Lieutenant John Philip Gelly

Family/Last name:
Gelly
Forename(s) and initial(s):
John Philip
Place of birth:
Boscombe, Hampshire
Date of birth:
5/1/1914
Nationality:
Rank when captured:
Place of capture:
Sidi Nsir, Tunisia
Date of capture:
26/2/1943
Camp
Data sources
Other Sources (Relative's report)

Information provided by John Gelly.

I thought I would provide the following information regarding my late father, John Philip Gelly:

POW Camps : PG 66 – Capua and PG 49 – Fontanellato nr Parma N.Italy
Surname : Gelly
Forenames : John Philip
Nationality : British
Service : Army – Royal Artillery
Regiment : “E” Troop 155th Battery/ 172nd Field Regiment
When Captured : 26th February 1943
Where Captured : Sidi Nsir, Tunisia

I have attached some information on my father and a preface which form part of his memoirs of the battle, his capture transportation to Italy, POW camps and eventual escape in September 1943 and journey to Roccamorice where he and two other officers’ from the 155, were hidden by an Italian farmer for some six weeks before they moved off to reach the British lines (Refer ‘Related Posts’).

Father’s story starts in England, at Merstham, where the Troop trained. He was on the SS Jean Jadot when it was torpedoed and sunk in 5 min. with all their guns, fuel, food, etc. There were 397 survivors, sadly 6 men died. After some two weeks the unit was re-equipped and he led a convoy from Algiers to Bone some 200 miles to the east. Eventually, they met up with the Regiment at Beja and proceeded to Hunts Gap. The 5th Hampshire Battalion and the 155 Battery were deployed to Sidi Nsir. Although this was a forward patrol base they were told to hold any attack in order to gain time for the remainder of the 128th Infantry Brigade to prepare defensive positions to ensure that Beja was not taken. The Battery and Infantry, against overwhelming odds, held their position for 12 hours which delayed the German advance by 24 hours. As a consequence the Germans suffered heavy losses at Hunts Gap and never did reach Beja.

Having been captured, Father was transported to Italy from Ferryville to Naples and reached PG 66 (Capua) on the 6th March. On the 12th May he was transported to PG 49 Fontanellato nr Parma, Northern Italy. Here he stayed until the Italians signed the armistice in September 1943. On escaping from the camp, father and five follow 155 Officers made their way south. Due to the size of the group and foot problems it was decided to split up into two groups of three. After some 430 miles and 34 days fathers group made it to Roccamorice and were saved from certain death by the villagers when they were snowed in, in a mountain cave.

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