The transcription and notes in this post are by Dr. Luigi Donfrancesco, nephew of I.S.9 agent Andrea Scattini. Access to the war diary (from the British National Archives) was courtesy of researcher Brian Sims.

WAR DIARY OR INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY [probably from BARI].

November 17–20, 1943

Summary of Events and Information

NOV 17 – Capt. HUNTER returns from TERMOLI. COMDR. [Commander] HOLDSWORTH and MAJOR HEWITT of SOE [Special Operation Executive] call. Lt. Col. [Lieutenant Colonel] BROWN from AFHQ [Air Force or Allied Force Headquarters] arranging for a signal to be sent to TITO – Yugo-Slav Partisan Leader for information about LIEUTS. [Lieutenant] FALVEY’S party. Guide who brought in two BRIGADIERS to 15th Army Group sent to “N” Section for dispatch to TERMOLI. At TERMOLI HUGO [Uguccione RANIERI “di Sorbello”] and party return having failed to reach GRATTAMMARE [GROTTAMMARE] owing to weather.

NOV 18 – Major BARHAM interviews Capt. BENELLO – Italian Army – to arrange supply of Agents. Capt. LOSCO leaves TERMOLI in a fishing smack for CIVITANOVA [Marche, north of Grottammare].

NOV 19 – Capt. HUNTER and FORK [I.S.9 agent] go to TERMOLI with money. Captains DE HAY and McINTOSH of ISSU [perhaps Information Systems Security Unit] 6 called to discuss problems of mutual interest. CAPT. BENELLO is empowered by Italian Commando Supremo [Supreme Command] to find 25 Italian soldiers to be used as Agents. Fishing smack returns to TERMOLI having successfully landed Capt. LOSCO. Naval programme prevents RATBERRY party leaving. Smack [“peschereccio”] arrives from BENEDETTO [San Benedetto del Tronto] with 20 ex P/Ws [ex-prisoners of war], HUGO [Uguccione RANIERI] and Capt. POWER S.A.S. [Special Air Service]

[This is a third boatload, see “I.S.9 War Diary—November 17–20, 1943.”]

NOV 20 – LUSSIN Island reported by ISSU 6 [see above] to be in German hands. Major FILLINGHAM returns from TERMOLI with Capt. HUNTER, Private HOWES and 1 pig, three turkeys and fish. Fishing smack [“peschereccio”] arrives at TERMOLI with 10 ex P/Ws aboard, another part of HUGO’s evacuation [fourth boatload]. Capt. SOAMES reports 73 ex P/Ws brought in by his guides. Total “A” Force rescues since 8 Sept. 43 in ITALY number 1,004.