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Other Participants OFF SITE LINKS The War Graves Photographic Project |
The Locations Tara, a house in the Zamalek area of Cairo. The war-time retreat of Paddy Leigh Fermor, Billy Moss and others. Katharo Plateau, Crete. Where PLF parachuted in on Feb 4th/5th 1944. Bad weather stopped the others jumping that same night and in the following weeks. See Yvonne's photos. Monastery of the Holy Apostles/ Twelve Apostles, near Tsoutsouros, Crete, where PLF, Rendell and others spent time waiting for Moss party. Entertained by Archimandrite Theophylaktos Smyrniotakis on night before Moss et.al. arrived. Picture of Archimandrite Smyrniotakis can be found in G Harokopos book "The abduction of General Kreipe" , page 61. Update Oct 2007. Monastery believed to be no longer used by the church, owned now by a family from Archanes, and located in an area within a couple of kilometers of Kato Kasteliana. Dermatos Beach. What at first we (I) thought was the Arrival beach for Moss's party, near Tsoutsouros, Crete. This is now in doubt as it looks more likely to have been a beach (Pourgonero) a little further along towards the west. Nov 07 Update. Documents at the National Archives cause me to rethink the Pourgonero option. Dermarti (Dermatos) is named in Operation Moonstruck as the arrival beach. Pourgonero Beach. See Google Earth Image October 2007 Update- Arrival Beach-Pourgonero Beach ? A beach between Tsoutsouros and Dermatos beaches. ----------- Various hole up locations for abduction party.
Villa Ariadne. The house built by Sir Arthur Evans for use whilst his evacuation of Knossos. Subsequently used by several archeologists/later British agents (including Pendlebury and Dunbabin). The quarters of General Kreipe during his time in Crete. Ano Archanes. The village in which General Kreipe had his Headquarters. The headquarters building has changed very little over the years. German HQ Building Abduction Point, a point on the Ano Archanes to Heraklion Road where traffic travelling from Archanes has to slow to gain a view before turning left towards Villa Ariadne and Heraklion. Now marked by a memorial. See Google Earth Image for approximate location. See road before memorial built. Yeni Gave, the point at which Moss was dropped off with Kreipe and others whilst Paddy and George Tyrakis went off to dispose of Kreipe's Mercedes. Cheliana. The area in which the General's car was left by PLF and George Tyrakis. Anogia Village, Crete. Moss and party laid up just outside of the village on the first night after the abduction. Paddy and George T joined the party here after dumping the car. Various overnight, or longer, hole up locations used whilst escaping the German cordon thrown up to capture abductors. Departure Beach (Peristeres) near Rhodakino, Crete. See Google Earth Image Mersa Matruh. The port in North Africa which was the port to which the party were transported by Captain Brian Coleman. See Google Earth Image.
------------------------- Locations – info distilled from
various accounts- draft awaiting verification. DSCF Nos refer to my image
files 4th April 1944. Landing Party included WSM, Manoli Paterakis, George Tirakis Johnny Katsias, Brian Coleman, Blondie, Andoni Papaleonidas (Wallace Beery) Awaiting Party incuded PLF, Sandy
Rendell, John Stanley (ISLD) Kimon (Zahari) Zographakis and Vasili Konios
(guide) According to WSM (ILL Met by Moonlight):-
2200 hrs, launch still some 3 miles from
Southern Shores of Crete. Many amongst party recognized certain
landmarks and decided they were heading too far west so altered course to east. Knew of German posts ľ mile WEST and 1
mile EAST Little cove, the lighter hue of a sandy
beach, a ridge of cliff which seemed to form three sides of landing place. Beach had been heavily mined but thanks
to shifting sands and more particularly the rambling flocks of sheep, most of
the mines had long since either drifted away harmlessly or been exploded at the
expense of some wretched shepherd. There was still a lot of barbed wire to be
seen, but much of it was buried in the sand and formed no serious obstacle. Mules at the back of cove. Cove was in forbidden zone. Helpers who had been to beach every night for two weeks, were paid off. Following trip October 2007, Pourgonero Beach, just east of Tsoutsouros was identified as a beach that was regularly used by allies for covert landings. A local advised that he had been told by Kimon Zographakis (Zahari) that this was the beach that Moss et al landed. Certainly it is a strong contender as the location for the Moss et al landing. It does not however fit with Paddy's map (if the marks on said map indicate landing beach). The beach is not visible from Tsoutsouros. It was said to have come into use when the occupying forces discovered that Tsoutsouros was being used by submarines which led to the establishment of a German post there. Images of Pourgonero Beach. According to PLF. (private papers and IMBM Folio edition afterword):- Had narrow shave at Monastery of the
Holy Apostle, Archimandrite Theophylaktos Smyrniotakis, a few miles inland of
landing beach. Guide was Vasili KONIOS ------------- According to HOUSEMANSlid into dark and bleak creek on the southern coast (Tsoutsouros) at one o’ clock in the morning. ...met by hundreds.... ------------- According to George Harokopos. (The
Abduction of General Kreipe) Billy Moss, Manoli Paterakis and George Tirakis, Katsias and others were finally able to reach the South coast of Crete, below the Asterousia range, on the night of 3rd April (sic). Reception was organized by PLF with help of Captain Sandy Rendel, Kapetan Vassilis Konios, Haris Saridakis, Manolis Vrelianakis, Kimon Zografakis and some other Cretean resistance members, had found an ideal cove in ALYKI to use as a landing beach. Two German gard posts,left and right, not more than a kilometer away. ------------ According to Dr N.A.Kokonas, Author of “The Cretan Resistance 1941-1945 (A publication of the ‘The Official British report of 1945’ together with comments by British Officers who took part in the Resistance. It is thought that this report was put together by a Major O'Toole ‘Capt Moss and the remainder of the party landed at DERMATO (H2998) -------------- According to Moncrief
(Forward)
Kept an eye open for rocks (as
boat approached shore) Left Landing Beach at 2400 According to WSM. Left Beach at 2400. Arrived at first
nights stop at 0400. At one point, rounded an outcrop and lost view of sea.
Track followed ceased to lead upwards, found themselves switch-backing over
gullies and streams. Fast flowing water. At one point led over a skyline which
was in direct, but distant view of German post. First night in a gully flanked 3 sides by rock and surrounded by trees and thickets. Freshwater spring nearby. Mules unloaded and led to another hiding place about half an hour away. ----------------- According to PLF. First night in high ravine of oleanders with sea shining far below. -------------- According to Houseman,
After 3 hours of the most terrible mountaineering we slid into our first cave for the night.
WSM:-Sandy (Rendel) suggests next night at SKOINIA. Leave at 6.30pm and follow serpentine track skirting the steepest gradients, via muleteers hut (stone and brushwood),next halt a miniature waterfall. Approached Skoinia at midnight, cross a bridge. House at far end of village, 2 room house of Mihale and elder sister (Plan as to leave for Kastomonitsa) ----------- PLFLeft at dusk and a long trudge up and down deep ravines, halting now and then at a waterfall or a friendly sheepfold brought us to Skoinia (G 2826) where we lay up at Mihali’s house 6/4/44 Skoinia receiving visitors including
PLFs god daughter ‘ England Rebellion’ WSM
To Kastomonitsa at 2200 hrs _________________________________________________________ 7/4/44 Kastomonitsa was spotted as dawn breaking. After seven hours, Zahari says only three more villages. House of Zahari. Slep from 8 until noon. Convalescent home for Germans on edge of village. ------------ PLFBefore dawn reached the lofty village of Kastamonitza (C 3422) and shelter of family of Kimon Zographakis who had been with us from the coast ------------ 8/4/44 WSM2300, leave for mountains. One hour to foot of mountains led by Zahari’s father to point where the path began to twist upward. German Convalescent home visible from this point, 3 hour climb to top and then an hour along plateau like ridge. Track to Cave too steep and obscure to attempt in dark. Cave 8 x 5 x 4 high. (Sifoyanis Sheepfold) Huge mountains towering on all sides. See Afendis Khristos and to east, mount Ida and far beyond white mountains. Smaller peaks all aroud, Heraklion to North West. Down cliff face – no track- at times slid down practically sheer rock. Small invisible cave, 8 x 5 x 4 high. Spring 100 yards below with a drinking trough tapped out by a shepherd.
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