Feebery Cyril - Guardsman and commando : the war memoirs of RSM Cyril Feebery DCM

by Major J Verney, MC, 1st SAS Regiment

RE: 2615284 SSM FEEBERY, CYRIL

On the night of 29 June 1943, SSM Feebery was put ashore on the west coast of Sardinia from a submarine. There were two parties of five each, commanded by Capt. Thompson 2nd SAS Regiment, and Lt Duggin attached to 2nd SAS Regt, with the rest of L Detachment, Special Boat Squadron, for the operation. SSM Feebery was 2nd i/c to Lt Duggins party.

The two parties landed together at night on the coast within a short distance of an Italian port. They had not been seen, but found themselves at the foot of a high and very steep cliff, with only two hours of darkness left. Five out of the ten including Lt Duggin were in a weak state, thought at first to be the effects of the submarine trip, but which turned out to be malaria. Both officers told me afterwards that without SSM Feeberys great strength and courage they would not have climbed the cliff. He scaled it first with a rope, a hazardous task in the dark, and then made several trips up and down hauling the others and their packs to the top. They were all safely up before dawn and remained concealed the next day. The two parties spilt up then to march to their respective airfield targets.

After six days Lt Duggin and two others were too exhausted with malaria to continue. Owing to the rough going and the delay caused by their weakness, there was no hope of reaching the airfield in time. Lt Duggin told SSM Feebery and the other remaining man, Pte. Noriega, to carry on to the RV on the east coast, laying charges on a railway line which had been given to them as a secondary target if the airfield failed, en route. SSM Feebery and Noriega found the line and laid the charges, and then made for the east coast RV across country.

Unfortunately the RV had already been compromised and rounded up. SSM Feebery and Noriega reached it on 18 July after a tremendous march through enemy country over very rough and difficult going, to find Italian troops there on the lookout. I spoke later to the Italian officer who captured him, having been sent to the RV for that purpose. He knew rubber dinghies had been found on the west coast where Feebery landed, but he did not believe it possible for anyone to walk across the island in the time, and insisted that Feebery must have been dropped by parachute.

I saw Feebery a month later at Maddelena, where we were both waiting to be shipped to Italy. 25 O/Rs from the Special Boat Squadron were with him, and although they were ill from malaria and under-feeding, Feebery had them admirably under control and was keeping them both as smart and as cheerful as could have been expected. Their morale, thanks to his splendid leadership, was quite amazing, and it was amusing to note the respect the Italian guards treated them with, evidently terrified of some sudden coup de main by Feebery.

I was not surprised to hear that when Italy collapsed, Feebery led all his men out of their POW camp in one party and then split them up into smaller parties to make for British lines. Many have now returned safely, including Feebery himself.