Thanks to the documents donated by Lt.Col. Hugo De Burgh’s son to the Archives of the Monte San Martino Trust, we are able to see a glimpse of the work carried out by the Allied Screening Commission after World War II. Shown above is a snippet of the 1947 Diary and, outlined below, we are provided with an insight to some of the work Lt. Col. De Burgh was attempting to carry out, with the aide of his future wife Miss Addey, as a means of thanking the Italian families and communities that had assisted Allied troops after they had been released, or had escaped, from Prisoner of War Camps.
| January | Diary Entry |
| 16th | Left Rome. Arrived La Spezia 2030 hours. Dinner party arranged by Major. Gordon LETT; Prefect, Dr MOCCIA, with wife and daughter; Colonel RICCI, who knew a lot of POW’s in the mountains, and is a member of the Military Tribunal of Spezia; Major BERTONELLI, who was a PW in INDIA and a cousin of Admiral BERTONELLI, who is up for a Grade III as well as his niece. He (the Major) is Sindaco of the SINAGO Commune. |
| 17th | Dr PERRATI whom we tried to find, had given his address as TORPIANA, but has now moved to LERICI. He was recommended by LETT, and he gave a lot of assistance and was imprisoned. He is down for investigation by IRVING-BE and KELLY (results to be seen later). |
| 18th | A letter from LETT regarding MICHELE Margherita and also regarding GRIGLOTTI and also SASSANINI Gioberta. Also a note about Singora SHIDONI (CIDONI?) from G.H. FENDER, whose address we have in the file. It was handed in to the Commune a year ago, but they tore it up and the note is to give this person a certificate. Then there is Singora FABRI Danteo fu Pietro of FORNOLI, Commune of AULLA. Who was away when the paging officers went up, and he went down to ROME but apparently arrived on a holiday and there was no officer present. The letter from him is dated 24.1.46. Certificate presented to a Naval Officer. Interviewed Sindaco in the office and the Press. Informed the Press of functions of Allied Screening Commission. At first not interested and afterwards took down very large number of notes and extremely interested. Explained to him that British and American Governments were backing in sterling and the money (if anything in papers get from Major LETT on way back). PINDARO, Enrico, Francesco, and Domenico, of CABRIMARE, SPEZIA, who assisted two British submarine ratings, who were caught in a mine net. Got them out, gave them a boat and got them ashore, and all their boats and nets were taken by the Germans in reprisal and they are now destitute. We must try to trace through the British Admiralty, the official numbers, left by these people DOCOLLETTO, Dino, Sindaco, Via NAPOLI 48. Possibility of issuing a certificate but we must check up in the instructions as to whether we can issue a certificate or not. ROSSI Carlo. Paid 4,000. GINNESE Nello: Via MonfaIcona, CHIAPPA. Handed his claim into the Commune in 1946 and has heard no more about it. Was in prison Camp, FONTANELLATO, and assisted prisoners. Possibility of giving him a certificate. Several persons put in claims for the assistance of Italian escapers which were turned down. 3. Luncheon party arranged by Major Gordon LETT: Baroness MASSOLA. Her son, Count MASSOLA. Her sister, Miss Sells. The Sindaco, Sig. DICOLLETTO. Signor Danielli BUCCHIONE, of LA CALICE. (assisted Major LETT and others) and Signora BUCCHIONE. Dottore FENATO arrived about 1500 hrs to enquire about his claim. His address, Via Roma 43, LERICI, La Spezia. Proceeded to GENOA/NERVI. Two nights. Met Major IRVING-BELL, at the 2Columbia”. Also Signor BREGANTE, of GENOA. Spent a lot of time trying to find Colonel TRAVERSO, of Corso Firenze. Address obviously wrong. Unable to contact him. Possible he has changed his name. There was a Colonel FONTANA, of Via PERTINACCI 3, who had helped prisoners and everybody knew him. (Another Traverso lived at Corso Firenze, 14). |
| 19th | CHIAVARI. Presented Signora SCALE with her certificate. She requested information as to whether her husband has been put in for an award (check up). Then into the mountains to present Don Luca CELLA with his certificate. After looking for him at his village, BRIGNOLO, found him at REGGOAGLIO. |
| 20th | Again searched for Colonel TRAVERSO without success. American Consulate, in regard to persons requiring passports to go to AMERICA. The Americans have given a quota of 5,000 passports per year to the Italian foreign Office, who are entirely responsible for giving these passports. After passports are given a guarantee is repaired from somebody in America to assure that persons going there will not ever be a responsibility to the American Government. Samples of the forms were obtained from the Consul General and it is necessary for the Allied Screening Commission to get in touch with the Italian Foreign Office and endeavour to arrange for the passports. (D’ALAURO, FRANCIOSI, PARETI). TURIN – The LEONE’s to dinner, who helped British, Australian, and New Zealand prisoners in CHAMPLUC to get over the Alps. Searched for other helpers and important persons but as the weather was so bad, and time was short, it was impossible to trace the addresses of some of these people. |
| 22nd | Arrived at the Diana Hotel, MILAN. Arranged cocktail party for following helpers, which was held on the 23rd: unfortunately Com. BOZZI was unable to come. |
| 23rd | Guests:- Signor and Signora GANDINI. Son. Signora VICEDOMINI. Signor RESTA. Signora BEOCCHI. Signor CAVALLI. Signor PARETI. Dottore BERGAMASCHI. Mr. HIGGS, British Vice Consul, and Mrs. HIGGS. Mr. WEISER. Ing. BACCIAGALUPPI, and Mrs. BACCIAGALUPPI. |
| 24th | Mrs. VICEDOMINI and Mr. SALA called at 0915 hrs with reference to her business. PADUA. Interviewed the Chief of Staff, “A” Branch in regard to news that officers on monthly agreement had to be demobilised almost at once. GHQ [General Head Quarters] knew nothing whatever about this. Rang Aö9, who also knew nothing. Required where information came from and what authority there is for it. Telephoned orders to G-2 [General Staff Officer Grade 2] that on no account is any action to be taken without my personal authority while still active with [word unclear]. Saw Colonel BULKLEY, about Captain RUSSELL! He stated that the Navy had informed him that Russell had had a great deal to drink which obviously he could not stand and thought had been the cause of the trouble. General note on the Journey: As already pointed out, expenses are extremely high, living in civilian hotels and owing to long distances, having a large number of people to see, a great deal of searching to find addresses which are not always correct or people have moved, necessitates longer stays in various places. In view of difficulties of transport it has been necessary to ensure the trip going through owing to appointments in various places to take two cars with necessary drivers and which has also added to the expenses. The expenses of a tour of this kind can easily be met and answered for by the amount of money allowed for a number of claims which have been assessed at certain rates owing to the helpers concerned being not interested, their financial position being such as not to required the money. It is suggested that any higher expenses of contacts, etc. could easily be written off against assessment of these claims in bulk. |
| 26th | On Sunday met Captain Muirhead, who was a prisoner of war in Switzerland after having escaped from Italy. Friend of Franciosi Jose, Professor of Modena, who helped him and Leslie Nathanson. Was very interested in the work of Allied Screening Commission and did good work in telling him what we were doing. |
| 27th | To Padua for appointment with Financial Advisor (F.A.) on the question of retrospective freeing of vehicles to Italian helpers. Agreed with him to ask Brigadier Nixon on his visit to London to go into this matter, to telegraph the result after discussing with Disposals, both to me and to F.A. If it was impossible to make this matter retrospective, Financial Advisor would take up for me the question of what reduction in prices could be arranged between myself and him according to the capacity to pay and position of the helper concerned. Interviewed Major Field-Fisher on subject of Miss Davis joining JAG [Judge Advocate General]! PA [Personal Assistant] visited Chief Commander Gibson, head of ATS [Auxiliary Territorial Service]. Proceeded Bologna. |
| 28th | Bologna. Visited Northern Area HQ [Head Quarters]. Saw the following officers and talked to section staff:- Captain Holdsworth Captain Bertolani Captain Brown Captain Kelly Lieutenant Boyd Lieutenant Jannicelli Lieutenant D’Alauro |
| 29th | Owing to heavy frost, snow and ice, failed in attempt to reach family Cervi near Reggio Emilia, and Professor Franciosi at Modena. Skidded and crashed into ditch in a jeep. Had already made one attempt to reach Cervi farm at Gattatico, but having bad battery in the Chevrolet unable to proceed. Owing to crash, somewhat shaken. Remained in Bologna resting until 3rd February, during which time again visited section, and saw members of staff and officers. |
| February | |
| 3rd | Unable to keep long-standing appointment with Major Lett to visit the Bishop of Pontremoli. On the way located the Cervi family in their farm. Presented certificates and vaglias which I think did a great deal of good. A lot of snow and roads very slippery with ice. After leaving Parma, the roads got worse and climbing the mountains Miss Addey and I got out and walked in front leading the column, as it was impossible to see in the fog, for a considerable distance. Eventually owing to darkness and snow it was impossible to proceed further than Berceto where we found a small hotel already occupied by a number of truck drivers whose trucks were stuck in the snow at varying distances up the pass. Remained there one night in bitter cold and misery and being completely cut off by telephone or any other communication, decided that if there was no other means of progress the next day we would walk to Pontremoli. It snowed heavily all night, and it was impossible to move the cars, partly for this reason and partly because heavy trucks were blocking the roads, and therefore the snow-ploughs were unable to get through to clear them. |
| 4th | The following day, at about mid-day, we started to walk, Miss Addey and I, leaving the cars at Berceto, carrying a certain amount of equipment in rucksacks and haversacks. After an extremely cold, wet and tiring journey on ice and sometimes slush, we arrived at Montelungo at 1730 hrs and went into the Trattoria to rest before completing the next 13 kilometres. However, after a short time and making friends with some interesting partisans and locals, they told us there was a truck going to Pontremoli and we were able to get a lift, (Note: 1000 lire), with a number of other people to the hotel Principe where we arrived at 1900 hrs on the 5th, very wet and very cold. But morale extremely high! Somewhat sore due to our bruises after the jeep crash a few days before. A number of people we met had been prisoners in England, America and France and Africa, and we had an extremely interesting time learning their experiences. They all seemed slightly astonished at the two lunatics in British uniform who had walked over the mountains. Stayed the night of the 4th at Pontremoli with a view to contacting the Bishop the following day. |
| 5th | Telephoned to Major Lett’s office, but unable to contact him. Left message with secretary. Unable to get through to Rome or Bologna. Cars arrived at mid-day. In the afternoon tried to call on the Bishop but missed him unfortunately. Left for La Spezia at 4.30 p.m. Major and Mrs. Lett to dine. Hotel Firenze. We both feeling stiff and very tired. |
| 6th | In the morning to Major Lett’s office, where I discussed various cases with him and also the matter of the giving out of certificates in Pontremoli with the suggested date of the 1st of March. Went to Lucca, lunching at Viareggio on the way, presenting the nuns with 50,000 lire, and met the Colonel Director of the hospital, who was very pleasant and wanted us to dine and said any time I liked I could have a room there when I wanted to go back. Note: next time we go take cigarettes and tobacco to sick Italian soldiers. Dined with Major and Mrs Lett. |
| 7th | Driver from Bologna section (name?) taken ill and left my driver to look after him and started for Rome 1015 with Miss Addey. At Livorno endeavoured to contact Colonel Ela, Salvage Department, USA, in regard to purchase of salvage for helpers and for Victor Farrell. Contacted Ela’s staff and made arrangements for introductions to him. Dined Grossetto 1930. |
| 8th | Arrived in Rome in pouring rain and very wet roads about 0130 a.m. on the 8th. |
In general, the whole trip was a very great success. All the people contacted expressed themselves as very pleased to see us and everyone we met said that the personal contacts made were of a great deal more value in a great many cases than the money or anything else that we gave them. One or two people mentioned that it would make a great deal of difference if a certain number of decorations or awards could be given pretty soon and I consider that this is an essential thing and that we should write to the War Office, taking up my previous recommendations that this should be done as these think as already pointed out, mean much more to the people who helped us than the simple giving of comparatively small amounts of money.
PG 49 at Fontanellato in Italy - The Story of allied servicemen who were held prisoner of war in this town in Italy in World War II 