distance away at six the next morning.

16th September
We were an hour late in making a start. Dressed in civilian clothes we followed our friend to a neighbouring farm high upon the mountains to await the clueing of our clothes. We will probably decide to march S.E. now as our information points to an absence of Boche in that area. The news of the Allies’ advance to 40 K. short of Rome is very cheering. (?) Teorisa’s sister Anna lives here. She is a bellissima girl of eleven years. Dick has been

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busy making himself a beret out of his service cap. He has also rather a snappy line in Battle Dress, over (?) corduroy) Jacket. In the evening the boss of the outfit returned and we three spent a magnificent evening over m four flasks of Barbara. We were invited to stay the night and occupied the best bedroom. Before departing in the morning we breakfasted off a chicken, piping hot bread and more vino.

17th September
Having bade farewell to Anna and her generous family we walked for two or three hours towards the South. About midday, having finished our water, we decided to call at a house. Again we met with a magnificent reception and tasted an excellent newly made wine called Sibal (red). This early promise was not apparent when later we returned and the evening deteriorated with no vino and bread for supper. We supplied the last of the coffee. We slept the night in the barn amongst the oxen and chickens, but after an hour of this preferred to go out add sleep on bare ground.

18th September
We left about 8 a.m. having had our fill of this last abode. On the way we called at a house for water and met a handsome coarse slut who immediately appealed to our rude approach and fough minds. We promised to return to the house for water in the evening but she went out in the afternoon and we decided to go on. Whilst creeping like criminals across the road we were hailed as Inglesi prigionieri. We then let the populace read the leaflet (which was dropped on Bologna about the 14th and which we take from place to place) and watched some old men making grapes by the time honoured method of treading grapes. At length we were rescued from the milling crowd by a girl, dressed in black underwear (and wearing a raincoat) and taken to a house to

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drink some very good Albano Secco. Dick’s and my own temperature had reached preposterous heights. The usual mangiare came out and we were invited to stay the night. Our original rescuer, meanwhile, fluttered round us like a moth and in the course of meal changed her dress no fewer than four times. After a pleasant meal off rabbits the ‘piece de resistance’ was produced. Un Bellissima Teresa. We straightaway went to work upon her and met with some success. This was due in no small measure to the fact that I reminded her of her fiancé who is a prisoner in England. After the usual photograph display had been given she begged a signed one from me which she put inside her dress next to her heart. This drew a smutty remark from our hostess to the effect that it would get covered in milk. This was but one of her efforts to lower the (?) scale of the party. Dick was an able supporter. To my sorrow I failed to see Teresa to her home and Dick and I went to sleep in the barn both disappointed and highly excited. To our great surprise we both slept soundly, in fact the best night’s sleep to date.

19th September
We were ably taken in charge again by our hostess this morning and given coffee and given game (? cr’eme) dello marsala for breakfast. A great fuss was made for the preparation of our toilet, and we were presented with new combs. We have at last managed to get rid of the Red Cross Box and I have a haversack in its place. La Bellissima Teresa has not turned up with the promised photograph and we are leaving without seeing her. Dick is cold blooded about it because there is nothing doing with her anyway. We have not walked far this morning – it is very hot.

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We did not walk far today and put up at a farmhouse high upon a hill. They were a very impoverished family but we were given our usual mangiare reception of bread and cheese. We slept in the cow byre.

20th September
We slept well and were away in good time. A high wind was blowing and we decided to take advantage of its coolness. About lunchtime we were escorted to a village for the purpose of hearing the radio and having lunch! Our progress caused a major excitement in the village. Unfortunately the power was off and we could not hear the news. After buying a pipe and some sweets we left to stay at an hotel two or three kilos away. Having arrived there we drew the usual multitude but were rescued by two university students. We were taken to a very pleasant house and experienced the luxury of a radio, a pleasantly served meal and delightful company. We were (?) set to stay the night but a sudden scare sent us packing to a small stone shed in the country. Our young host promised to return the next day, but we had only settled down for an hour when he returned and led us to another house high in the mountains. We slept in the barn here.

21st September
We left the house at 7.30 for another sheep shed in the mountains, and it would appear that a very satisfactory arrangement has been reached. Food was brought to us today, and books and a pipe have been promised in the near future. If this state continues, we are well content to await the arrival of our own troops. We learnt today that Jerry is offering £20 per head for escaped British and

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American P.O.W. ‘s. There is also a strong rumour going about that we have landed at Ancona. Straw and bedding has been transported here and we look forward to a comfortable night.

22nd September
We slept splendidly and were awakened by the old man shouting ‘Mangiare’. He is a bandy-legged old man but his strength seems in no way impaired. He told me the Fascists were looking for prisoners last night. We (Dick and I) are both rather apprehensive as to what will happen if the Germans do come anywhere remotely near to this locality, as we think our present benefactors are likely to stampede. The rumours of the British landing at Ancona has been established as true. The Senora (?Signora) came up with the lunch today and amongst other things she brought a very palatable egg and tomato omelette and a sweet made of milk. Shortly after their departure we were found by three strange men who apparently knew we were English. We were very cautious, but our fears and suspicions were to a certain extent allayed by Lelli’s vouching for them. Our uneasiness returned when our ‘mangiare’ did not come up that night. We retired early again.

23rd September
Another good night and we breakfasted of bread and milk. We learnt this morning that the Americans had made a paratroop landing in the Dodecanese. To our great surprise we also learned that Naples had been in the hands of the Boche for a fortnight. We had been under the impression that our troops were in the vicinity of Rome. Of course the landing at Ancona is poppycock. We continue to be very well fed. The farms appear to be owned and worked by the whole of the family. There is no evidence of any hired labour. There is

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land left uncultivated and what would appear inaccessible to the plough in England is turned over here by teams of oxen, anything from 2 -8. That land which is inaccessible or too hard for the beasts is often ploughed by hand. I must find out more about the life of the peasant it is interesting.

24th September
We looked for a hiding place amongst the undergrowth today which we will use in the event of the Boche appearing in the neighbourhood. Our host will also come with us as he is likely to be commandeered for the German Army. We are still being fed very well – today we had chicken, pastascuitta, chipped potatoes, bread, grapes and apples for lunch. There are some other English prisoners also in hiding in the neighbourhood. We shelved the idea of digging a tunnel on account of the ground being rocky and dry, and instead have found an old watercourse amidst thick undergrowth which can be naturally camouflaged. We returned to the house in the evening and dined off a huge plate of potatoes, after which we had a decent hot wash. We both needed it, I particularly was caked in grime.

25th September
We spent a miserable cold night on the floor of a shed at the house and were glad to get back to our refuge amongst the hills. We are entirely to blame for our own discomfort as we refused the offer to spend the night in the barn. The signora has returned from Firenza and has sent us up a novel. Large scale map of Italy and civilian clothes. At the moment my dress consists of my original blouse and trousers, plus a new grey shirt (which doesn’t fit) and a belt. Dick’s metamorphosis is complete and he has been given the whole works. He is quite the well dressed man in his garb of grey

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pleated sports jacket, slinky blue silk shirt and a sporty pair of plus-four trousers. The general effect is rather marred by the fact that he does not possess any stockings and consequently shows about 12 ins. of bare leg between kneecap and boot. However, his disguise is fairly formidable and the average man would take him for one of the Dead End Kids dressed up to go to the wedding of Harpo Marx. Our morale was raised in the afternoon by the appearance of 27 British bombers overhead on their way to Florence. We heard, fifteen minutes later, evidence of their having arrived over the target.

26th September
Again gale which has been blowing for 24 hours shows no sign of abating. We are going to the house to dine tonight and ostensibly to be exhibited to the elder married daughter and husband who have arrived from Imola. I cannot help wondering what new form of ugliness this daughter will specialise in. Of seven ugly daughters one has a hunchback and the only one with the slightest approach to beauty is blind in one eye and is possessed of adenoids. Incidentally, the old man is deformed in the legs and is as baddy as the O in O’Grady. It is worth mentioning that in spite of these physical drawbacks all the girls of marriageable age seem to be affianced.

We have been to the house and found Gouseppina was not suffering from any visible major infirmity. Lester came in plastered later on in the evening and was in great form. We all gathered round the table and left (?) Martina spooning in the great open fireplace. Nobody was embarrassed. It reminded us both of (?) Birdbury.

Our walk back to our own residence was pleasurable in spite of the gale still blowing.

[digital page 35, original page 11]

27th September
Nothing to report.

28th September
Perfectly foul weather. It rained and blew hard the whole time. In spite of this our food was brought to us promptly and without interruption. It is amazing away (? the way) the girls negotiate these rocky paths in bare feet night and day. They are fairly tough. Their life is simple they seem to help on the farms, tending the crops and minding the stock until such times as they marry. After they marry they spend the rest of the time bearing children and weaving on a hand loom. Their homes are poor and they live in one large room (not unlike a slaughter house) with crumpling decrepit walls and a stone floor. Pots and pans adorn the walls, an odd shelf with perhaps a newspaper frieze, and usually a central space for a picture of the Virgin Mary and a crucifix, together with the current calendar for the year. The room is lit by a small window over the sink by day, and a single paraffin flame by night. The mistress of the household is usually tucked away at night in some dark corner, weaving. The floor is swept, to my knowledge, some two or three times a day. This is no doubt because if bears a heavy responsibility. It receives the spittle from Father, the odd spinning flock from mother, the cigarette butts from the sons and the odd bones and (?) boxes from the whole which is not washed at the table. The room is heated by a large primitive open fireplace in which faggots and logs are burned. In the present household a long tube is used to blow the embers into life, The method of rocking the baby to sleep is one which (intrigues me -at present I have been unable to see the cradle

[digital page 36, original page 12]

but it makes a hell of a din and in the (one word illegible) the noise should be sufficient to keep the child awake the whole night.

29th September
We spend about 23 hours a day now in reclining position. As a result I ache in the back, both sides and, when there is a woman present, all over. (?) Giodaino came in the afternoon and brought me a pair of trousers. Then came the bombshell. He regretted it very much but we would have to go as our host was unable to go on feeding us for a long period as he had barely enough for himself. He kindly let us take the map and dictionary. We arranged to go the next morning. The British have reached Foggia.

30th September
We spent a good night and made a start about 7.30. We marched well today amidst true Dornsford Yates scenery, upland lawns, mossy banks and shady glades. We thoroughly enjoyed it. We reached a house high amongst the mountains just when it started to rain. We had a royal welcome and spent a comfortable night.

1st October.
We were told at breakfast this morning that there were five paratroopers in the hills about five kilos from the house. We set out with a guide and found them well tucked away in a house to themselves. They were ex-prisoners like ourselves. This was somewhat disappointing as we had hoped to obtain valuable information from them if they had been paratroops. Food was brought to them once a day for which I imagine they paid a lot of money. They were hungry and browned off. The remainder of the day was spent in walking up and down a mountain of well over 3000 ft. Luckily we hit an old Roman

[digital page 37, original page 13]

road and late in the afternoon a guide who like ourselves was a wayfarer. He took us to a house for the night and we dined off chestnut pudding. This is very stodgy and indigestible but not unpleasant. Our friend, the guide, being a confirmed smoker, was forced to adopt snuff as a substitute for tobacco and he somewhat originally smoked it in his pipe.

2nd October
We spent a cold and uncomfortable night and the addition of mice and rats made it more so from my point of view. Yesterday I contracted a pain in my left kneecap and it has impaired my ability to march rapidly. We had a splendid lunch today and, as usual, flogged the whole of the cheese. The amount we consume when available, I imagine, would normally keep the family for a week. The afternoon was spent bathing in a mountain stream. Dick sat in the stream with a fixed smile upon his face and wore the slightly bewildered air of a chick which has just come out of its egg. He assured me however the water was not cold. As a result of this dalliance we only just found a house before darkness descended. We spent a most uncomfortable night lying without a cover in the hay.

3rd October
We awoke this morning covered from head to foot in small pieces of hay and we were glad to leave. We made excellent progress and reached a house that night within sight of the main Forli-Florence road. We entertained that night by charming people, who gave us a splendid meal. We actually spent the night in the house and had somewhat originally a made-up bed of fern!

4th October
Our progress was again good today. We crossed the road and the night

[digital page 38, original page 14]

found us well past Mt. (?) Falperona (Valdarno?) [consult map]. We sought shelter for the night at the house of a priest but as would befit a member of the church he hurries us away and told us to go to another house. This was our first refusal since we escaped. We finally found shelter some twenty minutes from the priest. Our host was of rather sour disposition but this (?his) mistress provided us with a bed before the fire.

5th October
I believe they were somewhat relieved to see us ago (sic) – mainly due to the fact that two English prisoners were caught the day before on the road a few kilos from the house. They had apparently hoped to spend the night at an hotel somewhat foolishly we thought. Our progress was not good in the morning, but in the afternoon we climbed into the heavens. It was perfect on the summit and we rested and sunbathed. On the way down we met a woodman who guided us along the (?) Canaladi Road [check map] and gave us directions as to where we could expect to receive food and lodging for the night. As we came into the vicinity of the main Casena (Casentino) [check map] road he handed us over to two boys who led us across the road and through a labyrinth of passages into the middle of a large and comparatively modern village. Our reception was magnificent and we were presented with cigarettes, wine and food. The uncertainty of our own safety lent a fillip to our excursion. We left after a short while to a somewhat safer abode in the country. Even here we felt a little apprehensive as we had been warned that one of our friends of the village was reputed to be a Fascist.

[digital page 39, original page 15]

6th October
This afternoon we called at a farm and was (sic) greeted in English by an Italian officer. He proved to be most kind and useful to us and gave us most encouraging news of the state of Italian patriots. He took us to (blanked out) in the evening. There is a large (blanked out), the head of the (blanked out) world, and all who pass and are in need receive food and shelter. It was constructed about 13th or 14th century. Even had the church and those (two words illegible) it are susceptible to bribery, and a few lire earned us that little extra comfort and service. We slept in most comfortable single beds. It seems to be a port of call for prisoners from the whole of Italy – British, Yugoslav, Italians all congregate. There was one other officer who stayed the night. who proved to be one of those who were taken from Bologna to Modena by truck. He escaped with many others by raising the floorboards of the railway truck (then en route for Germany). and dropping through the floor onto the track when the train started to move.

7th October
This morning we met two old English ladies who were lunching with the Abbott. They were internees and had lived in Italy for thirty years. In spite of their perfect accents (?), they looked as though they had come straight from Bath, Buxton or Cheltenham. We earned our lunch by carrying a sack of loaves and a large stone flagon of vino and outside the M-Y to the nuns quarters. The monks all live extremely well here and there is no shortage of food. They read the daily papers, smoke tobacco and seem to live the life of country gentlemen. Owing to some confusion about where we should lunch, we gained two by first eating with the (one word illegible) (a fat merry man like Friar Tuck) and then upstairs in our own apartment.

[digital page 40, original page 16]

We left this afternoon and walked comfortably to Piove San (?) Stefano. We arrived at a house soaked to the skin, but a change of garments and a roaring fire soon raised our morale. The people here were exceptionally kind and cheerful. We fed well, were entertained by three charming daughters, and slept in an excellent bed in another house.

8th October
We did not take into consideration the fact that the clocks had changed, and so arrived in the dark at a house high in the mountains. Our reception was not good and the people hadn’t a clue about the war. We were asked who would win the war, and if Mussolini was dead. These were typical questions.

9th October
We crossed the main (?) Fano road today. This evening we were again lucky and had a magnificent reception. We again slept in beds. We are getting more tobacco now and at the house [two words illegible] where we were fed were given a large amount by an ex-soldier who had returned the day before from Corsica. He seemed to think there would be a landing in the (name illegible) area in the near future.

10th October
We were given a good breakfast and pressed to stay to lunch but decided to go on. Our hostess’s husband was absent and I believe her carnal instincts were aroused. She delighted in slapping Dick on the back and stroking my face at the same time murmuring ‘bells’. We were invited to spend the night in a small paese where – although the food was small, the house was scrumptiously clean. We both had a very presentable haircut and again slept in a bed.

11th October
We did not obtain a pukka bed this evening but had one made up of

[digital page 41, original page 17]

straw near the fire. This would not appear so desirable as it sounds because the menfolk of the house have a habit of spitting every five seconds on the floor. Apart from this, together with the fact that the house had obviously not been cleaned for about three years, if one did not mind the rats which were (two or three words illegible), it was good.

12th October
We started the day as badly as I had slept. The country was difficult and (1 word illegible). It got better this afternoon and we received a tremendous upward bound in morale when this evening we suddenly came in sight of Gubbio. An old farmer invited us to stay the night with him and we each had massive plates of macaroni cheese. The night was spent in the byre and the beasts are especially active and forced us to open the door.

13th October
We seem to be getting more vino nowadays. Lunch however is scarce although today a woman made us especially a hot loaf and scrambled an egg. This is outstanding, an interesting character in the form of an American who had spent 13 years in Italy and was a (1 word illegible) of Mussolini crossed our path this evening. He told us of the 60. million lire Musso gave to his girlfriend on one occasion an interesting insight to Italian sympathy at the moment is that one occasion gave away two English fugitives to the authorities and she was subsequently found hanged. We were welcomed into a house for the night by a drunk who would insist on placing his arm round me whilst I ate.

14th October
The going was difficult today and we covered little ground. We were struggling hopelessly in the mountains and were rescued by

[digital page 42, original page 18]

a man collecting mushrooms. He took us to his home and we tasted Pulento (?polenta) again after a long time. We went away loaded with bread, fruit and nuts. Two ex- (I.T.) [Italian] soldiers who lived in Reggio Calabria promised to guide us through the German lines. They took us to a house to the main Fossato road and we stayed the night there. Our guides promised to return the next morning at 6 o’clock.

N.B. The next part will be more difficult as the dates do not seem to be consecutive. Do not worry about the different typeface, as I have one machine in Chideock and another in London.

[I think this is the last para of the above.] This evening we spent the night with a strange band of Yugoslavs who had escaped from Foligno. They were thirteen in all and had installed themselves very comfortably in two rooms behind the Church. They gave us an excellent stew and the latest news. After supper we gathered round the fire and talk. Their opinion of the ITE’s [Italians] was in accordance with our own.

[digital page 43, original page 19]

18th October
We said goodbye to our friends but one remained with us to guide us towards Visso. In spite of the rain we made excellent progress in the afternoon and we reached the outskirts of Visso as the night closed in. The night passed very comfortably in a manger. To our embarrassment our hosts would persist in crying at odd intervals throughout the evening. However a few ‘Mama mia’s’ and an odd clucking placed us all on a sympathetic footing.

19th October
The morning started badly with a laborious climb down a precipice in an effort to bypass Visso. We soon hit a good road which led us through (?) Gualdo, Castel Angelo and to Castel Lucia for the night. We had heard many wild rumours to the effect that here we would find a grande signora with many leads would give us food and shelter. Another and perhaps more interesting rumour was to the effect that a young English girl aged 20, who formerly lived in Rome, had a studio in the vicinity. Castel Lucia is placed high upon a hill and our first glimpse of it made our thoughts fly to Snangru-La. Close inspection gave us the opposite impression and I immediately thought of the Casbah in Algiers. Italian Film Corporations need never look beyond Castel Lucia to make shots of the East.

However we fed well and later, in the wine shop, we found six B.O.R.’s [British Other Ranks] in full uniform drinking flasks of vino bought from the money received from a pullover they had popped. They had heard the news in English and a highly discouraging speech by General Smuts. Two other

[digital page 44, original page 20]

[Digital pages 44-57 are repeated on digital pages 59-83 but with additional comments by Gillian de Cent.]

19th October (contd.)
English officers came in later for a drink and a chat. They had come from Genoa.

20th October
[handwritten note] Meeting
We left Castel Lucia with its head soaring proudly out of its sea of cloud. As we descended to the plain we promptly got lost but after a short while found the Electric Cables which were to guide us to Capo d’Acqua. Looking back on Castel Lucia, and from the surrounding mountains, we looked down on this huge white blanket surrounding the village, whilst above us the sun blazed from a blue sky. The mist was only in this huge punchbowl – it seemed odd. We reached our objective Capo d’Acqua, shortly before midday and encountered an English girl and Yugoslav officer. We had the usual scare, that the Germans were in the vicinity, but to date we have only seen a Carab. Maresciallo who came to warn the village. We have teamed up for the time being and will continue in the morning.

21st October
We got away early this morning, in fact about 6.30 a.m., the earliest yet. Our progress during the morning has been surprisingly good. We crossed the river road and had to wade a river which ran parallel to the road. Gil was halfway across when a passing German motorist sent us scuttling back to shelter. We met a (?) scouting group of paratroopers in the afternoon, and they gave us money. They had been dropped at several points in the vicinity of Ancona for the purpose of guiding escaping prisoners to the Adriatic coast, where they would on strips which were to call

[digital page 45, original page 21]

21st October (contd.)
every alternate day. We were told the plan had fallen through partly because the prisoners themselves would not risk crossing the plain to the coast but preferred to stay in the mountains. However, the paratroops even then rendered valuable aid by distributing maps, compasses and money. The Government would seem then to have taken considerable steps to help and facilitate escaping prisoners. In addition to the above, our aircraft had dropped many containers of food Badoglio had issued a manifesto that it was the duty of the Italians to help escaping prisoners and our Government had stated those rendering help would be recompensed as a result of this last proclamation. We have been hounded by everybody who gives us a piece of bread for our address. We spent the night in a small village and happily Gill managed to find a bed. Our journey henceforth promises to be amusing and interesting as in every house we have been in until now our stay has usually resulted in a [1 word illegible]. Yugoslav friend delights in pulling aside the thin veil of Italian courage and exposing the void. Italian soldiers turned civilian are his especial delight. Gill’s knowledge of the language makes all the arguments flow freely and without restraint. At the moment it is refreshing to hear someone combat the ‘poveri noi’, ‘madonna mia’ and ‘povera Italia’. The attitude generally regarding the Germans is one of extreme fear.

[digital page 46, original page 22]

22nd October
We arrived today at the foot of the Gran’ Sasso range. It has been decided to cross the mountains rather than skirt the outskirts fi Aquila [L’Aquila] as there are many Germans in that area. We bought half a sheep today at a village. The amount of food we carry around would appear ludicrous after what Dick and I have carried. In our party we now carry a ham, half a sheep, tea, sugar. Et. This is certainly the luxurious way of escaping.

23rd October
We have secured a guide for our attempt on the Gran’ Sasso. Our progress during the morning has been good but now we have reached the summit our guide has returned to his village – Ortolano – at the foot of the Gran’ Sasso. As a result of our obstinacy in refusing to descend in the vicinity of (?) Assergi, 3 o’clock in the afternoon still found us toiling in the mountains without wood, water or shelter, and no prospect of reaching a village before nightfall. However, God again came to our rescue as we met a small party with mules who showed us a cave for the night. It was a huge cavern and we built a big fire in an effort to keep ourselves warm. Our effort was good but the cave was soon filled with smoke, so much so that we had to lie out flat to eat and breathe. We finished cooking the remainder of the half sheep which I had carried over the mountain range and to me it was no small relief to see my bag look less like a butcher’s shop at Xmas. It was a miserable night.

[digital page 47, original page 23]

24th October
We left this morning, all with headaches and lungs full of smoke! and on making the top of the pass found Assergi below. However we avoided the town and climbed down under the funicular railway which the Germans were operating. It was at this spot that Mussolini was imprisoned by Badogli’s orders. There are two versions as to his fate. One is that he was shot by the Carib guards, the other that he was rescued by German Paratroops and the (?Carabe) disobeyed orders and fled and failed to shoot him. We gathered mushrooms in the afternoon and made an enormous meal off them in the evening. I drank a lot of watery looking wine which I am (?ashamed) (1 word illegible), second made me ill. The night was spent comfortably-in a barn filled with straw.

25th October
The Germans appear to have occupied most of the villages in the area and we have been forced to exercise more caution whilst on the move. We spent another miserable night in a broken down stone house with only a ten minute fire to stop us from freezing. Two O.R.’s whom we had previously seen at Castel Lucia also spent the night with us.

26th October
We received news today to the effect that the British are fighting in the immediate vicinity of Pescara (30-40 kilos away). and (1 word illegible) accordingly a change of policy has been adopted and we are going to remain in the vicinity of Castel del Monte for a few days and await

[digital page 48, original page 24]

26th October (contd.)
events. The village would appear to be extremely well organized and has housed and fed about 200 O.R.’s and Salvs for a month. There are no signs of fear here and it has even housed British prisoners whilst the Germans have been presented (sic). We have arranged for food to be brought to us every day and we will spend the nights at a mine where we can obtain a bed. When the Boche depart we expect to find accommodation in the village.

28th October
We returned to view shepherds’ hut in the hills for (?the) day. It is extremely cold and draughty and we have only a little damp wood with which to make an extremely smoky fire. This evening it rained and a hailed and we arrived at the mine soaked to the skin. Our total of miserable nights is rapidly growing now the winter is getting colder. Of course our Pescara news was wild rumour again, but I believe we have occupied (?Vasso). The news of the Sulmona fighting appears to be true.

27th October
Similar to the 28th minus the rain, but equally cold and dreary.

29th October
Our friend from the village has brought us food today but we have decided to continue walking. On Sunday, at any rate, towards another village some four hours from here. The weather is rapidly getting worse and we cannot afford to spend many nights like those of recent

[digital page 49, original page 25]

29th October (contd.)
experience.

30th October
Stayed at the mine during the night, and spent the day at the little hut in the hills.

31st October
The Boche visited the mine today but we received a message from the engineer and were out in time. Returned and spent the night at the mine.

1st November
This morning we received fresh food supplies – 2 large cheeses, meat, macaroni, potatoes, etc. We had our photos taken singly and in groups. Later in the evening we were taken to Castel del Monte and guided into a house after a (sic) dark to spend the night. The Germans are in this village but the spirit of the people is the best we have yet met. We were given mufflers, trousers and jacket and pressed to stay.

2nd November
Left this morning with our same friends to go to (?Celiera).
[handwritten note:] Villa Celiera due West of Castel del Monte
Said goodbye to them on the way and transported our baggage to mules. Arrived at Celiera to find the whole village shaking with fright. The Germans had shot the place up whilst looking for prisoners the day previous and had burnt

[digital page 50, original page 26]

2nd November (contd.)
three houses down. We spent the night with a S. African and two English. We are on the track of a British Major who has information about the river but he escaped when the Germans raided the village.

3rd November
We have at last found the major and we have had a [1 word illegible]. There are quite a lot of British, American, Yugoslav, Free French, all waiting here. The night was passed in this colony o£ shepherd’s huts.

4th November
We are awaiting news now and hope that the scheme will be a success. We get many visitors and now that we are getting organised, can help a little with food and information about the river. A recce has been done of the Pescara and it would not appear to present so serious an obstacle as I at first thought.

5th November
If we do not hear news by Sunday midday we are to assume the scheme will be a failure. In the meantime we are searching for boots for Gillian and Marco, but Carponetta (Carpin) would appear to have been drained dry. The Germans are also constantly passing through the village which denies the bulk of the houses to us and we are forced to scavenge on the outskirts. This places rather a heavy burden on these houses.

[digital page 51, original page 27]

6th November
We received news today from the major and the scheme is off. The majority of the Anglo-Americans are making for the river but we are going to wait, partly because of the large number who could attempt to cross the river at this time and also because there is hope of a further scheme and Dick and I feel that somebody ought to remain here for our own Command to contact should they want to.

7th November
Gillian and I went to the village to hear the radio. They have all be (sic) taken by the Boche except one which was hidden. Of course we did not hear it (too much paura) but we received what I am inclined to believe was authentic news. Vasto has been taken. We brought home a German soldier who has escaped from the Army.

8th November
As yesterday.

9th November
As yesterday.

[digital page 52, original page 28]

10th November
We received the news that St. Vito Chiapinio has been occupied. The advance seems to be on.

11th November
The farm sergeants who have been billeted with us left yesterday for the river.

12th November
We have received news today that (?) Ortona has fallen. This has not been verified but I am inclined to believe it.

13th November -17th November, 18th November.
There has been no news of late but it would appear that the fighting is still in the vicinity of the R. Sangro. Dick and Marco left today for the R. Pescara. We will probably follow tomorrow.

(?) 19th November
We left today for the river. Spent the night to the (? 3 or 4 words illegible).

[digital page 53, original page 29]

20th November
arrived in the vicinity o£ the River. Found far more English than we had previously met acting as runners for the Major’s scheme at Cigliera. (Villa Celiera) Gillian and I did a recce and we decided to cross it at first light in the morning.

21st November
We crossed the river at the power station and passed ourselves off as brother and sister who had come from Florence to fetch our old mother at Lanciano. After a close examination we got over. Whether the Italian workmen suspected or not I cannot say. We spent the night in the mountains above the village of (?) Lettomanopallo [check map].

[digital page 54, original page 30]

22nd November
The weather was good today and it was out intention to go to Pretori (Pretoro) but as I waited for a bottle of wine to be brought up the mountains an Italian friend promised he would guide us on the morrow to Pretori and we decided to spend the night with him in the village. While we were there we met an interesting character, an American Italian, who had been deported from America. He had done (1 word illegible) at the same time as Al Capone and knew him when he was only a bum in New York. This man’s racket was (1 word illegible) and bootlegging and, of course, had been put into prison by mistake. He was mixed up in the Lindbergh baby case and at the time was carrying a machine gun in the trunk of his car. He said to help a guy gets it from one state of another.

[digital page 55, original page 31]

22nd November (cont’d)
The people in the village have been pressing us to stay and wait for the British. They are less frightened here and we slept the night in spite of the fact that the Germans came and went on two or three occasions. Two prisoners were apprehended in a wine shop. They were given away by a stool-pigeon but the fact that they were drunk did not improve their chances.

23rd November
The weather has been bad again today and we have decided to remain in the mountains until tomorrow.

24th November
We left for Pretoro today and arrived after about a three hour journey over the mountains. We stayed in a collection of stables. Here we ran into Capt. (?Blenham) and Jack Storey again. It was a miserable cold night.

[digital page 56, original page 32]

(?) 24th November (cont’d)
and we slept between a (1 word illegible) and a horse. A rat ran over our heads.

25th November
Mike Harris turned up today with another officer. There are now six officers here all from Bologna. Food is scarce. Bread only. The people are very paura and at night the place is a seething mass of Italians.

26th November
We left today but arrived between Rapino and Guardiagrele. The 8th Army have established a bridgehead across the Sangro and we will wait for a few days. The view of the front is good.

27th November
We are still in the mountains and spend out nights in a miserable wet cave, without blankets. We can stick it out for a few days.

28th November
As before.

[digital page 57, original page 33]

29th November
An agent contacted us today and has promised to bring us money to procure food and clothes until the British come. He also said he would bring dynamite etc. to blow up a bridge here in the German rear. Dick and Marco turned up today. They have stayed at San Valentino.

30th November
It has been snowing and is bitterly cold. Gillian and I are both lousy. Marco has gone off without saying a word.

1st December
Still bitterly cold but our troops are advancing.

2nd December
The front looks today and the weather is better.

3rd December
The front is close today and we hope to be free by tomorrow. Guardiagrele

[digital page 58]

[Printed Map of the Province of Perugia and Rieti, Italy. Including towns of Norcia, Amatrice and Amandola.]

[digital page 59]

[Digital pages 59-83 are repeated pages from digital pages 44-57, but this time with comments inserted by Gillian de Cent.]

WE MEET UP WITH DOUGLAS AND DICK
(From Douglas’ diary) +Gillian’s Expansions

20th October
“We left Castel Lucia with its head soaring proudly out of its sea of cloud. As we descended to the plain we promptly got lost but after a short while found the Electric Cables which were to guide us to Capo d’Acqua. Looking back on Castel Lucia, and from the surrounding mountains, we looked down on this huge white blanket surrounding the village, whilst above us the sun blazed from a blue sky. The mist was only in this huge punchbowl it seemed odd. We reached our objective, Capo d’Acqua, shortly before midday and encountered an English girl and Yugoslav officer. We had the usual scare that the Germans were in the vicinity, but to date we have only seen a Carab [Arma dei Carabinieri]. Maresciallo who came to warn the village. we have teamed up for the time being and will continue in the morning.”

**********

Marko and I had breakfasted as usual off boiled potatoes and ersatz coffee. It was a beautiful day and we wandered outside to enjoy the sunshine. Marko was becoming ever more reluctant to continue south and wanted to find a place to lay up until we were overrun by the Allies. I think he would have preferred to return further north. I, on the other hand, was still determined to continue south. We still had abundant supplies of food with us. I still had money and my (gold watch) jewellery which I could sell and we were in good health.

As we were discussing this, leaning on a parapet overlooking the river, which made an almost 360 degree turn at this point, I looked up and saw two men coming down the slope towards us. They were nondescriptly

[digital page 60]

dressed, one in a floppy hat somewhat like a souwester. To my eyes they looked definitely British so I spoke to them in English. This was how we met Douglas de Cent and Dick Ellis. I was overjoyed to be with some of my countrymen once more.

We spent the day exchanging news and experiences. The two of them had escaped from Bologna after the Germans took over their camp, by hiding (I believe above the loos, but get details). Finding Doug and Dick so determined to reach our lines made me want to join forces with them. The two of them had several private consultations as they were somewhat nervous of the idea and probably felt that a woman might be a hindrance. However, the fact that Marco and I were so well provisioned and that I spoke perfect Italian, overcame their misgivings and they decided we should team up. I certainly did not realise at the time the dangers to which I was exposing myself if we should be caught and I – officially an Italian citizen – should be found aiding the enemy.

I persuaded the peasants at Capo d’Acqua that the two might stay the night in the loft with us. We had to hide rather rapidly when we were told some Germans were coming. I think Doug and Dick were more worried about this than Marco and myself. Unless asked to produce papers (and I had none), no German would have taken me for a ‘foreigner’, but they had only a few words of Italian. The scare was soon over and we re-emerged. The evening was spent laughing and drinking wine with the peasants.

21st October
We got away early this morning, in fact about 6. 30 a.m., the earliest yet. Our progress during the morning has been surprisingly good. We crossed the river road and had to wade a river which ran parallel to the road. Gill was halfway across when a passing German motorist

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sent us scuttling back to shelter. We met a scouting group of paratroopers in the afternoon and they gave us money. They had been dropped at several points in the vicinity of Ancona for the purpose of guiding escaping prisoners to the Adriatic coast, where they would [be embarked] on ships which were to call every alternate day. We were told the plan had fallen through partly because the prisoners themselves would not risk crossing the plain to the coast but preferred to stay in the mountains. However, the paratroops even then rendered valuable aid by distributing maps, compasses and money. The Government would seem then to have taken considerable steps to help and facilitate escaping prisoners. In addition to the above, our aircraft had dropped many containers of food Badoglio had issued a manifesto that it was the duty of the Italians to help escaping prisoners and our Government had stated those rendering help would be recompensed as a result of this last proclamation. We have been hounded by everybody who gives us a piece of bread for our address. We spent the night in a small village and happily Gill managed to find a bed. Our journey henceforth promises to be amusing and interesting as in every house we have been in until now our stay has usually resulted in a [1 word illegible]. Yugoslav friend delights in pulling aside the thin veil of Italian courage and exposing the void. Italian soldiers turned civilian are his especial delight. Gill’s knowledge of the language makes all the arguments flow freely and without restraint. At the moment it is refreshing to hear someone combat the ‘poveri noi’, ‘madonna mia’ and ‘povera Italia’. The attitude generally regarding the Germans is one of extreme fear.

**********

It was another beautiful day and our route took along a small river. We decided to climb up the mountain a little way to a place where we had a good view of the road and the river before deciding whether

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it would be safe to cross just there. From where we were sitting amongst the wild mountain herbs which smelt so sweet, we could see the road winding uphill to the west with the river below. We picnicked from our stores and then, as we had seen no traffic, we packed up and decided to cross. We would go one at a time as there was good cover on each side.

I was the first to cross, probably because I was the least vulnerable. I had not got very far across when a car came round the bend from the mountains. The others shouted, I took one look at the obviously German vehicle, and flattened myself below the shallow water. The driver took no notice and continued on his journey without hesitating, so I picked myself up and got to the other side. Fortunately Marco was carrying my pack at the time, so not all my belongings got soaked. Then the others crossed one at a time, without incident. I dried off quickly in the hot sun.

We started off again in the hot sun and before long ran into a party of British paratroopers in uniform. Our first thought was that the Allies had made faster progress northwards than we thought but soon learned that they had been dropped for the purpose of aiding the hundreds of escaping P.O.W.’s. I now know, of course, that they were part of Operation S.I.M.C.O.L. organised from Termoli, which had fallen to the British on 2nd/3rd October, 1943. These Headquarters were later transferred to Sari after it fell on (check date).

Doug and Dick, being genuine P.o.W.’s, had some private conversation with the paratroopers, who gave them a map and some money. Before leaving us the paratroopers told us where we could find shelter for the night. We arrived at the village in good time and were made welcome. I even had a bed, whilst the men slept in a barn. However, we were fed with the usual polenta and there was plenty of wine and Marco did his usual trick of tearing off his shirt to show his scars.

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By this time, too, Doug and Dick were feeling more relaxed about me as, so far, I had helped rather than hindered their progress and they had come to realize that discussions in Italian, which may have sounded like fierce arguments to those who did not understand the language, were, in reality, quite friendly. I know I spent a lot of time encouraging them to stand up to the Germans.

22nd October.
We arrived today at the foot of the Gran’ Sasso range. It has been decided to cross the mountains rather than skirt the outskirts of L’Aquila as there are many Germans in that area. We bought half a sheep today at a village. The amount of food we carry around would appear ludicrous after what Dick and I have carried. In our party we now carry a ham, half a sheep, tea, sugar, etc. This is certainly the luxurious way of escaping.

**********

We left our kindly hosts early once more. Our route towards the Gran’ Sasso took us along the edge of a beech forest with a gentle slope dropping away to the east. The weather was still hot and sunny. About two mid-morning we ran into two charcoal burners who were just packing their sacks on to the backs of a string of mules they had with them. We stopped and chatted with them for a short time and, as they were going the same way as we had planned, we continued together. From my point of view, they overdid their courtesy to a woman by insisting that I get on the last mule of the string. As a horsewoman I was reluctant to do so but Doug and Dick persuaded me that it would be rude to refuse their offer. So, bareback on a boney mule and with no bridle, I stick

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it out as long as I could while each of the wretched beasts wound its line round a different tree. We were making so little progress that finally I thanked them, said I felt less tired, and could walk again. We were able to say goodbye to them with good grace since they were near their Village, whereas we hoped to travel a great deal further that day.

We went on through the woods and towards mid-morning came to a clearing where we found a gypsy encampment. We were greeted warmly and pressed to stay and eat as their meal was almost ready. This is the only time I remember having eaten hedgehog prepared by covering it in clay and baking it over an open fire, which is always said to be the traditional manner of the gypsies. It was certainly delicious.

After thanking the gypsies we walked on and by evening had reached a village at the base of the Gran’ Sasso range. One more we found willing hosts who fed us and allowed us to sleep in their hay-barn. Another cheerful evening was spent drinking wine and talking with our hosts and fascinated villagers who dropped in to chat. When we told them of the route we intended to take the villagers insisted that we would need a guide and promised to try to obtain one for us. We went to our sleeping quarters with high hopes.

23rd October.
We have secured a guide for our attempt on the Gran’ Sasso. Our progress during the morning has been good but now we have reached the summit our guide has returned to his village Ortolano – at the foot of the Gran’ Sasso. As a result of our obstinacy in refusing to descend in the vicinity of Assergi, 3 o’clock in the afternoon still found us toiling in the mountains without wood, water or shelter and no prospect of reaching a village before nightfall. However, God

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us a cave for the night. It was a huge cavern and we built a big fire to keep ourselves warm. Our effort was good but the eave soon filled with smoke, so much so that we had to lie flat out to eat and breathe. We finished cooking the remainder of the half sheep which I had carried over the mountain range and to me it was no small a relief to see my bag look less like a butcher’s shop at Xmas. It was a miserable night.”

**********

Once again it was a glorious autumn morning when we left with our guide for the Gran’ Sasso. We climbed up an extremely steep escarpment, resting often. But it was not to be our day! The first disaster was when we opened our water-bottles for a drink, only to find that our kind hosts had filled them with wine instead of water. Of course this was a gesture of generosity but the wine only made us more thirsty. That was the last time we ever allowed anyone but ourselves to fill our bottles without checking them before we left.

Knowing there was a stiff climb facing us we had shared our loads as evenly as possible. I had the ham in my ruck-sack but because of the heat I had discarded my climbing boots for some cooler shoes, also with the intention of saving my boots for worse conditions later on. Marco had strung my boots to his pack. On the climb he lagged a long way behind the rest of us and when he finally caught up with us at the top one of my boots had vanished. With the walk we had in front of us it was about the worst thing that could have happened to me. He and our guide made half-hearted attempts to retrace Marco’s route, but the boot was not found. But the worst blow came when our guide, who we thought would accompany us across the whole range and whom we had paid accordingly, decided that he must return to his village in time to be there before nightfall. There we were, at the top of a

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mountain with no visible path down apart from the way we had come. We sat on the edge of the precipice, ate some of our provisions and discussed our predicament since, at the height we had reached, the night would be very cold.

Before we could get too despondent a group of shepherds with yet more mules and a great many sheep came along. There was a path beneath the summit which we could not see so we climbed down and accompanied them to a cave where they were going to spend the night.

The cave sloped upwards and was enormous. Below it the ground sloped gently down to a stream and we were so thirsty that we had no hesitation in drinking the water. There was plenty of wood lying about so we set to and collected a huge pile, both to keep ourselves warm and cook a meal the remains of our half sheep. However, we had built our beautiful fire in the wrong place and the smoke, which originally tried to escape from the higher part of the cave where there was no outlet, finally swirled round until it had filled the cave. We could only breathe by lying flat on our stomachs and had to eat our meal in that position too.

When the shepherds returned from looking after their sheep, they relocated the fire but we could still not get rid of the smoke. We passed our first sleepless night in the smoky atmosphere, all with headaches, in the cave which now contained not only ourselves, the shepherds, their mules, but what seemed like several hundred sheep. Ever since then I have been convinced that sheep do not say ‘baa’ but ‘maa’ and never stop saying it!

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24th October.
We left this morning, all with headaches and lungs full of smoke! and on making the top of the pass found Assergi below. However, we avoided the town and climbed down under the funicular railway which the Germans were operating. It was at this spot that Mussolini was imprisoned by Badoglio’s orders. There are two versions as to his fate. One is that he was shot by the Carib guards, the other that he was rescued by German Paratroops and the Carabs disobeyed orders and fled and failed to shoot him. We gathered mushrooms in the afternoon and made an enormous meal off them in the evening. I drank a lot of watery-looking wine which I am ashamed to record made me ill. The night was spent comfortably in a barn filled with straw.

**********

We managed to wash in the stream at dawn and did not delay our departure from our miserable cave. There was a fairly easy path to the top of the pass from where we found ourselves right above Assergi. However, we found another narrow, muddy path which we followed and this led us right under the funicular to the top of the Gran’ Sasso. To our great surprise the cable-cars were running up and down busily, all filled with German soldiers. Soon, however, we met some peasants driving a great flock of sheep in the opposite direction to our own. We stopped for a chat and asked them what was going on. They told us that the Germans had rescued Mussolini from the top of the Gran’ Sasso only the previous day and that was what all the fuss was about. Of course, I now know that this rescue took place on 12th September, 1943. It was one of the great German exploits of the war : Otto Skorzeny, one of their ace flyers, organised a group of gliders to land on the top of the mountain, taking with him a fascist Italian General in order to convince the guards not to shoot. Mussolini was then flown

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up to Germany to meet Hitler before setting up his new regime in German-occupied northern Italy (check details).

Whilst we were talking, some of the sheep had strayed from the path. Instead of climbing down to round them up, a youngish boy first threw a rock at them, accidentally breaking a ewe’s leg. None of them seemed at all bothered and, since the poor animal could no longer follow, they just left it behind. Had it been later in our journey, I suspect we should have tried to cut its throat and take it with us but we were too tired that morning.

We all felt very conspicuous as we continued down the path which led down the mountain with the Germans passing over us. I expect that, to them, we looked like any other scruffy peasants as there was no reaction to our presence.

As we descended the mountain we kept well clear of the town of L’Aquila where we knew Germans to be stationed. Our route took us along the brow of a low plateau dropping gently away to east and west. It was again a warm and sunny afternoon. We soon started to find a heavy crop of mushrooms – just the same as our English field mushrooms – in the short grass and all of us started picking every one we could find. Doug had a pillowcase in his bag and we filled that and every container we could find. When we found shelter that night, in a little mediaeval-looking village which we reached by a winding track up a steep hillside, the peasants cooked these for our supper with wine, garlic and other herbs. We all ate our fill and drank a great deal of the wine we were offered. But afterwards we all felt very sick. However, we spent a warm and comfortable night in a loft full of straw, although we kept sliding down its steep slope.

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25th October.
The Germans appear to have occupied most of the villages in the area and we have been forced to exercise more caution whilst on the move. We spent another miserable night in a broken-down stone house with only a ten minute fire to stop us from freezing. Two O.R.’s whom we had previously seen at Castel Lucia also spent the night with us.

**********

I woke up after a good night’s sleep, but with my hair full of straw ends. It took the combined efforts of our team to remove it as. although I had a comb I no longer possessed a hairbrush. Finally we managed to make ourselves look as presentable as possible, breakfasted with our hosts and decided to move on.

Since we had been told that the Germans were particularly thick in that area, with large forces in the towns of Assergi and L’Aquila and soldiers in most villages, we had decided that the best plan would be to move south-east, which meant crossing the Maiella range. We climbed steadily all morning. making good progress but not good enough to reach a village across the pass. The day was damper and it became much colder as we climbed. By dusk the only shelter we could find was a dilapidated shepherds’ hut, the roof of which had fallen in. More disastrously, we were above the tree line and could find only a minimum amount of wood for a fire. This lasted just long enough to make a cup of tea.

We heard footsteps and voices so lay low for a few minutes before we realized the voices were English. Two figures appeared and these turned out to be two O. R.’s whom Doug and Dick had met previously. We were glad to the extra bodies so that we could all huddle together

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to try and keep warm. This was certainly the worst night we ever spent. I don’t think anyone got any sleep and we did not pause long. As soon as possible we moved on, having spent a good part of the night moving around to keep warm.

26th October.
We received news today to the effect that the British are fighting in the immediate vicinity of Pescara (30 – 40 kilos away). and (1 word illegible) accordingly a change of policy has been adopted and we are going to remain in the vicinity of Gastel del Monte for a few days and await events. The village would appear to be extremely well organised and has housed and fed about 200 O. R.’s and Slavs for a month, There are no signs of fear here and it has even housed British prisoners whilst the Germans have been present. We have arranged for food to be brought to us every day and we will spend the night at a mine where we can obtain a bed. When the Boche depart we expect to find accommodation in the village.

**********

We walked on down the mountain at a good pace to keep ourselves warm. It may sound as if we were having an extremely depressing time but we mostly kept cheerful, joking away and laughing at each other’s attempts to light fires with damp wood, cook and keep dry and warm.

We eventually reached the village of Castel del Monte, where we were greeted with extreme hospitality and urged to stay. The people here had had many P.o.W.’s passing through and had helped them all in exchange for a signed note which they intended to present to the Allies as soon as they arrived. There were, however, Germans in the vicinity and we fell in with their suggestion that we should

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stay in the vicinity for a few days. since they had heard that Pescara had fallen to the Allies. The plan was that we should spend the nights at a mine and the days up at a shepherd’s hut in the hills, where we should be in less danger.

The friendly villagers guided us to the mine. which was a long, low, L-shaped building with a veranda to the east of a flat plateau. Here we indeed found beds. which was a most welcome change and spent a warm and comfortable night.

28th October.
We returned to view shepherds’ hut in the hills for the day. It is extremely cold and draughty and we have only a little damp wood with which to make an extremely smoky fire. This evening it rained and hailed and we arrived at the mine soaked to the skin. Our total of miserable nights is rapidly growing now the winter is getting colder. Of course our Pescara news was wild rumour again. but I believe we have occupied Vasto. The news of the Sulmona fighting appears to be true.

27th October.
Similar to the 28th minus the rain, but equally cold and dreary.

**********

These two days were spent trudging up and down the hills from the relative comfort of the mine to the miserable hut where we spent the days. However. we were at least given food to take with us and a hot meal in the evening. Making a fire became so difficult that I found a hollow piece of stick and spent most of my time blowing

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through it, lying flat on my stomach, trying to encourage the damp wood to burn. Later, the men said that was how they remembered me best!

The rumours that Pescara had been taken may have been due to Allied naval operations in the Adriatic (see W.O. 208/3444); this file deals with the escape of Maj. Gen. Philip Neame. He had expected to be taken off the coast near Cervia between 24th and 28th October, but it was impossible for the boat to call because of these operations.

Now that life was becoming so much more uncomfortable, Marco was for ever trying to persuade me to turn back. Having come so far, however, I was adamant that I wished to continue with my countrymen. Marco was becoming less exuberant, although he still persisted in showing his scars each time we met a new group of people.

29th October.
Our friend from the village has brought us food today but we have decided to continue walking. On Sunday, at any rate, towards another village some four hours from here. The weather is rapidly getting worse and we cannot afford to spend many more nights like those of recent experience.

30th October.
Stayed at the mine during the night, and spent the day at the little hut in the hills.

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31st October.
The Boche visited the mine today but we received a message from the engineer and were out in time. Returned and spent the night at the mine.

**********

Fortunately we had learned to be very tidy, so we had not much to pack when we received the engineer’s message. We dressed hurriedly and, instead of walking across the plateau by our usual route, took to the olive groves and then the fields. Since these had recently been ploughed and the weather so wet, we were knee-deep in mud but it was dark and therefore unlikely that the Germans would notice us unless we happened to stumble across a patrol. We kept pausing to listen and eventually made a roundabout way up to the usual hut. This did no good to our footwear which was already in poor condition. However, in the late afternoon a messenger came from the mine to tell us the Germans had left and we were able to return to sleep there.

1st November.
This morning we received fresh food supplies – 2 large cheeses, meat, macaroni, potatoes, etc. We had our photos taken singly and in groups. Later in the evening we were taken to Castel del Monte and guided into a house after dark to spend the night. The Germans are in this village but the spirit of the people is the best we have yet met. We were given mufflers, trousers and jacket and pressed to stay.

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1st November (contd.)

**********

Because of the nearby Germans I did most of the talking for our party, with whispered translations into English. We spent a reasonably comfortable night but decided we should need to leave early to avoid arrest.

2nd November
Left this morning with our same friends to go to (?Celiera). (Villa Celiera due west of Castel di Monte) Said goodbye to them on the way and transported our baggage to mules. Arrived at Celiera to find the whole village shaking with fright. The Germans had shot the place up whilst looking for prisoners the day previous and had burnt three houses down. We spent the night with a S. African and two English. We are on the track of a British Major who has information about the river but he escaped when the Germans raided the village.

**********

We were at this time slowly travelling eastwards as we had heard there might be help on the Adriatic coast. I later found that this was ‘A’ Force, based in Bari (see notes from Kew.) There were now quite a few Italians (men) who had worked for a few years in the States but they had forgotten most of their English. However it did make it easier for the men to communicate.

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3rd. November
We have at last found the major and we have had a (1 word illegible). There are quite a lot of British, American, Yugoslav, Free French, all waiting here. The night was passed in this colony of shepherd’s huts.

**********

As for as I recall Douglas and Dick talked with the major without me because, I think, he was not quite sure that I was genuine. The huts were normally used by the shepherds in spring, summer and early autumn but that year the shepherds had travelled north early to lower pastures to avoid the Germans. P.o.W.’s therefore had full use of the huts.

4th November
We are awaiting news now and hope that the scheme will be a success. We get many visitors and now that we are getting organised, can help a little with food and information about the river. A recce has been done of the Pescara and it would not appear so serious an obstacle as I at first thought.

**********

This may have been where a priest came each day and brought us food. Somewhere about this time I sold the last of my jewellery to buy more food as there were so many of us. Also a woman came up to the huts and offered to wash our clothes. Instead of our own reasonably warm clothes all she brought back was ragged cotton shirts and a skirt for me. You-will remember that women were not allowed to wear slacks at this time as Mussolini had declared the war a period of mourning and women could wear trousers only when skiing, riding, etc.

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5th November
If we do not hear by Sunday midday we are to assume the scheme will be a failure. In the meantime we are searching for boots for Gillian and Marco, but Carponetta would appear to have been drained dry. The Germans are also constantly passing through the village which denies the bulk of the houses to us and we are forced to scavenge on the outskirts. This places rather a heavy burden on these houses.

**********

Possibly Douglas meant ‘Carpineto’. not Carponetta. While waiting for news we heard of a shoemaker in an isolated area nearby. Douglas and I went to find him. It started off a glorious day, very hot, and eventually we came to a deep chasm into which a waterfall ran. We took the opportunity to have a shower, one at a time, while the other stood guard. Not far off we found the shoemaker’s hovel. This was the first time we had been greeted so rudely by any of the people we had met and I just managed to stop Douglas punching the shoemaker in the face. However, did get a pair of boots which fitted reasonably well. Some women then appeared and gave us lunch – fresh eggs. We were also given another two eggs which we took back to Dick and Marco. Then it started to rain. When we got back to the stream it had become a raging torrent. We were just in time to cross it; a few minutes later it might have become impossible.

The others were envious when they heard what we had had to eat but overjoyed when we produced the eggs.

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6th November
We received news today from the major and the scheme is off. The majority of the Ang[lo] Americans are making for the river but we are going to wait, partly because of the large number who could attempt to cross the river at this time and also because there is hope of a further scheme and Dick and I feel that somebody ought to remain here for our own Command to contact should they want to.

**********

See map of S.I.M.C.O.L. Operations [Editor’s note: SIMCOL was a code name of operations to rescue Allied POWs]

7th November
Gillian and I went to the village to hear the radio. They have all be (sic) taken by the Boche except one which was hidden. Of course we did not hear it (too much paura) but we received what I am inclined to believe was authentic news. Vasto has been taken. We brought home a German soldier who has escaped from the Army.

**********

This must have been the German deserter I wrote about in my notes. When I found he did not understand Italian I spoke to him in German. He was very frightened. He was carrying a Luger which I made him hand over. Douglas wanted to keep this but I persuaded him it would be dangerous to be found carrying a weapon and we buried it. We took him back with us and used him to do our chores for a few days. Then he disappeared. However we still believed him to have been a genuine deserter and that he just wanted to get further from the German lines.

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Addendum to G.’s insert for 7th November
When we went up to the hamlet where we had first met the major we were told he was a nephew of Montgomery’s later on the whole place had been laid waste by the Germans and most of the inhabitants killed. Those remaining would not speak to us as they thought the fault was ours. I believe the escape the major was planning was by sea in a ship obtained by ‘Wild Bill’ Donovan.

8th November
As yesterday.

**********

This really means that we just hung about, chatted and tried to find out any information we could.

9th November
As yesterday.

10th November
We received the news that St. Vito Chiapinio has been occupied. The advance seems to be on.

11th November
The farm sergeants who have been billeted with us left yesterday for the river.

12th November
We have received news today that (?) Ortona has fallen. This has not

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2nd Addendum to G.’s insert for 7th November.

By the time we were returning to the village it was getting dark. There were a great many other P.o.W.’s travelling in the same direction, mostly Yugoslavs. Our route lay just south of a fairly high mountain which, to begin with, had beech trees on top. It was frosty and there was a bright moon to the south. The glitter of the frost on the beech branches was a beautiful sight which I shall never forget. Further on the hillside became more open and we dropped down slightly to the north so as to be below the German sights. We tried to persuade the Yugoslavs to do the same but nothing would ever persuade them not to walk on the skyline.

12th November (cont’d.)
been verified but I am inclined to believe it.

13th November – 17th November + 18th November
There has been no news of late but it would appear that the fighting is still in the vicinity of the R. Sangro. Dick and Marco left today for the R. Pescara. We will probably follow tomorrow.

(19th) November
We left today for the river. Spent the night to the (? 3 or 4 words illegible).

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20th November
Arrived in the vicinity of the river. Found in more English than we had previously met acting as runners for the Major’s scheme at Cigliera. Gillian and I did a recce and we decided to cross it at first light in the morning.

21st November
We crossed the river at the power station and passed ourselves off as brother and sister who had come from Florence to fetch our old mother at Lanciano. After a close examination we got over. Whether the Italian workmen suspected or not I cannot say. We spent the night in the mountains above the village of (?) Lettomanopello.

**********

I think I said that Douglas was deaf and dumb so that I did all the talking. I could pass for Florentine but he knew only a few words of Italian. I have some recollection that we had to give an address but, if I gave the one in Fiesole, we would have been well away before they could find out. At the power station there was a bridge across the river so it was all very easy.

22nd November
The weather was good today and it was our intention to go to Pretori (Pretoro) but as I waited for a bottle of wine to be brought up the mountains an Italian friend promised he would guide us on the morrow to Pretori and we decided to spend the night with him in the village. While we were there we met an interesting character, an American Italian, who had been deported from America. He had done (1 word illegible) at the same time as Al Capone and knew him when he was only a bum in New York. This man’s racket was (1 word illegible) and bootlegging and, of course, had been

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put into prison by mistake. We were mixed up in the Lindbergh baby case and at the time was carrying a machine gun in the trunk of his car. He said to help a guy gets it from one state of another.

The people in the village have been pressing us to stay and wait for the British. They are less frightened here and we slept the night in spite of the fact that the Germans came and went on two or three occasions. Two prisoners were apprehended in a wine shop. They were given away by a stool-pigeon but the fact that they were drunk did not improve their chances.

23rd November
The weather has been bad again today and we have decided to remain in the mountains until tomorrow.

24th November
We left for Pretoro today and arrived after about a three hour journey over the mountains. We stayed in a collection of stables. Here we ran into Capt. (?Blenham) and Jack Storey again. It was a miserable cold night and we slept between a (1 word illegible) and a horse. A rat ran over our heads.

**********

My recollection is this night is that it was pouring with rain and we were woken by the locals to say the Germans were coming. We rapidly dressed and collected our meagre baggage and ran out into the olive groves. We tried to keep in touch but not too close together. There was deep mud. Eventually we were found and told that it was safe to return. Douglas and I were in a stall from which a cow had been removed. The rat jumped

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from the manger on to my face and then ran across Douglas’. It upset him more than it did me since I had always been a country girl.

25th November
Mike Harris turned up today with another officer. There are now six officers here all from Bologna. Food is scarce. Bread only. The people are very paura and at night the place is a seething mass of Italians.

26th November
We left today but arrived between Rapino and Guardiagrele. The 8th Army have established a bridgehead across the Sangro and we will wait for a few days. The view of the front is good.

27th November
We are still in the mountains and spend out nights in a miserable wet cave, without blankets. We can stick it out for a few days.

28th November
As before.

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29th November
An agent contacted us today and has promised to bring us money to procure food and clothes until the British come. He also said he would bring dynamite etc. to blow up a bridge here in the German rear. Dick and Marco turned up today. They have stayed at San Valentino.

30th November
It has been snowing and is bitterly cold. Gillian and I are both lousy, Marco has gone off without saying a word.

1st December
Still bitterly cold but our troops are advancing.

2nd December
The front looks (?) today and the weather is better.

3rd December
The front is close today and we hope to be free by tomorrow. Guardiagrele.

END OF DIARY.

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‘GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN, YOU MAY BE SEATED’ (Synopsis)
PROLOGUE (Personal background)
CHAPTER 1 – Arrest and Prison
CHAPTER 2 – Concentration camp
CHAPTER 3 – Holiday in Tolentino
CHAPTER 4 – Nazis arrive
CHAPTER 5 – Meeting with Marko and life on farm. I persuade Marko to move south; we meet up with Liselotte again
CHAPTER 6 – Meeting with Douglas and Dick
CHAPTER 7 – According to Douglas’ diary
CHAPTER 8 – Post-diary to meeting with Cameronians
CHAPTER 9 – Christmas with Cameronians; trip to Earl
CHAPTER 10 – Interrogations in Bari
CHAPTER 11 – By air to Sicily, Algiers, Rabat, Gibraltar, London (Clearance of Lieutenant General)
CHAPTER 12 – Interrogation in Northumberland House (MI9)
CHAPTER 13 – Reunion with family in Winchester. Police arrive.
CHAPTER 14 – Enemy alien. Further interrogations in London. Airey Neave asks me to parachute into France. Douglas objects.
CHAPTER 15 – Early 1945 join PID
[Since we had no precise knowledge of the position whilst we were escaping there will be insertions on the Allied positions during this time and also on events which came to light only some time later, such as Carton de Wiart’s being asked by Italians to go to mediate with the Allies on their behalf before the phoney Armistice.]

[digital page 85]

Gillian de Cent. Summary of Prologue and Chaps 1 & 2 of draft for ‘Good morning, gentlemen, please be seated’

[handwritten note] Not in possession of Trust but Keith Killby allowed to read.

List of proposed Chapters.
Prologue. 38/39 Student (19) in Florence. Became engaged to the son of a self made pharmaceutical industrialist. G.’s father had just died but mother came out for wedding (with complications as G. was Church of England) and just got home as war was declared. G. did not accept the Italian restraints on women. Daughter born just after Italy entered the war -June 1940. They lived at Fiesole near Castello Vingigliata (built in 19th Cent. by Englishman, Temple-Leader, as a replica of a medieval Florentine castle – so ideal for a Prisoner Camp.) Neame, O’Connor and other high ranking British Officers imprisoned there including Hargest (Farewell Campo 12) who with Brig Miles escaped to Switzerland the other four being recaptured. G.’s husband gets into Castle as ‘mate’ to an electrician and takes a bottle of Strega for the POWs and a note of encouragement in English. He leaves some tools. Towards the end of March ’43 G. after serious quarrels with husband left to stay with an Italian Colonel and Wife. Suddenly husband and then she arrested. (The six had escaped from Vincigliata) G. put in women’s prison San Frediano in Florence, run by nuns. (Another English lady is brought in but she refuses to remove her hat and gloves and to eat, so is released.) G. organises battle against bed-bugs and the ‘authorities’. When she is called for interview by the Italian Military Intelligence she enters the room to find three officers standing waiting for her. In fluent Italian she cuts them down to size by saying: ‘Good morning gentlemen, you may be seated.’. Through her persistence and the help of her father-in-law, who is allowed to visit her she improves her standing but has to write to fellow prisoners with the aid of a needle and her own blood. Through father in law a meal is brought in every day from a restaurant. One day a strangely crumpled piece of newspaper, enclosing some beans, proves to be of that date and she finds gives the news that the Allies had conquered the whole of N. Africa.
G. moved, after being allowed back home, with guard, to get clothes etc. to Villa Lauro, Pollenza, near Tolentino – Marche. It is just a big Villa used as a women’s camp.
G. again leads a battle against bed bugs and the lesbian Matron and insists of seeing the male Commandant who has the room fumigated. Father-in-laws food, money and slowly articles of clothing which she thinks she may need if she escapes in winter. G. contacts nearby contadini and buys food from them, she cleans marble window sill and with a bottle rolls out on it home made pasta. She gets toothache and is allowed to visit, under guard the local dentist in Tolentino where she shops and with a friend has a good meal, paying for the guards to have the same. August and came the news of Sicily occupied by the Allies. Due to overcrowding an empty cottage is cleaned and set up for G. and a Polish friend and others. They entertain the new Commandant and his wife -who got out with some of his prisoners from Panalierra when the Allies arrived to dinner. At the Armistice on 8th Sept. Gillian tells one of the guards, friendly chubby but called Botticelli, to get her a taxi so she and her Polish friend and considerable accumulation of luggage go off to stay with friends near Tolentine.