Gabes was a major supply depot for the Axis powers linking Tunisia with Sicily and the Italian mainland.
Alf scanned the whole dock again. There was an area in darkness behind some motor boats. As Alf moved the binoculars something caught his eye and he moved back. Something was causing the water to ripple some yards from the dark. He squinted in the view finders and then in the poor light he saw the short mast.
“There’s a U-boat down there Major.”
He handed the glasses to Rushton.
“Where?”
“Can you see the group of three motor boats?” They look a bit like M.T.B’s.”
Rushton was frantically adjusting the focus back for his eyesight whilst talking to himself.
“Three motor boats that look like M.T.B’s,” suddenly it became clear “Yes. Yes. Yes. I see the three motor boats….”
“The U-boat is directly behind them.”
Rushton fiddled about with the viewfinder. Alf was impatient with him.
“Have you seen it yet?”
“No.”
“Look at the three moored together….”
“Yes I’ve got them….”
“Look at the middle one. There are ropes trailing from its stern. See how taut they are.”
“Wait….Middle boat….Ah yes now I can see the ropes. I’ve got it. I can see the submarine now. I can just make it out. Wait! Now there’s someone stood in the turret.“
“For a major supply depot it sure is quiet,” Alf said.
Rushton lowered the binoculars.
“The Germans have already evacuated this area. The main bulk of their forces have moved North. To the south are thirty corps, ten corps and the Indians there,” Rushton pointed on a roughly drawn map. They are going to bring armour in tomorrow at dawn,” Rushton brought the rest of his men together, “We have new orders,” he began. Rushton had known of them before they had left their base camp a week ago.
The men gathered round. They had all changed to black clothing, black wooly hats and their faces streaked with black. Johnny and Alf looked at their faces. They had both been kept in the dark and Alf was annoyed. He kept quiet for now as Rushton continued.
“This is the port of Gabes,” Rushton spoke “The Germans have been using this as a major supply port since the war began. They have all but abandoned it by moving North through the plains and this pass. These boats you see now are the last to leave. The allies have been unable to do anything about this base. That’s how strong it’s been….” he stopped as they all heard a diesel engine start.
One of the boats.
“….Until now,” he continued looking down at the port with its warehouses, its deserted landing strip nearby. Sand beaches stretching away both North and South.
“Our mission is to enter the town and mop up any resistance left.”
His men began to get excited at the prospect of action last. They began murmuring amongst themselves. Alf and Johnny felt it too.
“Their only escape is by sea now. If we can get to their boats and take them we have the port.”
The men wanted to cheer but knew they couldn’t. Even at this distance the Germans may hear.
“We will take our vehicles down to this spot here,” Rushton showed them on the map, “Which is there,” he pointed to the West of Gabes.
“What strength of resistance can we expect Sir?” Doyle asked.
“There are sentry posts scattered all around the dock. These appear to be unmanned. Nevertheless Doyle I want you and your group to take these one by one. As you take them move on to the next. The strength of the enemy is not known, unable to guess at numbers. Their strongest firepower will undoubtedly be the boats. We need to take them. The submarine we will probably be unable to take. We don’t know if the crew are on board. We can assume that at least some of them will be. Whether it will be enough to sail her, I don’t know. Be warned men if she is able to fire off torpedoes, well you can only imagine the devastation that could cause. The only good thing is they are unlikely to fire with those boats directly in front of them. They are too close. To fire directly into them would undoubtedly damage the sub severely. The warehouses nearest to the sub were known to contain fuel. How much has been successfully evacuated is anyone’s guess. No doubt the Germans have charges placed on that fuel. We must, if we can, try to stop them from detonating it.”
“What about those other ships Sir?”
“Those are merchant vessels carrying supplies and are not armed. Their crews are also merchant sailors, probably Italians or North Africans and will probably not fight back. If you encounter them take no chances, there maybe zealots amongst them and this is a war. Put yourselves first as always.”
“If they try to escape Sir?”
“Leave them! Concentrate on the Germans only. The merchant ships are certainly not ready to sail as we speak and will not be able to get away quickly. When push comes to shove they may well change sides and work for our lot. Who knows with foreign sailors. They will no doubt work for whichever side they think will profit them most.”
“So they’re one step above pirates,” Johnny said.
“Mercenaries,” Rushton replied.
Johnny looked down at the harbour. He could imagine it in peace time. When warships were replaced by fishing boats.
“You will also come across civilians, townspeople. They have been under German occupation for three years. The locals don’t really care who occupies them. They would gain from both sides and unlike in parts of Europe they have not suffered at the hands of Rommel’s army. Some may try to help you, some may not. Mostly they should stay impartial and will probably stand by and do nothing. Certainly most will be in their homes but if you encounter them be on your guard. Lieutenant Dennis….”
“Yes Sir.”
“I want you to take a small detachment and disable those boats. As many as you can. Once Doyle has taken the first of the guard posts you move with him and get to those boats. Disable their engines for now but not to a point of where you can’t repair them. We may need them ourselves. Sergeant Larder I want you to take five men and get into that fuel depot. The rest of you with me will sweep through the town and take the German headquarters. This should be pretty much deserted. From there we will signal the advance to General’s Tuker and Horrocks. Any questions?”
Alf knew the answer to this already but felt he needed to ask.
“You haven’t mentioned prisoners.”
“We won’t be taking prisoners Lieutenant.”
Rushton stopped the vehicles at the point they were to leave them. He had now changed into all black. Silently they walked the mile into Gabes town. Alf looked up at the sky. There were many clouds now, the stars, where they could be seen appearing like pinpricks. The men of Rushton’s unit walked quickly on both sides of the road saying nothing. Two had been left behind with the vehicles. At the first sign of danger they were to get into a Jeep, release flares and get out as quickly as they could. The vehicles were well hidden though and Rushton hoped that he wouldn’t see flares on this night. He was in the lead, Doyle opposite him.
The road they were on was well used. The wind in the daytime had pushed sand across it and Rushton could see that they were leaving footprints. He hoped there were no patrols tonight. There probably wouldn’t be. As he’d studied Gabes through his binoculars he could see that almost all the Germans had already fled.
Rushton suddenly stopped and signalled the others to. They all stood motionless watching the man in front. Nervously they began to look around. Rushton stayed still, his fist raised to keep his men from moving. Rushton had stopped at the sound. Doyle heard it too. Now so did some of the others. Alf cocked his head, listening.