| Surname: | Watson |
| Initials: | D |
| Rank: | Corporal |
| Army Number: | 1109346 |
| Notes: | CMP. Enlisted Royal Artillery transferred to CMP. Served in 1 Airborne Division Pro Coy in WWII. WO 169/8675, War Diary 1 Airborne Div Pro Coy, CMP. REPORT ON EXERCISE "FUSTIAN". The Officer Commanding Provost Company 1st Airborne Division. Sir, I have to report that on the 10th July 1943 I was warned to hold myself in readiness for an operation. On the 116th July 1943 SGT CALLAWAY, CPL STRAND, L/CPL BARLOW, L/CPL JONES, L/CPL BUTTERY and myself joined "C" COMPANY of the 3rd BATTALION, PARACHUTE REGIMENT, where we were briefed for scheme "FUSTIAN". On the 12th July 1943 this scheme was cancelled but on the 13rh July 1943 we emplaned from "B" STRIP AT 1930 HRS. CPL. STRAND and L/CPL BARLOW emplaned in aircraft "86" that was the last I saw of them. SGT. CALLAWAY, L/CPL's James, BUTTERY and myself in aircraft "86". The aircraft took off at 20.00hrs and the flight until we reached the SICILIAN coast was uneventful. As we approached the coast the pilot gave the order to hitch our static lines on and about the same time Ack Ack Shells burst round the aircraft rocking it considerably. We remained standing ready to jump and the plane flew down to ground level. We flew low for some 20 minutes then the plane climbed to about 5,000 feet and we had the red light followed quickly by the green, everybody left the plane immediately, the time of jumping was bout 2310 hrs. We were machine gunned all the way down. Some five minutes after landing I saw a Douglas aircraft coming down in flames about 1 mile away also at least three parachutes come from it and open. I did not contact any of them. I straightaway contacted SGT. CALLAWAY and L/CPL's JAMES and BUTTERY who jumped after me and were the last out of the aircraft. We tried to pin point our position but could not. We were not on the D.Z. We then endeavoured to locate the rest of the stick and found them all with the exception of LIEUT. MANSFIELD and three men. SGT. CALLOWAY took charge and we moved off taking advantage of cover and kept moving across country for about 2 hrs., when I stumbled across a bomb crater and we decided to stop for a rest. Whilst resting we saw in the distance a plane hit the ground and burst into flames and a Glider was seen apparently skimming the top of the burning plane. We were expecting Gliders with six pounder gun to be landed and L/CPL BUTTERLY, PYR. RSDYRTN of "C" Coy, and myself set off to try and either salvage the gun or contact any of the crew. On arriving at the spot where the plane was still burning we found that the glider had also burn out. It was impossible to recognise the type of plane of glider. none of the personnel cold be found. Nearby was a building with two lorries parked in a field. One lorry had a triangle of light shining upwards from the cab. Finding that our mission was a failure I decided to return to SGT. CALLOWAW, but L?V CPL BUTTERY said that he was staying, as it was a good position to hold. PTE EASTERN deiced he would come with me and we left telling L/Cpl BUTTERY that we would endeavour to bring SHY.CALOLOWAY and the rest of the party to him. We marched for about two hours during which time the moon went down and i was forced to admit that we were lost so we took cover in a ditch and rested until it was light enough to see, then seeing the river in the distance we made for it. It offered the only cover on the plain. We reached the river in safety and worked out way along keeping to cover and resting at regular intervals. About 0900 hrs we contacted MAJOR BUSH of "C" COY, 3rd BATTALION and about a dozen men, who were lying up in the tall grass. MAJOR BUSH then took charge, we lay up most of the day and moved at night. With stragglers the party became about 35 strong. We took 15 prisoners. At about 0100 hrs on the 16 July 1943 we linked up with the advance units of the 8th Army and spent the night at LENTINI. About 0800 hrs we marched about 2 miles down the road to AUGUSTA and were there picked up by transport and taken to SYRACUSE and embarked on a Tank Transporting Ship immediately. The ship sailed at 1030 hrs on the 17th July 1943. Transport was waiting and I returned to the 3rd Bn, lines, had breakfast, made my report in the Company Office and retuned to my unit. Field signed 1109346 WATSON. D, L/CPL. 27th July 1943 C.M. POLICE 1st Airborne Divisional Provost Coy. Donald Arthur Watson. |