SAS Backhouse, Charles R.

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Backhouse
  • FORENAME
Charles R.
  • UNIT
1 SAS (A Squadron)
  • RANK
A/Corporal
  • NUMBER
2931647
  • AWARD
Mention in Despatches
  • PLACE
N.W.Europe 1945
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Army Air Corps
former Liverpool Scottish
Cameron Highlanders in citatation
1 Special Service Regiment and 1 SAS 1942
WIA 8.4.1945
 

CITATION:

Mention in Despatches : BACKHOUSE was taken prisoner on the MARETH LINE, TUNISIA, n 21 Jan. 43, and at the time of the Italian Armistice was Camp Leader in Camp 146/29 (LODI).

On 20 Aug.43, BACKHOUSE and one other walked out of camp; they were recaptured about twenty minutes later.

P/W in Camp 146/29 were released by the Italians shortly after the Armistice; the men split up into small groups and lived on neighbouring farms. BACKHOUSE made arrangements with the local priest for some men to go to Switzerland.

BACKHOUSE was caught by Germans on 4 Oct.43; he was taken first to MILAN and then on to MANTOVA and shortly afterwards entrained with other P/W for Germany.

BACKHOUSE and his companions cut a hole in the side of the truck and jumped from the train near VICENZA at 1900 hours on 16 Oct.43. He went to the village of MONTIBELLO, where he remained for a month.

With a friend he tried to go to Yugoslavia, but on reaching the neighbourhood of TRIESTE they were forced to turn back on account of Germans and Fascist Patrols and the inhospitable attitude of the people. They returned to LODI and shortly afterwards went to AGNADELLO. Here they got in touch with an Organisation and finally reached Switzerland on 10 Jan.44.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7377221
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