Place:

Collazzone

Province:

Perugia

Region:

Umbria

Assistance provided:

Food and general assistance

Prisoners helped:

William Edwards-5 Battalion Green Howards, L.V. Wilkins-LAA, E. Bellinger-LAA, artigliere Howart.
Leggi la storia di William Edwards

Start date:

September 1943

End date:

January 1944

Description:

After the armistice, Augusto looked after a group of six prisoners who had escaped from PG 115 Morgano. The soldiers had found shelter in a hut near his home; among them was Private William Edwards. On 20 January 1944, following a tip-off, the hut was surrounded by German and Fascist forces, who opened fire, wounding several prisoners and killing Edwards. Augusto’s house was also looted, and his hay barn was set on fire. He was then forced to assist the fascists in transporting the wounded Allied soldiers and in digging the grave in which Edwards was buried.

Bibliography:

J. Kinrade Dethick, La lunga via del ritorno: i prigionieri alleati in Umbria (1943-44), Perugia, Morlacchi, 2018

Archival sources:

NARA, Records of Allied Operational and Occupation Headquarters, World War II Claim, Series (RG. 331), Claim n° 46.058