ENVELOPE/BLUE Mission, north italy, 1945

micky

New Member
Hello friends, i would open a new post about the "Envelope/Blue" British Liaison Mission in Reggio Emilia area, 1944/1945, with some pics for the site and for the friends. I wouold also pay a debt of honour to these brave but forgotten men.

"Envelope" was born at the end of the big "rastrellamento" of the end of july 1944, when the British Officers parachuted near Montefiorino disbanded under the push of the Germans. Maj. Charles Holland, with his radioman Frank Hayhurst bacame the BLO of the Mission "TOFFEE", responsible for the rugged appennine mountais between East Parma and West Reggio. Maj. Wilcockson becamo the BLO of the area between East Reggio-West Modena. When Wilcockson returned to the allied side of the Front, his plave was taken by the Captain Michael Lees, and his radioman Cpl. Andrew "Bert" Farrimond. Until the end of the war, they became the backbone of the "ENVELOPE/BLUE" mission.
 
Some pics:

A pic of Major Ernest Wilcockson during the crossing of a cold Stream in Reggio Emilia area, in winter 1944, on the shoulders of a young partisan.
 
some members of the "ENVELOPE" mission in february 1945.
From left to right: Hugh McGlade (an escaped pow), Peter Lizza (italian-canadian member of the Canadian SOE), Angiolino Orlandini (Partisan Green Flames Brigade member), Andrew "Bert" Farrimond (Lees's W/T operator), Captain Michael Lees, BLO. Please note the beret of Michael Lees, we'll see again later...
 
In the "Envelope Mission" was also a young italian boy, born in London, Mr. Bruno Gimpel. His file is still held by the National Archives, in the SOE section, classified for 87 years. Bruno was the "Cypher Officer" of the mission, encripting and decripting messages for Bert.

A picture of Mr. Bruno Gimpel with Michael Lees taken in 1949, during a reunion of "Operation Tombola" in Albinea
 
The last pic for today:

There is Mr. Bruno Gimpel today, in a recent reunion. Note the Black Beret, is the beret of Captain Lees, recovered from the battleground of Villa Rossi during Operation Tombola.

Hope that the relatives of the Envelope mission will see this post, and wait their replies!!
 
hi mickey

can you ask bruno if he remembers the spaniards. there were three, frank my grandfather, raphael who carried mike lees out of the villa, and robert ( justo balerdi) I think frank would have been translator as he could speak itlaian my grandmother told me.

its a long short but worth asking

thanks
 
I've asked Bruno about the spaniards in our last meet, he remember only Ramos as "hispanic", the other was all "british" for Bruno!

Ramos is well remembered also for spitting before open fire with his Thompson machine gun. Ken Harvey says that he had a good reserve of "Biltong", a rodhesian dry meat, he share always Biltong with his men, and they was always chewing and spitting all around!

John, Bruno is happy to have his pic in the sit, but ask to put this caption under his pic:
"Bruno Gimpel (interpreter and code) at Mission Envelope under command of Capt Michael Lees and ,second in command, Capt Ian Smith (Jan-March 1944) .Subsequently the mission was commanded by Capt John Lees . At the same time ,under command of Capt Ian Smith detached to the Ligonchio power station."
 
Hi Micky and all
I'm researching 148 SD squadron who dropped many agents into Italy, I have the log book and diary of a friend who flew as a Wireless Operator from Brindisi from Jan to Aug 1944 he mentions various agents dropped by them.
Wondered if I sent you the info I have whether you may be able to help or piont me in the right direction to get some background on these agents and their missions.
Have read Mike Lee's book and various other on the Italian partisans, all excellent insights into these brave men but so far haven't found anything connected to the agents dropped by the crew I'm researching.
Kind Regards and keep up the good work
Steve
 
Thank you F for Freddy, WWII aviation is also one of my interests. This summer we have planned a little tour on the crash site of Lt. Hillman, 148 Sq., crashed near Santa Maria del Taro in august 1944. In another long walk, we have also recovered the ID plate of the plane. It appear that the plan struck a mountain top and then crashed in the forest.
 
Hi Micky
Thanks for the reply, yep there is a web site dedicate to the Hillman family I imagine you have see it at http://www.airmuseum.ca/rcaf/donald.html
He crashed on the 24th of June 1944 the detail in the web site is excellent

Just found that the crew I am researching went on the 7/6/1944 to a mission called Toffee 34 in the ORB for the squadron it says 15 containers and 28 Packages to Cunici and 300lbs of Nickels at Koritsa.

I had also been told that Koritsa referred to in the ORB may be Korce, Albania

Is the date right for this to be the TOFFEE mission connected to ENVOLOPE/BLUE mission ? and are any of the names connected.

steve
 
Hi Fredddy, sorry for the long delay but i'm very busy with the work...

I'm able to open the Envelope Mission jpeg, it is a Mac native jpeg, may be John can help us with the pic??!!??

TOFFE is the British Mission in Parma area, leaded by Major Algernon Charles Holland, wireless operator Cpl. Frank Hayhurst, just in the area immediately west of ENVELOPE mission, also called "East Cisa".

Originally, Holland was parachuted with Major Davies, Wilcokson and other as Signal Officer on the advanced team of "operation Batepits" or "NEMBO", the never made launch of an italian Parachutist bataillon in thee rear of the Gothic Line (august 1944). The operation failed, and the advanced team split in two, Holland goes west and became the TOFFEE mission, Wilcockson remain in the area and became the ENVELOPE...
 
Cheers for the info, but the date for the TOFFEE they flew to seems to early as it was the start of June,
more research I guess never easy ! but by co incedence they flew a mission =

July 28th/29th 1944,
Operation LOXTON (LUXTON)/IMPERATIVE, 14 containers and 26 packages dropped 26 miles SW of Modena. 3 personnel dropped 5 miles SE of Mantum.

and I was told by Malcolm Tudor =

By coincidence I was looking at the cargo manifest for the drops to Montefiorino last spring.
As you will see in my book, the overall operation to land Italian troops, Allied advisers, and their supplies, was codenamed Albergo. The drop of agents was designated Batepits. I'm interested to see that your friend was involved in the operation - the DZ codenamed Luxton was one of three for the receipt of supplies.

I wonder what and where IMPERATIVE was, and who the three agents were ?

Thanks for the link to the picture excellent stuff a real connection to the past.
I know what you mean about work as well
All the Best
Steve
 
Hi Steve i've found this:

30 July French-Italian Border U.K., Italy 11 men, 185 Nembo Regt, Jedburgh Intelligence Collection (source: home.comcast.net/~harryfp/combat_jump_record.pdf)

About IMPERATIVE, it was the Drop Area near FRASSINORO, the three men was Frank Hayhurst, Ernest Wilcockson and an unknow italian.

Take a look to the Hayhurst's memories: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/s...a9000488.shtml
 
I can't thank you enough Micky these are the first agents/Joe's that I can definately name dropped by my Friends crew, awesome.
If you need any info on 148 crews, planes etc always let me now and I will see if I can help at all.
Will check site when I have more time as I am working over the weekend.
Once agian thanks
Steve
 
F for Freddy, here is another interesting file about 148 Squadron:

www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com/.../ Missing%20%20believed%20Killed%20ARS%20version.pdf

OOOPS! Link broken, try this:
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...TfuepuTafP2MNw
 
Hi Micky
yep it was put together by the chap who has a web group on 148 squadron of which I'm a member. His name is Terry and I helped him recently to confirm the destination of his relations Halifax on the night it crashed, long story.
I'm the Steve Andrews,the F for Freddy comes from the Halifax that my friend I'm researching flew in, which was a old war horse to say the least by the time he flew in it. If you wish to join the group which has qiute a lot of members worldwide all I need is your E mail address for Terry so he can send you an invite to join, the group is call "Operation Dark of the Moon".
Would also like to send the names of the other Ops/missions I'm researching just in case they ring a bell with you, I know time is precious but these as you probable know long term projects.
Cheers for the link and reply
Steve

Micky
your link is to an old copy Terry has revised and uploaded an ammended version with the new research included.
Cheers
 
Thank you Steve, may be i can help with my partisan knowledge. My email is cusnaATkatamail.com

Send me the other ops/missions, may be they ring a bell!!
 
Hi Steve, sorry for my long silence, but i'm very busy in the work. Im trying to identify the missions of your file, many of these look as flew over piedmont area, hoep to ahve some news soon as possible
 
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