- Other Entry
- [ SAS ROLL OF HONOUR ] [ SAS AWARDS ]
- SURNAME
Westwater
- FORENAME
Alexander
- UNIT
former 7 Commando
- RANK
Sergeant
- NUMBER
876932
- DATE OF DEATH
15th April 1944
- AGE
25
- GRAVESITE
Sangro River War Cemetery,Italy X.C.33
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Royal Artillery
son of Alexander and Catherine Westwater,Perivale,Middlesex
later served with L Detachment SAS (POW 23.11.1941)
escaped
award D.C.M.
died with 26 E.R.A. Royal Artillery in Italy
DATE OF DEATH:
15-Apr-1944CITATION:
Distinguished Conduct Medal : Captured at TMINI on 23 Nov 41. Sent via BENGHAZI, TARANTO, BARI, UDINE, SERVIGLIANO and IMPERIA to Camp 53 (MACERATA). While at BARI he escaped through the wire but after three days liberty he as cecaptured and taken back to camp where he was 'beaten up' and kept without food for three days as punishment. He second escape was by tunnelling at SERVIGLIANO; he was recaptured after 18 days and given 35 days solitary confinement. A third attempt was made in Feb 13 from MACERATA, when he escaped wearing Italian uniform with faked insignia. He was recaptured the next day and given 30 days solitary confinement.
After the Armistice, WESTWATER escaped from Camp 53 on 13 Sep but was recaptured on the GRAN SASSO and taken to AQUILA. From here a fifth escape was made, but he was retaken at CASTROPIGNANO by the Germans and sent to SULMONA The next day he slipped through the wire, thus making his sixth escape, and hid in a tree while the enemy peppered the surrounding woods with M.G. fire. He lay up until nightfall then made his way to our lines, finally meeting Allied troops at TRIGNO on 27 Oct 43.
Other successful escapers from camps where WESTWATER was imprisoned have reported that he was conspicuous for his high morale and continued determination to escape. He set a fine example to all ranks.
After the Armistice, WESTWATER escaped from Camp 53 on 13 Sep but was recaptured on the GRAN SASSO and taken to AQUILA. From here a fifth escape was made, but he was retaken at CASTROPIGNANO by the Germans and sent to SULMONA The next day he slipped through the wire, thus making his sixth escape, and hid in a tree while the enemy peppered the surrounding woods with M.G. fire. He lay up until nightfall then made his way to our lines, finally meeting Allied troops at TRIGNO on 27 Oct 43.
Other successful escapers from camps where WESTWATER was imprisoned have reported that he was conspicuous for his high morale and continued determination to escape. He set a fine example to all ranks.
WEB LINKS:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7396142
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