2nd Special Air Service Regiment

The place Italy, the date December 1944. The Allied advance was held up again on the push north. The 92 US Inf Division was being continually harassed by the German 148 Inf Division and eventually gave ground.

2 SAS who had just returned to England from France were asked to provide help.They were asked to simulate the deployment of elements of 2nd Ind Para Brigade, who had been moved to Greece, followed by harassing attacks on the supply lines of the German 148 Division.

Meanwhile Troop HQ was awaiting the resupply but the weather conditions were extremely bad. A message was received from base indicating that the aircraft could not fly to DZ Huntsville (The original DZ near Rossano). A reply was sent stating that it was the only DZ possible for the following reasons:-
1. Easiest DZ for getting supplies to detached sticks as it was located in the centre of the Troops operational area.
2. Any enemy attacks against the SAS would have to come through country under partisan observation, whose warning system was made use of.

January 4th, weather conditions were now very severe. It was extremely cold and there was deep snow on the ground. Icing conditions and the snow on the mountain tracks made movement very difficult and tedious.

On the 9th January at 1530 hours the drop was made on Halifax and the remainder of the Troop made their way from Huntsville. 40 percent of this drop was stolen by the partisans (Communist Liberty and Justice Brigade) from Pieve. This was largely due to the drop being scattered over four square miles of country and it was impossible to prevent pilfering with the number of men available. The 10th was spent trying to recover the stolen equipment from the partisans
That night the OC with his party gave up the attempt to cross the mountains to ambush the Spezia-Genoa road. The mountain tracks were sheets of solid ice and passage was impossible without making too much noise. The night was spent at Sero. Next day he took a recce party to check the road bridge at Lago for demolition. It was decided to use 300 lbs of PE for the task. Some of the Troop returned to Halifax to prepare the necessary charges whilst the remainder moved into an ambush position about 300 yards from the Fascist building in Borgeto di Vara. They were about to open fire when vehicles were heard moving down the road towards the bridge. As the party at the bridge only had one bren fire was withheld and the vehicles allowed to approach the main ambush position. There were three vehicles in all, one captured British staff car, with trailer. A 10 ton truck with a large trailer and a third vehicle which turned off in Borgeto. As the remaining two vehicles left Borgeto they were engaged with bren guns. 32 Magazines were fired, both vehicles and trailers were destroyed and 26 enemy killed.

The following day it was reported that Blackshirts were burning houses in the village of Brugnato. This was a reprisal for the ambush, the SAS party had halted in this village the previous day on their way to the ambush position.
Captain walker-brown and his party moved off with the 3 inch mortar and brens, taking up positions on the mountain covering the road bridge. By attacking Borgeto twice it was anticipated that the enemy would be forced to take action to prevent in either reinforcing the garrison or employ a larger forces to clear up the area of the SAS. the intention was to prolong the attack as long as possible thus preventing transport from using the road, Spezia-Genoa.

Before the first mortar bomb was fired a lone Thunderbolt aircraft dive bombed Borgeto, dropping a bomb which failed to explode. The SAS party then fired three mortar bombs onto the road leading out of Brugnato making the enemy withdraw towards the bridge and the river. This group was engaged with further fire. They took up positions on the far side of the river and returned fire with heavy machine guns. This platoon was mortared and withdrew in disorder along with small groups who were engaged when trying to ford the river.

The mortar was sited for indirect fire and it and the brens fired at intervals into enemy positions in and around the town.

At 1600 hours all ammunition was expended except the reserve and the troop prepared to move. At the same time four Thunderbolts arrived on the scene bombing Brugnato and Borgeto and strafing the road. This had a considerable affect on the enemy who thought the SAS had fighter support at their disposal.
The enemy then brought up a 105 mm gun and shelled the hillside heavily. The gunners apparently did not know the mortar position as no fire engaged its position. The SAS party withdrew up the mountain with no casualties.

The 16/17th January were rest days but on the 18th Capt. Walker-Brown's party moved to Colodo with the intention of carrying out a machine-gun attack, using the newly acquiredVickerss, on the 300 strong German garrison in Vignola. This plan was abandoned due to the approaches being under observation. Alternative plans were also cancelled and they moved on to Arzelato. A party of 20 partisans who wished to join the SAS for an attack placed themselves under command.

At 1900 hrs, in total darkness the combined group attacked the Pontremoli - Aulla road. Two Vickers were used firing on fixed lines to a point were the road had a drop of 50 feet to the west and a steep cutting to the east. A single vehicle was engaged which subsequently drove into marching troops who were then also brought under fire. Casualties were unconfirmed but it was known that the Germans had remarked to civilians that there were large numbers of dead on the road. The enemy had returned ineffective fire but sufficient enough to make the partisans disappear rather rapidly.

Just after midnight the party withdrew to Corvette arriving there, extremely tired, at 0700 hours. At first light, some 15 minutes later, German troops in battalion strength were spotted 250 yards away in extended order.
The alarm was given and the SAS party succeeded in withdrawing, under mortar and small arms fire without casualties. Unfortunately a lot of equipment, sleeping bags, rations, mules, including the two Vickers, were lost to the enemy.

At first light many towns and villages were attacked simultaneously in a bid to capture the SAS party. Capt. walker-brown and his men moved on to Rio being attacked with 75mm gunfire shortly after arrival. the party moved on to Monte Gottero and spent the night ascending the mountain.
At first light on the 21 st they crossed the summit (5500 feet) picking up two of another stick and some partisans halfway up. At 2100 hours that night they crossed Monte Groppo. A force of 1200 partisans, from varying bands, were holding Monte Groppo but vanished on hearing that a force of 400 Germans were 1 hour away. The SAS party continued on to Boschetto and were informed that the Germans were still 1 Hour away.

22nd January, 0700 hours, the SAS left Boschetto and at 0800 hours a force of 2,000 Germans attacked the town capturing one of the partisan leaders. 1300 hours and the party reached Buzzo joining up with two other sticks. By this time Capt. Walker-Brown's party completed 59 hours continuous marching without rations and rest. The whole group moved into the mountains one hour from Buzzo and had 12 hours rest and food.

On the 5th the troop moved out of Borseda plans were made to ambush the Aulla-Spezia road and attack Padivarma with mortars.
On the evening of 7/8th the Aulla-Spezia ambush destroyed 8 enemy vehicles and inflicted a large number of casualties on a party of German troops and mules bivouacked by the road. Meanwhile the remainder of the troop attacked the Genoa-Spezia road destroying two trucks and immobilising a third. Information received from partisans later indicated that many enemy were killed and wounded.
The Germans were now billeted in houses with civilians instead of requisitioning them for there own use and the mortar attack on Padivarma was cancelled.