In a previous post, I explained how James Davis had contacted me with information about a downed Wellington Bomber on which his grandfather, Sgt. Robert Charles Davis (644393), served as rear gunner. Read “Vickers Wellington IC DV416 Downed in Italy—Five Crew Members Bound for PG 59.”

James’ own excellent web page about the plane and crew is fettle.org.uk/DV416/.

The plane’s navigator, Sgt. Ronald Percy Holmes (1375674), was shot by fascists after escaping from PG 59. James shared with me several statements from the investigation into the crash, DV416 AIR 81/11245, on the shooting of Ronald Holmes and Morgan Francis.

A Secret Cipher telegram, dated 3 December 1944, from the Central Mediterranean Forces (CMF) to the War Office states:

Confirm following deaths accepted by you and Air Ministry killed whilst P.O.W. 8 February 4079066 Serjeant Francis M. of S.W.B. and 1375674 Serjeant Holmes R.P. of R.A.F. Graves seen by SIB [Special Investigations Branch] in village cemetery Penna San Giovanni Map reference 545851 sheet 14 Italy 1/200000 marked “Ronald Holmes Sjt. M 8-2-44” “Francis Morgan Trp. M 8-2-44” Further corroborative evidence held by SIB Freedom. Information required to complete War Crime Dossier.

A statement by Private Earl Hug, dated 29 June 1944, reads:

I, Pvt. Earl (NMI) Hug. 16048446, formerly a member of the 9th Infantry Division, do hereby certify that I escaped from a German Prisoner-of-War Camp on 14 Sept. 43. During the time that I was in enemy occupied territory, I was informed of the burial of three British soldiers. I was told by the Italian police at San Angelo, as well as by a civilian doctor, that Cpl. John Whittaker, British evader, had been shot. I was one of a group of seven men who buried the body in Saint Angelo cemetery. The grave is marked with a cross and an identification tag. They also saw the grave of Sgt. R. Holmes, RAF, in the cemetery at Penna Saint Giovanni, in addition to one unmarked grave. I was told that the latter body had been identified, and that the grave would be marked later. Both of these escapees had been shot by Fascists.

Francis Morgan’s home address is recorded in DV416 AIR 81/11245 as: 8, St. James Parade, Bath, Somerset.

Also, a memorandum, dated 13 November 1944, indicates that 888734 L/Sgt Thomas Dickson—address 4 (Durham) Survey Unit, R.A., “Mill House,” Team Valley, Papermills, Gateshead, Co. Durham—confirmed that two British prisoners were shot dead at Penna San Giovanni on 8 February 1944. However, L/Sgt. Dickson only identifies Morgan Francis by name, and he adds “local townspeople are of the opinion that the above men were spied upon.”

In the memorandum three local residents suspected of spying are mentioned by name.

Finally, there is a statement by Sgt. Glen (sometimes spelled Glenn in documents) E. Backe:

I, Sgt. Glen E. Becke, 20707535, formerly a member of the 34th Division do hereby certify that I escaped from P.O.W. Camp No. 59 on 14 Sep 43 and afterwards remained in hiding in the vicinity of Penne San Giovanni, Italy. During February 1944 while still in this locality I was informed by several people that the following members of the British armed Forces, also escaped prisoners of war, were shot and killed by Fascists.

(a) Sgt. Ronald P. Holmes (formerly P.O.W. Camp No. 59) ASN 1375674 Royal Air Force, Observer.
(b) Pvt. Francis Morgan (formerly P.O.W. Camp 53), British Ground Forces

The information given above was verified by the family where Sgt. Holmes had been staying and also by nearly the entire community of Penne San Giovanni. I am not sure of the location of the graves, but I do know that both were buried by civilians. And I believe that the graves are located in Campo Sando Cemetery at San Giovanni.

The following details are from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website:

Private Morgan Francis
1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers
Son of Evan and Martha Ann Francis of Bath, Somerset

Warrant Officer Ronald Percy Holmes
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Son of James Albert and Mary Holmes, of Kingsbury, Middlesex

The Witnesses

Glen Backe

American Glen Backe, a resident of Minnesota, enlisted at Stillwater, Minnesota in the U.S. Army National Guard Infantry on 2 October 1941. At 19 years of age, he had had a four-year high school education. He was single.

According to the U.S. National Archives (NARA) online POW database Sgt. Glenn E. Backe (SN 20707535) was captured in Tunisia on December 28. Although the year is missing from the database entry, assuredly Glen was captured at Longstop Hill on 28 December 1942.

A specific internment camp was not indicated in the database; however, Germany was noted as the “detaining power,” which led me to believe that if Glen was indeed interned in PG 59, then after the escape he had been recaptured and sent to Germany.

On further checking, I discovered Sgt. G. E. Backe appears on an Allied Screening Commission list of U.S. Escapers and Evaders (Record Group 331, NARA) as having been recaptured on 10 March 1943. (Thanks to researcher Cristiano D’Adamo for my access to this resource.)

Here are details from Glen‘s identity card:

Glen E. Backe
SCHEDA PERSONALE P. G. 
[PERSONAL CARD of PRIGIONIERO DI GUERRA, prisoner of war]

Cognome e nome [Surname and name]: Backe, Glen E.
Paternità [Father]: Sherman A.
Maternità [Mother]: Olga Paulson
Grado [Rank]: Sergeant
Matricola [Service number]: 20707535
Arma-Corpo [Service unit]: Infantry
Data e luogo di nascita [Date and place of birth]: 3/7/1919 [3 July 1919] Minnesota
Nazionalità [Nationality]: American
Stato civile [Marital status]: Single
Religione [Religion]: Protestant
Professione [Occupation]: Lumber
Domicilio [Residence]: 412 West Elm St. Stillwater, Minnesota
Data e luogo di cattura [Date and place of capture]: 10/3/43 [10 March 1943] Tunisia, N. Africa

Giorno/Mese/Anno/Variazione
[Day/Month/Year/Change]

30/3/43 Quinto a Questo Camp 98 Dalla Tunisia [Arrived at Camp 98 From Tunisia]
14/5/43 C.C. 59

Earl Hug

American Earl Hug enlisted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on 15 January 1942. He was 25 when he joined up, and his enlistment record at NARA indicates he had had a grammar school education, was single, and had experience as a driver.

Earl’s POW identity card at NARA indicates he was captured 28 March 1943 in Tunisia. He was interned in PG 98 on Sicily beginning on 17 April, from which he was transferred to PG 59, arriving on May 14. Presumably he escaped during the mass breakout from the camp on 14 September 1943.

On 28 March 1943, the day Earl Hug was captured, American infantry units in Tunisia were engaged in heavy fighting as part of the final Allied push against Axis forces.

Specifically, this date falls in the aftermath of the Battle of El Guettar (which began on March 23). By March 28 U.S. forces—particularly elements of the 1st Infantry Division and 1st Armored Division—were holding defensive positions against repeated German counterattacks. They faced assaults from experienced German units under General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim.

The infantry endured intense artillery barrages, air attacks, and armored assaults, but overall successfully held their ground. There were casualties and captures, of course, and Earl was among the captured that day.

Here are details from Earl‘s identity card:

Earl Hug
SCHEDA PERSONALE P. G. 
[PERSONAL CARD of PRIGIONIERO DI GUERRA, prisoner of war]

Cognome e nome [Surname and name]: Earl Hug
Paternità [Father]: Edwin
Maternità [Mother]: Susie Fiebrink
Grado [Rank]: Pvt.
Matricola [Service number]: 16048446
Arma-Corpo [Service unit]: Inf. [Infantry]
Data e luogo di nascita [Date and place of birth]: Dec. 6, 1916. Rockford, Illinois
Nazionalità [Nationality]: American
Stato civile [Marital status]: Single
Religione [Religion]: Protestant
Professione [Occupation]: Dairy Worker
Domicilio [Residence]: 2115-C-N-10-St. [2115-C North Tenth Street] Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Data e luogo di cattura [Date and place of capture]: March 28, 1943. Tunisia

Giorno/Mese/Anno/Variazione
[Day/Month/Year/Change]

17/4/43 Quinto a Questo CC. 98 Dalla Tunisia [Arrived at CC 98 From Tunisia] 14/5/43 C.C. 59