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1/11
May 8 1945, Monopoli, Italy.
The mother of all booze-ups for the SBS & the LRDG.
Doug Wright, SBS, told me: “We filled a water cart with wine and drank for a week.”
A Hitler 'Guy' was made & burned on a bonfire (pic).
There was pig racing & a SBS fortune teller.
May 8 1945, Monopoli, Italy.
The mother of all booze-ups for the SBS & the LRDG.
Doug Wright, SBS, told me: “We filled a water cart with wine and drank for a week.”
A Hitler 'Guy' was made & burned on a bonfire (pic).
There was pig racing & a SBS fortune teller.
2/
There was a greased pole to climb with old mattresses underneath to cushion the fall of the revellers.
Capt Walter Milner-Barry, SBS, (pic) wrote in his diary: “We organised a funfair for the troop with unsuitable officers dressed up as ballet girls."
But someone was missing
There was a greased pole to climb with old mattresses underneath to cushion the fall of the revellers.
Capt Walter Milner-Barry, SBS, (pic) wrote in his diary: “We organised a funfair for the troop with unsuitable officers dressed up as ballet girls."
But someone was missing
3/
On May 8 1945 Captain John Olivey (f-row, 2 from rt) & his men of Z1 Patrol were locked up in Istria by Yugoslav partisans, the latest adventure for one of the LRDG’s most intrepid officers.
Jim Patch, who served with Olivey, told me he was tireless, innovative & courageous.
On May 8 1945 Captain John Olivey (f-row, 2 from rt) & his men of Z1 Patrol were locked up in Istria by Yugoslav partisans, the latest adventure for one of the LRDG’s most intrepid officers.
Jim Patch, who served with Olivey, told me he was tireless, innovative & courageous.
4/
Born in England in 1906, Olivey briefly read medicine at Cambridge ‘without success’. He emigrated to Rhodesia aged 20 & farmed in Melsetter.
On the outbreak of war, he enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters & he had a commission by the time he volunteered for the LRDG in 1941.
Born in England in 1906, Olivey briefly read medicine at Cambridge ‘without success’. He emigrated to Rhodesia aged 20 & farmed in Melsetter.
On the outbreak of war, he enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters & he had a commission by the time he volunteered for the LRDG in 1941.
5/
Olivey (pic) was captured on Leros in Nov 1943 & shipped to Athens with 1,500 other POWS.
In the Greek capital they were marched through the streets, an attempt by the Germans to humiliate their prisoners & show Athenians that the British were no match for the Third Reich.
Olivey (pic) was captured on Leros in Nov 1943 & shipped to Athens with 1,500 other POWS.
In the Greek capital they were marched through the streets, an attempt by the Germans to humiliate their prisoners & show Athenians that the British were no match for the Third Reich.
6/
The stunt backfired, to the hilarity of Olivey, who described the trek through Athens as ‘like a victory march’. Greeks threw oranges & cigarettes to the POWS & and the British blew kisses to the watching women. Olivey took his chance & dashed into the crowd.
Pic: Olivey's men
The stunt backfired, to the hilarity of Olivey, who described the trek through Athens as ‘like a victory march’. Greeks threw oranges & cigarettes to the POWS & and the British blew kisses to the watching women. Olivey took his chance & dashed into the crowd.
Pic: Olivey's men
7/
Olivey: “I turned into the first house I saw. A few moments later two Greek women followed me having seen me escape."
Within minutes he was decked out as a local, tucking into hot food. Four months later the Greek Underground smuggled him out of Athens on a fishing boat.
Olivey: “I turned into the first house I saw. A few moments later two Greek women followed me having seen me escape."
Within minutes he was decked out as a local, tucking into hot food. Four months later the Greek Underground smuggled him out of Athens on a fishing boat.
8/
All the LRDG & SBS veterans I interviewed had complete admiration and affection for the Greek civilians during the war. Ferocious courage whatever their class, sex or age.
In France & Italy, the SAS/LRDG found the working-class resolute, but the bourgeoisie generally less so.
All the LRDG & SBS veterans I interviewed had complete admiration and affection for the Greek civilians during the war. Ferocious courage whatever their class, sex or age.
In France & Italy, the SAS/LRDG found the working-class resolute, but the bourgeoisie generally less so.
9/
In spring 1945 Olivey's Patrol was operating in Yugoslavia & encountering as much trouble from the partisans as from Germans.
On May 6 the LRDG boys were locked up by the partisans for no discernible reason. Denied access to a loo by their guard, Olivey ‘peed on his candle’.
In spring 1945 Olivey's Patrol was operating in Yugoslavia & encountering as much trouble from the partisans as from Germans.
On May 6 the LRDG boys were locked up by the partisans for no discernible reason. Denied access to a loo by their guard, Olivey ‘peed on his candle’.
10/
It wasn’t until May 9 that Olivey and his Patrol were brought before the local Partisan commander, "who released them with many apologies and much wine".
Olivey, who loved a party, was not amused to learn he had missed out on the VE Day bash in Monopoli.
It wasn’t until May 9 that Olivey and his Patrol were brought before the local Partisan commander, "who released them with many apologies and much wine".
Olivey, who loved a party, was not amused to learn he had missed out on the VE Day bash in Monopoli.
11/11
Olivey returned to his farm, married & had 5 kids. He died in 1968. “About 12 of his old [LRDG] friends drove through the night to be at his funeral,” wrote David Lloyd Owen in the LRDG journal. “His coffin was covered with a Union Jack, the flag he'd served so faithfully".
Olivey returned to his farm, married & had 5 kids. He died in 1968. “About 12 of his old [LRDG] friends drove through the night to be at his funeral,” wrote David Lloyd Owen in the LRDG journal. “His coffin was covered with a Union Jack, the flag he'd served so faithfully".
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