Operation Begonia

Allied Forces

Axis Forces

Operation

Lieutenant McGregor is briefed on 1 October 1943. The drop zone is confirmed just before departure from Bari on 2 October. The navigator is confident in the accuracy of the location.

The aircraft departs at 16:00 hours. The ‘stick’ consists of eight men and four supply containers. The drop occurs at 17:35, but visibility remains too bright. During descent, Lieutenant McGregor recognises Chieti beneath him and realises the drop zone is incorrect.

Enemy vehicles are seen converging from the Chieti area. The team lands near Villanova in a wide semi-circle. They quickly regroup at the containers, conceal their parachutes, and receive a friendly reception from local peasants. An officer of the Guardia di Finanza warns them of nearby German troops and guides them to cover near the River Pescara.

After narrowly avoiding enemy fire, the guide leads them to a farm 11 kilometres away, where they remain concealed for two days amid heavy enemy searches.

Operations Begin

On 4 October, the group moves north of Catignano. The following night, they shift again, settling east of Civitella. A command post is established at a farm. The troop operates in pairs to locate and direct escaped prisoners to the coast. By 12 October, they have assisted approximately 300 prisoners. Morale among the escapees is high.

With Allied forces expected in Chieti by 20 October, Lieutenant McGregor is initially unconcerned about extraction. As sea evacuations are halted and many prisoners remain unlocated, he reconnoitres a mountain escape route. The path leads through Catignano, Torre, Popoli, Pratalo, Scanno, and Alfedena. Between 250 and 300 prisoners are sent along this route, and many likely reach Allied lines.

Diversionary Tactics and Armed Resistance

By 20 October, many escapees are settling into the area. On 15 October, McGregor meets Captains Lee and Baillie, who are attempting to secure a boat. Around this time, 200 SS troops arrive in Penne to begin organised sweeps for prisoners. Many escapees are captured due to their lack of caution.

To divert enemy focus, McGregor initiates road ambushes between Chieti–Penne and Penne–Catignano from 20 to 28 October. Ambushes are laid almost daily. Initially, McGregor plans to mount a Breda light machine gun on a captured truck, but mechanical failure forces them to proceed on foot.

Four lorries are attacked, including one ambulance mistakenly targeted. Three trucks carry armed troops who return fire. According to the Penne hospital, six Germans are killed and seven wounded.

On 25 October, an Italian informs McGregor of a Carabinieri officer in Collecorvino holding around 100 firearms. The weapons are seized and distributed to local farmers. However, seven British prisoners later steal these and sell them for personal gain. They are not apprehended.

Continued Activity and Intelligence Efforts

On 27 October, McGregor moves operations to the Farindola area. A small German convoy is spotted near Penne, but moves off before an ambush can be laid. On 6 November, McGregor learns of 24 prisoners ready for extraction under Major Gordon’s command. When this fails, McGregor begins arranging his own evacuation via a six-metre boat found at Montesilvano.

Cars are secured to move the escapees, but the plan fails when none of the prisoners accept the opportunity. As winter sets in, clothing becomes a critical issue. McGregor and his team acquire clothing and money from known Fascists, which they distribute to the prisoners.

On 20 November, a bomb falls on the church in Collecorvino. Locals believe the team directed the strike by radio. To avoid retaliation, the group relocates north across the Fino River to the Città Sant’Angelo area.

There, they commandeer a Fiat six-cylinder vehicle and 1,100 litres of petrol. German presence intensifies in December. Rewards of 5,000 lire are offered for captured prisoners. Fascists become more active in hunting escapees.

Targeted Actions Against Collaborators

From 16 to 19 December, the group conducts targeted night raids in Elice, Picciano, Loreto, Collecorvino, Città Sant’Angelo, and Piccianello. Moving in groups of six, with two men armed on running boards, they carry out executions of known informants. One man is shot at a cemetery in Collecorvino, another in Sant’Angelo, and a third near Picciano.

Approximately 300,000 lire and 50 suits are distributed to prisoners during this period.

Final Days and Evacuation

By 28 December, the group is based at Toni’s house in Collecorvino. With growing concern about their return, McGregor decides to split the troop into pairs and outfit them in civilian clothes. A local tailor provides suits at 2,000 lire each.

McGregor, dressed in civilian clothes taken from a Fascist, befriends German non-commissioned officers in town. He and Toni also recruit a local girl to spy on German officers, although no intelligence is gained before evacuation becomes critical.

On 31 December, the troop moves west of Collecorvino and divides into pairs across five farms. By early January, Germans begin laying traps based on rumours of Allied radio drops. Ambushes are staged in locations recommended by duped farmers.

On 4 January, four alleged Canadian intelligence officers approach Toni, offering evacuation by motor torpedo boat from Ancona. McGregor deems their approach suspicious and refuses to let Toni meet them again.

German Attack and Escape

On 5 January at 13:30 hours, German troops launch a surprise attack on the farms. McGregor spots 30 Germans advancing through an olive grove. More enemy troops are seen near his position. He sounds the alarm and flees with part of the group. They are pursued and shot at for over an hour.

McGregor splits the group. He, McQueen, and Toni form one team; Arnold, the interpreter, and a prisoner form the other. Dellow is missing but believed to have escaped separately.

An RV is arranged for 7 January at a known farm 16 kilometres north. After navigating deep snow and two rivers, McGregor’s group arrives safely.

They remain in the area for six days. The rest of the troop does not arrive. McGregor assumes they have crossed into the mountains and are sheltering at a previously visited farm.

Final Journey to Allied Lines

On 12 January, McGregor, McQueen, Toni, and others begin heading north, searching for a boat. They pass through Elice, Castellalto, and Atri to Casoli. There, on 16 January, they meet an Italian sailor who claims to know of a boat near Pineto. It proves unusable.

On 18 January, they locate another vessel near Silvi, but it lacks oars. They attempt to build replacements. During this effort, they encounter a man with a seven-metre boat. Initially refusing to part with it, he agrees to join them after realising their intentions.

On 21 January at 17:30, the group gathers at a farmhouse near Scherne. They are joined by two Italian boys, a pilot, his wife, and a female relative. Carrying four 5.5-metre oars across a German-patrolled coast road and railway, they launch at 18:05.

Using only stars and a damaged escape compass, they row without pause. After 13 hours at sea, they land near Fossacesia at 08:00. Canadian troops welcome them. They are back in Allied territory.