According to SBS The Invisible Raiders by James Ladd (pages 83-84) the Simi Raid was the finale for the SBS in the Aegean, - a raid by 210 officers and men led by Colonel Turnbull himself. The force consisted 81 SBS, the rest being Greek Sacred Squadron. Three landing points were selected for the night 13/14 July. The main force under the Colonel moved to a forming up point overlooking Simi Castle, which was mortared at dawn. Stud Stellin and some Greeks cleared 75mm coast-gun positions. Stuart Macbeth and Bob Bury had landed to the east and cleared Germans from a monastery, but had difficulty in persuading them to surrender until a Greek Girl conveyed the message. Bill Cumper supervised ensuing demolitions - 19 Caiques (some of 20 tons) gun emplacements, fuel depots, inter-island telephone cable were destroyed. 151 Prisoners were taken after they had been made to distribute 30 tonnes of food to the islanders. Stellin and his patrol remained after the main withdrawal to observe developments. They attacked two German armed launches, before being picked up the following night.
I was fortunate to know a local jeweller (Capt John Pyke - SBS Civil Affairs Officer) who was on the raid and stayed with Stellin's Party. He supervised food distribution and told me how exhausting it was taking mortar ammunition up to the position overlooking the castle.
Hoping this context is of interest
Mike
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22-05-15, 01:26 PM
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