Damien Lewis’s third instalment of his SAS ‘greatest escapes of World War II series is a corker. It has all the elements Lewis ‘readers have come to expect, painstaking research carefully blended with firsthand accounts that allow the men concerned to tell their stories in their own words.
Many of the escapes discussed in this book were made as a result of decisions by Allied commanders, who threw these elite soldiers into near suicide missions with little thought given to their extraction. Nonetheless they got home through guile, endurance and sheer determination.
The first chapter focuses on Alfred Parker who was captured in 1941 after taking part in Operation Colossus. This was the first Operation that used British troops in an airborne operation and was very successful, destroying the Tragino Aqueduct in Italy; proving the value of special forces. However the submarine meant to collect the men was never sent and Parker was captured. He survived years of captivity, before escaping in defiance of the controversial ‘Stay Put ‘order that prevented Allied prisoners from escaping after the collapse of Fascist Italy. The second escape focuses on Anthony Hough who was captured in Libya 1942 while on a raid behind enemy lines and sent to the notorious Capo 21 in Italy. Hough escaped and survived, in a remarkable story of loyalty and endurance.
The third story takes place in the wake of the Allied invasion of Italy in 1943. ‘Tanky ‘Challenor and Lt Wedderburn carried out a highly effective guerrilla campaign against Axis train lines, but when Challenor is taken prisoner he manages to pull off a daring escape reminiscent of the Scarlet Pimpernel.
The fourth chapter switches to Brittany in June 1944, Cary-Elwes and a contingent of French SAS are tasked with cutting Brittany off from neighbouring Normandy, to prevent German reinforcements from getting through to beat back the Allied invasion. This was a highly successful mission that was carried out as they were ruthlessly hunted down by White Russians, Waffen SS and the French paramilitary Milice who carried out horrendous acts of butchery against the SAS and anyone who helped them.
The final account returns to Italy in 1944 and tells the story of Operation Galia. Led by Bob Walker-Brown, 33 SAS was dropped unprepared behind enemy lines and fought a brutal and successful guerrilla campaign against Axis forces. Walker-Brown was eventually captured and carried out a daring escape.
In SAS Great Escapes Three Lewis continues to examine the extraordinary men of the SAS and their never say die attitude, when facing incredible danger and privations. They may have been taken prisoner, but they never gave up. For me the underlying theme of the series is the triumph of the human spirit, The men depicted in the book showed exceptional courage to beat the odds in the most trying of conditions. The book also pays tribute to the bravery and generosity of the Italian and French civilians who risked their lives and their families to shelter members of the SAS while they were on the run.
Alan Bardos is a novelist and author of Rising Tide.
