Faugh CO captured, Italy.

On the day after the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers’ battle around the villages of Pescia and Ranciano, it suffered a stroke of bad luck. The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel J W Dunnill DSO, departed his Tactical Headquarters in the command tank to visit his forward companies. He was later reported missing. A carrier mounted patrol was despatched to find him without success and during the search was fired on by enemy occupying the village of Badia.

The next day German POWs and local civilians confirmed that the CO, his Artillery representative, Intelligence Officer, and crew were all taken prisoner in their tank in the Badia area. The Adjutant assumed temporary command until a new CO was appointed.

(Above left, Lt Col J W Dunnill DSO on 26 November 1943 when presented with his DSO (© IWM NA 9188))