AUCKLAND GUNNER HAD PASS FROM KESSELRING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 47, 24 February 1945, Page 4

AUCKLAND GUNNER HAD PASS FROM KESSELRING

By J.C.L. /"■OFFREDO FERRI. . . . The name means nothing to most New Zealanders but it means much to Gunner Geoffrey George Speight, one-time Manukau and Technical Old Boys' Rugby forward, for it was as Goffredo Ferri that he obtained a pass signed by the German general Kesselring.

How be came to obtain this pass is but one of several interesting stories the Onehunga gunner has to tell of his experiences while an escaped prisoner of war in Italy. His one regret is that he no longer has possession of the pass as it is now in British hands, Gunner Speight having surrendered it to the British intelligence authorities. The pass gave Gunner Speight a safe conduct wherever there were German troops, but he did not overdo it by travelling too far from the district where he lived in the guise of an Italian. Now and again the German S.S. would stop him to check his bona fides. The production of the pass, stamped and signed by the general, was never questioned. They would pat him on the back and tell him in broken Italian that he was a "good Italian," thus expressing approval that he was not a partisan but a good Fascist. Fortunately, Speight was never stopped by any of the Italian Fascists. That would have meant only one end to his exploits.

Assistance From Girl * It was through the good offices of an Italian girl-typist working in a German office that he was able to secure the pass. She had had a pass translated for her and, realising its value, managed to get one for the New Zealander, who was living with some of her partisan friends. The girl . . what eventually happened to her? Gunner Speight did not answer for a while, as if paying silent tribute. She was killed during an Allied air raid.

Imagine a field in a country district, well away from any of the big towns. An old woman is toiling with primitive tools, as Italian women are wont to do. She is barefooted, wears ragged clothes, with a dirty handkerchief tied over her head. Germans and Fascists pass by ... others search the area. None trouble to speak to the old woman .

. . there is not even an exchange of greetings. At the end of the day the old woman makes her way to the home of the partisan family which is befriending her.

Stripped of her disguise the old woman becomes Gunner Speight. Even his own mother would not have recognised him as he worked in the field.

When Home Fell

Using the same disguise, the Aucklander, on the occasion of the week's mourning ordered when Rome fell to the Allied forces, made his way into a village to see a demonstration of the "might" of the Fascist movement. Not a shop was permitted to open for the week—the Fascists were gloomy.

With some reluctance Gunner Speight tells the story of another narrow escape when he was hidden by two Italian women in their bed during a search of the house by suspicious Germans. The Nazis were •known to be coming, fer the alarm had been given s in the manner known only to the, underground movement. Speight turned out of his bed, and his place was taken by a woman, so that the warm clothes would not provide any tell-tale evidence. A few mumbled words were exchanged, and the soldier was pushed into a double bed occupied by

two women. He was nearly suffocated, for the women lay on top of him as he sank into the feather mattress. The searchers looked into the room—they were satisfied—they passed on.

Pursued by Germans and Fascists on many occasions, Gunner Speight was fired at, but, as he put it, "being a New Zealander, he was quick en his feet." It was on occasions such as this that his training as a footballer stood him in good stead, added to which was the fact that he kept himself physically fit. It was a case

cf the survival of the fittest and using one's wits to the full. All Italians were not helpful, but the fugitives from the prisoner of war camps soon learned that friendly people were usually to be found among the poorer classes. For that reason they learned to keep clear of big houses, and to seek help from the peasants.

Camera and Schmelins

Well disguised, Gunner Speight entered Venice, and in the Square stood to watch and listen to the Italian and German fighters, Primo Camera and Max Schmeling, both in uniform, broadcasting Fascist and Nazi propaganda.

Gunner Speight, who left New Zealand with an early reinforcement, after serving with a New Zealand brigade in Fiji, was taken prisoner when German tanks over-ran the New Zealand positions at Sidi Rezegh in November, 1941. Three years later to the day he was returned to British hands after being taken 60 miles by Italian partisans to their headquarters. He was a fugitive frem September 10. 1943, when Italy accepted an armistice. He rejoined his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Speight, of Onehunga, a few days ago. After being taken prisoner Gunner Speight's most uncomfortable experience was the voyage in a German ship packed with other British prisoners of war from Tripoli to Naples. British submarines were known to be lurking in the Mediterranean and, as three ships containing British prisoners of war had been sunk, the men were in no way happy about the trip. Reaching Naples on New Year's Day, 1942, they had their first big treat since November, 1941—a hot shower.

lli'd Cross Parcels

While in several camps he found that the rations were always inadequate, and had it not been for the Red Cross parcels the prisoners of war would almost have starved. He describes the regular receipt of parcels as "a great morale builder."

Reaching camp P.G. 52 at Chiavari, near Genoa, the men, who included a number of New Zealanders, settled down to "wait for the end of the war." However, they were soon moved on to another camp at Udina. With some 50 other New Zealand troops Gunner Speight was drafted to a camp where they stayed from March to September, 1943, working on a large Fascist estate. There they managed to supplement their rations by stealing potatoes and other food.

The great day came on September 10, when the Italian guards "took to their scrapers," for they feared what might happen. Finding the camp unguarded the prisoners lost no time in getting away, despite the fact that they wore British uniforms and were in enemy-held country. Most of them headed north and arrived in the mountains after splitting into groups. Rumours were already filtering through that New Zealand troops were making landings in various parts of Italy. Esc.-iyo to Switzerland Realising how conspicuous they were in uniform Gunner Speight and his companions "acquired" civilian clothes. Thus they had more freedom of movement, and some of the band walked 25 miles to their former camp to collect Red Cross parcels. Deciding that some time would elapse before British forces pushed through Italy, the escapees broke up. At that time they were in the hills out of Padua, in the north of Italy. Some of the groups went north and others went south, including Speight, Angus Munro, of Dunedin, and George Wright, of Auckland. Reaching Milan with the aid of friendly Italians, they contacted a British agent who was able to get only two of them out of the country into Switzerland. Speight elected to remain as he could speak some Italian. It was through Wrigh't that Speight's parents heard the first news of their son for 18 months. Now all three are back in New Zealand, but so far they have not met. •

After saying farewell to his companions, Gunner Speight teamed up with a Scotsman, one of the famed Cameronians. They lived in separate houses with Italians, working in the fields by day. Eventually ..they contacted a British agent and reached their own people. The Scot has since reached his homeland.

"Brutal Fascists"

Gunner Speight found Fascists most callous and brutal, ruling the people by terror. Some of their acts were equal to any committed by the Nazis. He said to-day he had known of instances where youths—one was a friend of his—were shot because they had refused to present themselves when so ordered. The peasants feared the Fascists, and even in their own homes spoke in whispers lest they might be overheard from outside.

Parents of New Zealand soldiers missing in Italy should not give up hope, said Gunner Speight, who added that lie felt sure that many men were still in Riding in the mountains with friendly Italians while awaiting the chance to rejoin the Allied forces. He was the last of a grcup of ] 2 to reach home, he added.