1/
Nursing a sore head?
At least you haven’t got Bob Walker-Brown (f-row, centre) & the boys of 2 Sqn, 2SAS, mortaring you out of bed.
That was the fate of Italian fascists & Nazis garrisoned in Borghetto di Varo on January 1, 1945.
This a thread about the superb Op Galia...
Nursing a sore head?
At least you haven’t got Bob Walker-Brown (f-row, centre) & the boys of 2 Sqn, 2SAS, mortaring you out of bed.
That was the fate of Italian fascists & Nazis garrisoned in Borghetto di Varo on January 1, 1945.
This a thread about the superb Op Galia...
2/
First, some griff about Walker-Brown, DSO, who described himself as an ‘unadulterated Aberdonian’.
One of the outstanding SAS officers of the war, combining courage (physical & moral), alacrity, innovation & initiative, WB could be quite intimidating on first acquaintance.
First, some griff about Walker-Brown, DSO, who described himself as an ‘unadulterated Aberdonian’.
One of the outstanding SAS officers of the war, combining courage (physical & moral), alacrity, innovation & initiative, WB could be quite intimidating on first acquaintance.
3/
We met in 2003 & I came to see beneath the gruff exterior a warm, principled & perceptive man.
His SAS nickname was ‘Captain What-What'.
“I had a habit of saying ‘shall we do so & so, what what?’”
WB joined 2SAS in 1944 having distinguished himself with the HLI in the Desert.
We met in 2003 & I came to see beneath the gruff exterior a warm, principled & perceptive man.
His SAS nickname was ‘Captain What-What'.
“I had a habit of saying ‘shall we do so & so, what what?’”
WB joined 2SAS in 1944 having distinguished himself with the HLI in the Desert.
4/
WB: “In the SAS it was a totally different atmosphere [to HLI]. Most of the fellows were individualists who got rather bored with serving in Infantry battalions or other regiments and looked for a change; difficult to put it more clearly than that."
WB: “In the SAS it was a totally different atmosphere [to HLI]. Most of the fellows were individualists who got rather bored with serving in Infantry battalions or other regiments and looked for a change; difficult to put it more clearly than that."
5/
“The standard of intelligence & individual initiative was very high indeed & that is why the SAS has always been able to operate in very small groups. It was a very well disciplined unit & there was no need for shouting. Relations between officers, NCOs & men were excellent."
“The standard of intelligence & individual initiative was very high indeed & that is why the SAS has always been able to operate in very small groups. It was a very well disciplined unit & there was no need for shouting. Relations between officers, NCOs & men were excellent."
6/
“Whereas it was infinitely more unpleasant and many more times dangerous to be in one of the leading companies of an attacking infantry battalion than to be in the SAS behind the lines.”
(Important point, one frequently made to me during my interviews with wartime SAS.)
“Whereas it was infinitely more unpleasant and many more times dangerous to be in one of the leading companies of an attacking infantry battalion than to be in the SAS behind the lines.”
(Important point, one frequently made to me during my interviews with wartime SAS.)
7/
WB was on Op Wallace in France (44) led by Roy Farran.
“Farran was a born soldier. He had drive, initiative & was quite ruthless. If someone didn’t measure up he was out. One of my stick commanders after Galia was RTUd by Farran, sent home with the message ‘weak, wet & windy’"
WB was on Op Wallace in France (44) led by Roy Farran.
“Farran was a born soldier. He had drive, initiative & was quite ruthless. If someone didn’t measure up he was out. One of my stick commanders after Galia was RTUd by Farran, sent home with the message ‘weak, wet & windy’"
(I have my fingers crossed that Rogue Heroes leave 2SAS alone. Seeing Paddy Mayne transformed into an enraged Graham Norton was bad enough, but I don’t think I could bear seeing Farran turned into an irritable Alan Carr)
8/
Like Farran, WB found his niche in the SAS, where he was able to show his initiative. This was why Galia was so effective.
The Op began on Dec 27 1944 when WB & 34 men parachuted into Rossano, 25 miles north of La Spezia.
WB, far right, & his men just before Galia departure
Like Farran, WB found his niche in the SAS, where he was able to show his initiative. This was why Galia was so effective.
The Op began on Dec 27 1944 when WB & 34 men parachuted into Rossano, 25 miles north of La Spezia.
WB, far right, & his men just before Galia departure
9/
WB’s orders were to “make the enemy think that the 2nd Parachute Brigade, which had just left Italy for Greece, had returned”.
He & his men were to raise hell & distract the Germans from launching an offensive against the thinly-held Allied position in Northern Italy.
WB’s orders were to “make the enemy think that the 2nd Parachute Brigade, which had just left Italy for Greece, had returned”.
He & his men were to raise hell & distract the Germans from launching an offensive against the thinly-held Allied position in Northern Italy.
10/
The terrain was hostile, being mountains & deep valleys, covered in snow & ice. Partisans were numerous as were informers.
WB began work at once, ambushing a Nazi convoy on the Spezia to Genoa road on Dec 30, destroying 4 vehicles and killing several occupants.
2Sqn 2SAS
The terrain was hostile, being mountains & deep valleys, covered in snow & ice. Partisans were numerous as were informers.
WB began work at once, ambushing a Nazi convoy on the Spezia to Genoa road on Dec 30, destroying 4 vehicles and killing several occupants.
2Sqn 2SAS
11/
That was the warm-up. The main event was NY Day. Tipped off that the Nazis were seeing in 1945 with a big party, the SAS roused them from their drunken slumber at first light, firing 34 HE mortar shells into Borghetto from a distance of 1,110 yards.
Wrote WB in his report:
That was the warm-up. The main event was NY Day. Tipped off that the Nazis were seeing in 1945 with a big party, the SAS roused them from their drunken slumber at first light, firing 34 HE mortar shells into Borghetto from a distance of 1,110 yards.
Wrote WB in his report:
12/
“Direct hits were obtained on a number of houses occupied by enemy troops…2 German lorries drove down the road towards Borghetto & stopped on hearing mortar fire. Bren Gunners moved forward a few 100 yards & destroyed both vehicles.”
Dazed Nazis were seen fleeing the town.
“Direct hits were obtained on a number of houses occupied by enemy troops…2 German lorries drove down the road towards Borghetto & stopped on hearing mortar fire. Bren Gunners moved forward a few 100 yards & destroyed both vehicles.”
Dazed Nazis were seen fleeing the town.
13/
For 50 days WB & his men harassed the enemy (SW on map), by the 'skilful use of 3" mortars and bren guns'
“We did draw on to ourselves 6000 German troops but had we been in greater strength it might have happened quicker,” he reflected.
Towards the end of the op, WB told me:
For 50 days WB & his men harassed the enemy (SW on map), by the 'skilful use of 3" mortars and bren guns'
“We did draw on to ourselves 6000 German troops but had we been in greater strength it might have happened quicker,” he reflected.
Towards the end of the op, WB told me:
14/
“I'd picked up a couple of German prisoners & one said ‘Ah yes, we're looking for 400 British parachutists'. Of course we were highly flattered but by then they'd got the better of us.”
WB advised HQ the area was too hot & he received permission to withdraw. Job done.
“I'd picked up a couple of German prisoners & one said ‘Ah yes, we're looking for 400 British parachutists'. Of course we were highly flattered but by then they'd got the better of us.”
WB advised HQ the area was too hot & he received permission to withdraw. Job done.
15/
WB: “On our exfiltration we picked up a German officer who was in the process of cementing international relations with an Italian girl. I said ‘you are coming with us’ and we went through the lines with him.”
(Op Galia summary: 'Most successful'.)
WB: “On our exfiltration we picked up a German officer who was in the process of cementing international relations with an Italian girl. I said ‘you are coming with us’ and we went through the lines with him.”
(Op Galia summary: 'Most successful'.)
16/
Some general remarks made to me by Walker-Brown:
“How did I lead men? Put it this way, in the SAS, if you are an officer you either make it or you don’t. And if you don’t make it, it gets back in no time at all. Simple as that. You are either up to it or you aren’t.”
Some general remarks made to me by Walker-Brown:
“How did I lead men? Put it this way, in the SAS, if you are an officer you either make it or you don’t. And if you don’t make it, it gets back in no time at all. Simple as that. You are either up to it or you aren’t.”
17/
“The general view in the British military establishment was that the SAS had very little to do with the serious business of war and all they really did was take away a lot of very efficient officers and NCOs who would have been much better employed in their parent Regt."
“The general view in the British military establishment was that the SAS had very little to do with the serious business of war and all they really did was take away a lot of very efficient officers and NCOs who would have been much better employed in their parent Regt."
18/
“The Americans were much more flexible and appreciative of the possible advantages of using the SAS [Bill Stirling agreed]. Just before I joined the SAS Boy Browning decided that he wanted to use the SAS as parachute infantry for which we were neither organised or trained."
“The Americans were much more flexible and appreciative of the possible advantages of using the SAS [Bill Stirling agreed]. Just before I joined the SAS Boy Browning decided that he wanted to use the SAS as parachute infantry for which we were neither organised or trained."
19/
"It was only due to the fact that Bill Stirling said he would resign, which he did [sic], which you have to give him enormous credit for, that finally brought the message home. As a result, we were then deployed in depth as troops on operations such as Wallace and Hardy."
"It was only due to the fact that Bill Stirling said he would resign, which he did [sic], which you have to give him enormous credit for, that finally brought the message home. As a result, we were then deployed in depth as troops on operations such as Wallace and Hardy."
20/
In fact Bill was pushed before he could jump, but his principled stand forced Browning to abandon the plan to deploy the SAS brigade tactically in summer 1944, & as WB stated they were used strategically deep inside France
This drama is covered in my 2SAS book – out in Sept
In fact Bill was pushed before he could jump, but his principled stand forced Browning to abandon the plan to deploy the SAS brigade tactically in summer 1944, & as WB stated they were used strategically deep inside France
This drama is covered in my 2SAS book – out in Sept
21/
Damn! I've just realised I've broken my New Year's Resolution of no more shameless and gratuitous plugs for my books on social media.
Damn! I've just realised I've broken my New Year's Resolution of no more shameless and gratuitous plugs for my books on social media.
22/22
WB lectured often to 22SAS about his wartime experience. One talk, a Commanders Course in 1997, was about Galia. WB described a forced march of 57 hours, summiting the 6000ft Monte Gottero through waist-deep snow chased by two German Mt Regiments
Bob W-Brown: 1919-2009
WB lectured often to 22SAS about his wartime experience. One talk, a Commanders Course in 1997, was about Galia. WB described a forced march of 57 hours, summiting the 6000ft Monte Gottero through waist-deep snow chased by two German Mt Regiments
Bob W-Brown: 1919-2009
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