Each year, pupils in the Fifth and Sixth forms at Oundle School are encouraged to apply for bursaries which will help them undertake an expedition and challenge themselves to try something new during their school holidays. Whether physically or intellectually challenging (and, in most cases, both), these awards were created by many benefactors and the journeys they inspire help to keep a sense of adventure alive.The oldest and most prestigious of these is the Dudgeon Award, presented at Speech Day, and funded in memory of Patrick Dudgeon, a former pupil who was a member of St Anthony House from 1934 to 1938. He was captured in Italy while on a secret mission, and before his execution was described by the German who interviewed him as “the bravest of English officers I met in all my life.”
Above: Major Patrick Dudgeon MC
Right: St Anthony House on Oundle's Milton Road
Patrick Dudgeon had joined the Royal Corps of Signals at the outbreak of war, and won the Military Cross for ‘gallant and distinguished service in the field.’ Later he was engaged on various secret and dangerous missions by submarine and air in North Africa while serving with the Special Air Service Regiment.
Patrick Dudgeon had joined the Royal Corps of Signals at the outbreak of war, and won the Military Cross for ‘gallant and distinguished service in the field.’ Later he was engaged on various secret and dangerous missions by submarine and air in North Africa while serving with the Special Air Service Regiment.
Operation ‘Speedwell’ was Patrick Dudgeon's last mission. The plan was to reduce the rate of German reinforcements to the south of Italy by attacking rail communications between Genoa and Spezia, Bologna and Pistoia, Bologna and Prato, and Florence and Arezzo. Had the operation been properly supported in terms of aircraft and supplies, it has been argued, the strategic advantage gained would have been immense.
On 7 September 1943, two aircraft took off from North Africa carrying two groups of SAS men. By midnight they had landed successfully in the mountains north of Spezia, some hundreds of miles behind the German lines. Patrick Dudgeon set off with his six men to attack the Genoa-Spezia railway. Two members of his group succeeded in blowing up two trains on the Spezia-Bologna line, and finally made their way back to British lines. Patrick Dudgeon, with fellow-soldier Trooper Brunt, then ambushed a German amphibian and succeeded in killing a number of the enemy before being captured near Parma.
It was clear to the Germans from the explosives he was carrying that Patrick Dudgeon had been hoping to reach a further objective, but nothing could make him give any information about the target. In the presence of his staff the German General responsible for the interrogation expressed admiration for the British officer's courage, but gave the order for him and his companion to be shot the next morning on Hitler's orders.
On 7 September 1943, two aircraft took off from North Africa carrying two groups of SAS men. By midnight they had landed successfully in the mountains north of Spezia, some hundreds of miles behind the German lines. Patrick Dudgeon set off with his six men to attack the Genoa-Spezia railway. Two members of his group succeeded in blowing up two trains on the Spezia-Bologna line, and finally made their way back to British lines. Patrick Dudgeon, with fellow-soldier Trooper Brunt, then ambushed a German amphibian and succeeded in killing a number of the enemy before being captured near Parma.
It was clear to the Germans from the explosives he was carrying that Patrick Dudgeon had been hoping to reach a further objective, but nothing could make him give any information about the target. In the presence of his staff the German General responsible for the interrogation expressed admiration for the British officer's courage, but gave the order for him and his companion to be shot the next morning on Hitler's orders.
News of Patrick Dudgeon’s capture and death came after the war in the form of the following letter to his father from Victor Schmit, the German army lieutenant who had acted as interpreter at his interrogation
Left: Victor Schmit in 1943
Luxembourg
May 11 1945.
Dear Sir,
By this letter I fulfil my word pledged to the bravest of English officers I met in all my life. This officer is your son, Captain Dudgeon, who fell for his country in Italy on October 3rd 1943. Before he died I had to promise him to give you information about the circumstances and the spot he was buried.
I was at that time a platoon commander in the 65th Infantry Division of the Germans. My unit lay in the Passo della Cisa about 30 miles west of Parma on the road Parma – La Spezia.
About 0100 o’clock a.m. I was wakened by my men who told me they had captured two English soldiers driving in the direction of Parma, their clothes were smeared with blood, in their bags they had about 40 pounds of explosives. I went down and found in the Guard Room two English soldiers, one of whom a captain. When I asked who they were they gave me their military cards. I reported to the Coy. Comdr. and later to the Division. The Divisional Officer on duty told me that half an hour ago a German Sgt and a private driving towards La Spezia had been shot and the car stolen.
This having happened several hundred miles behind the lines and the two soldiers carrying explosives they had to be treated as Greischarler (? Freischarler) and would probably be shot.
The battalion commander who had arrived in the meantime tried to get out of your son anything about his purposes, where he was coming from etc.etc., I being the interpreter. When the German insisted your son asked me to translate “If you were my prisoner should you betray your country talking about your mission?”
Upon this my captain told him that probably he had to be shot by an existing order of the Fuhrer. Captain Dudgeon took the news, answering something like this - “All right I’ll die for my country”.
When my captain had withdrawn I sat beside your son on the straw and we were speaking together all night long. He told me he knew little of Germany, that he had been during his holidays to Switzerland etc.
In the morning the Divisional Commander, General Von Zielberg, informed the Bn. That he would come and see the English captain before he was to be shot. I told him (your son) that the German officers were scandalized that an enemy who had behaved in so brilliant a manner had to be shot but were mightless against an order of the Fuhrer. To me the behaviour of the young officer of 23 years old had made such an impression that I couldn’t help telling him when we were alone “Your country may be proud of you. If you were not my enemy I should ask you to be my friend”. Captain Dudgeon gave me his hand saying “I thank you for telling me that”.
Page 2.
The interview with the General was quite resultless. At the end of it (all German officers were present) the General told me to translate to your son the following sentence –
“Sagen Sie ihm dass ich vor Seinen Haltung alle Achtung habe. Er wird, mit seinen Kameraden in einer Stunde erschossen.”
Your son saluted militarily and left the General. He asked me to stay with him until it would be over. He gave me your address asking me to inform you. He asked for a protestant priest. Before he died he asked to die with free hands and open eyes. He knelt down for a short while praying with his hands in front of his face.
Then he got up and died like a hero.
I wasnot allowed to give you notice of your son’s death by way of the Red Cross as the enemy was to have no information whatever regarding the efficiency of the parachutists. So I had to wait and keep the address hidden up to now. The grave of Captain Dudgeon is 200 metres South West of the Chapel on the Passo della Cisa going in the direction of La Spezia, 100 metres behind the last of the buildings.
I am, Yours sincerely,
Victor Schmit,
C/o Veura Schmit - Zoller
HOSTERT
pris de Luxembourg
Right: Victor Schmit with his grandson Rodrigo Quiroga Schmit in 1966
May 11 1945.
Dear Sir,
By this letter I fulfil my word pledged to the bravest of English officers I met in all my life. This officer is your son, Captain Dudgeon, who fell for his country in Italy on October 3rd 1943. Before he died I had to promise him to give you information about the circumstances and the spot he was buried.
I was at that time a platoon commander in the 65th Infantry Division of the Germans. My unit lay in the Passo della Cisa about 30 miles west of Parma on the road Parma – La Spezia.
About 0100 o’clock a.m. I was wakened by my men who told me they had captured two English soldiers driving in the direction of Parma, their clothes were smeared with blood, in their bags they had about 40 pounds of explosives. I went down and found in the Guard Room two English soldiers, one of whom a captain. When I asked who they were they gave me their military cards. I reported to the Coy. Comdr. and later to the Division. The Divisional Officer on duty told me that half an hour ago a German Sgt and a private driving towards La Spezia had been shot and the car stolen.
This having happened several hundred miles behind the lines and the two soldiers carrying explosives they had to be treated as Greischarler (? Freischarler) and would probably be shot.
The battalion commander who had arrived in the meantime tried to get out of your son anything about his purposes, where he was coming from etc.etc., I being the interpreter. When the German insisted your son asked me to translate “If you were my prisoner should you betray your country talking about your mission?”
Upon this my captain told him that probably he had to be shot by an existing order of the Fuhrer. Captain Dudgeon took the news, answering something like this - “All right I’ll die for my country”.
When my captain had withdrawn I sat beside your son on the straw and we were speaking together all night long. He told me he knew little of Germany, that he had been during his holidays to Switzerland etc.
In the morning the Divisional Commander, General Von Zielberg, informed the Bn. That he would come and see the English captain before he was to be shot. I told him (your son) that the German officers were scandalized that an enemy who had behaved in so brilliant a manner had to be shot but were mightless against an order of the Fuhrer. To me the behaviour of the young officer of 23 years old had made such an impression that I couldn’t help telling him when we were alone “Your country may be proud of you. If you were not my enemy I should ask you to be my friend”. Captain Dudgeon gave me his hand saying “I thank you for telling me that”.
Page 2.
The interview with the General was quite resultless. At the end of it (all German officers were present) the General told me to translate to your son the following sentence –
“Sagen Sie ihm dass ich vor Seinen Haltung alle Achtung habe. Er wird, mit seinen Kameraden in einer Stunde erschossen.”
Your son saluted militarily and left the General. He asked me to stay with him until it would be over. He gave me your address asking me to inform you. He asked for a protestant priest. Before he died he asked to die with free hands and open eyes. He knelt down for a short while praying with his hands in front of his face.
Then he got up and died like a hero.
I wasnot allowed to give you notice of your son’s death by way of the Red Cross as the enemy was to have no information whatever regarding the efficiency of the parachutists. So I had to wait and keep the address hidden up to now. The grave of Captain Dudgeon is 200 metres South West of the Chapel on the Passo della Cisa going in the direction of La Spezia, 100 metres behind the last of the buildings.
I am, Yours sincerely,
Victor Schmit,
C/o Veura Schmit - Zoller
HOSTERT
pris de Luxembourg
Right: Victor Schmit with his grandson Rodrigo Quiroga Schmit in 1966I am grateful to Rodrigo Quiroga Schmit, the grandson of the German officer who had befriended Captain Dudgeon, for sending me a copy of this letter, along with the following slightly edited account of the episode, based on memories of conversations with his grandfather.
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I- Details concerning the sentence of P.Dudgeon.
My grandfather told me that as soon as P.Dudgeon and the private (whose names he never mentioned) were captured they were already condemned to death. Several attacks against railways had been being carried out in the area during those days and Hitler, who was furious, had personally ordered that any soldier captured in those circumstances had to be considered as irregular troops, (OKW [German War Ministry] believed the Allies were helped by Italian partisans who in fact were irregulars) and consequently shot at once. P. Dudgeon & the private were taken prisoner, carrying explosives with them. Also there were doubts about an overcoat found in the forest, but apparently they had not used it. However, most of the officers in the regiment were against the idea of execution as P. Dudgeon was captured without any partisan or irregular accompanying him, and both soldiers were in uniform and had military cards. As the divisional commander, General Von Zielberg had said in advance, by phone, that he couldn´t refuse to fulfil Hitler´s personal orders, some senior divisional officers directly tried to get in contact with Field Marshall Kesselring, (Italy’s German Commander in Chief), and also with the commander of their army who were both considered gentlemen, but couldn´t reach them.
Victor recalled that when General Von Zielberg arrived to the spot, and ordered the POW's execution, several officers (he amongst them), tried in private once again to convince the General that those soldiers had been taken in uniform and nobody else including any partisan or irregular had been found with them. A displeased Von Zielberg finished the discussion asking something like this: "After all gentlemen, I wonder on which side you are?" That comment annoyed my grandfather in such a way that, even being a junior officer, he didn´t care to answer a general in an unkind loud voice, saying: "General, you haven´t got the right to insult us in that way. In my case I volunteered for the Wehrmacht , and was twice awarded in Russia (while he showed the Iron Cross to his superior). Therefore our allegiance should be completely out of the question, but we are talking about POWS". As other officers also complained, the commander finally dismissed them and stayed alone with his adjutant officer and also with the regiment commander. After the execution, my grandfather was informed that it was strictly forbidden to send any kind of letter to enemies' relatives, even through the Red Cross. Therefore, on the account of high probability against surviving the war, and at the same time having promised P. Dudgeon to write to his father, he wrote a letter to his sister in Luxembourg telling all details of the case and asking her to send it to England only if he fell in combat, which was quite probable. He was conscious of the risk of doing so, (the correspondence could be checked out) but he felt he had to. Just several months after Dudgeon's death, he was awarded the Iron Cross once again in the early days of Anzio, where he distinguished himself facing British forces, this time in great disadvantage, with heavy losses in his unit. Then he was promoted to a higher rank. Curiously, one year later, he was informed that General Von Zielberg himself, was executed on Hitler´s orders, as a consequence of the July plot.
I would like to highlight the fact that my grandfather fulfilled his word of honor, writing another letter on May 1945, just two days before his surrender to Luxembourg's authorities. No matter how deeply affected he was those terrible days, he fulfilled Patrick Dudgeon´s last will. He told me that in 1945 when he was imprisoned and condemned to death for the only sin to join the german army in 1941 against Stalin, he promised himself to face the execution squad with the same dignity he had seen in Patrick Dudgeon. Happily for his family and friends, and for the orphans whose institution he supported during decades here [in Argentina], he managed to escape/avoid execution. Ten years after the war he received a letter from Luxemburg´s government asking for pardon and regretting all the suffering inflicted to my family, and also offered an economic reward, which he refused to accept.
II- Some details I can remember over the final hours
My grandfather evidently admired both soldiers' courage, as he made very clear to me the point that Dudgeon only surrendered to his troops, although they were outnumbered and surrounded, when both he & the private went out of ammunition after a short intense fight. During the night's conversation, when Victor told that he had been two years in Russia, Dudgeon was extremely interested to know about the conditions, and other aspects (Victor didn't tell me which other aspects) of the Russian front. Victor told him that as an average, each German soldier that had resisted those horrible conditions of the eastern front, could be regarded as an elite trooper for the standard of the western front. Patrick also commented that he respected German army behaviour, particularly in France, Africa and Russia, but said the British also had "some kind of fighting soul (spirit)".
When Patrick knew his fate, instead of trying to defend himself he intended to save the private, saying that he had been almost obliged to carry out the mission, something difficult to believe on the account they were special forces. Victor answered that he could do nothing about it, but would once again try to talk with his superiors, many of whom in fact agreed with him. He added that one sergeant who had been killed by them had 5 children, a fact that didn´t help. The private remained all night long in silence and didn´t want to talk at all. P. Dudgeon refused to smoke or to drink any alcoholic beverage. He asked whether there was a possibility (apparently on the account they had infiltrated far behind German lines), of being tortured in a potential interrogation. Victor said that it was not at all the way of the Wehrmacht, even on the soviet front, with red commissars captured alive, who were often transferred to SS units. Then they chatted about their childhood and youth, their families and military traditions, and about English literature & history (my grandfather was a high cultured man and knew a lot about Latin, Italian, French, German, and English literature). Next day when they said good bye, they shook hands firmly, and Lt. Schmit saluted both soldiers militarily making a loud sound with his boots as a humble homage to them.
At the end, after praying and looking at the shooting squad with a defiant expression in his face, several seconds before the execution order was given, Patrick Dudgeon began to sing "God save the King" in a loud voice, (the private followed him in doing so) which was touching for all the German officers, even the one who gave the final order.
I- Details concerning the sentence of P.Dudgeon.
My grandfather told me that as soon as P.Dudgeon and the private (whose names he never mentioned) were captured they were already condemned to death. Several attacks against railways had been being carried out in the area during those days and Hitler, who was furious, had personally ordered that any soldier captured in those circumstances had to be considered as irregular troops, (OKW [German War Ministry] believed the Allies were helped by Italian partisans who in fact were irregulars) and consequently shot at once. P. Dudgeon & the private were taken prisoner, carrying explosives with them. Also there were doubts about an overcoat found in the forest, but apparently they had not used it. However, most of the officers in the regiment were against the idea of execution as P. Dudgeon was captured without any partisan or irregular accompanying him, and both soldiers were in uniform and had military cards. As the divisional commander, General Von Zielberg had said in advance, by phone, that he couldn´t refuse to fulfil Hitler´s personal orders, some senior divisional officers directly tried to get in contact with Field Marshall Kesselring, (Italy’s German Commander in Chief), and also with the commander of their army who were both considered gentlemen, but couldn´t reach them.
Victor recalled that when General Von Zielberg arrived to the spot, and ordered the POW's execution, several officers (he amongst them), tried in private once again to convince the General that those soldiers had been taken in uniform and nobody else including any partisan or irregular had been found with them. A displeased Von Zielberg finished the discussion asking something like this: "After all gentlemen, I wonder on which side you are?" That comment annoyed my grandfather in such a way that, even being a junior officer, he didn´t care to answer a general in an unkind loud voice, saying: "General, you haven´t got the right to insult us in that way. In my case I volunteered for the Wehrmacht , and was twice awarded in Russia (while he showed the Iron Cross to his superior). Therefore our allegiance should be completely out of the question, but we are talking about POWS". As other officers also complained, the commander finally dismissed them and stayed alone with his adjutant officer and also with the regiment commander. After the execution, my grandfather was informed that it was strictly forbidden to send any kind of letter to enemies' relatives, even through the Red Cross. Therefore, on the account of high probability against surviving the war, and at the same time having promised P. Dudgeon to write to his father, he wrote a letter to his sister in Luxembourg telling all details of the case and asking her to send it to England only if he fell in combat, which was quite probable. He was conscious of the risk of doing so, (the correspondence could be checked out) but he felt he had to. Just several months after Dudgeon's death, he was awarded the Iron Cross once again in the early days of Anzio, where he distinguished himself facing British forces, this time in great disadvantage, with heavy losses in his unit. Then he was promoted to a higher rank. Curiously, one year later, he was informed that General Von Zielberg himself, was executed on Hitler´s orders, as a consequence of the July plot.
I would like to highlight the fact that my grandfather fulfilled his word of honor, writing another letter on May 1945, just two days before his surrender to Luxembourg's authorities. No matter how deeply affected he was those terrible days, he fulfilled Patrick Dudgeon´s last will. He told me that in 1945 when he was imprisoned and condemned to death for the only sin to join the german army in 1941 against Stalin, he promised himself to face the execution squad with the same dignity he had seen in Patrick Dudgeon. Happily for his family and friends, and for the orphans whose institution he supported during decades here [in Argentina], he managed to escape/avoid execution. Ten years after the war he received a letter from Luxemburg´s government asking for pardon and regretting all the suffering inflicted to my family, and also offered an economic reward, which he refused to accept.
II- Some details I can remember over the final hours
My grandfather evidently admired both soldiers' courage, as he made very clear to me the point that Dudgeon only surrendered to his troops, although they were outnumbered and surrounded, when both he & the private went out of ammunition after a short intense fight. During the night's conversation, when Victor told that he had been two years in Russia, Dudgeon was extremely interested to know about the conditions, and other aspects (Victor didn't tell me which other aspects) of the Russian front. Victor told him that as an average, each German soldier that had resisted those horrible conditions of the eastern front, could be regarded as an elite trooper for the standard of the western front. Patrick also commented that he respected German army behaviour, particularly in France, Africa and Russia, but said the British also had "some kind of fighting soul (spirit)".
When Patrick knew his fate, instead of trying to defend himself he intended to save the private, saying that he had been almost obliged to carry out the mission, something difficult to believe on the account they were special forces. Victor answered that he could do nothing about it, but would once again try to talk with his superiors, many of whom in fact agreed with him. He added that one sergeant who had been killed by them had 5 children, a fact that didn´t help. The private remained all night long in silence and didn´t want to talk at all. P. Dudgeon refused to smoke or to drink any alcoholic beverage. He asked whether there was a possibility (apparently on the account they had infiltrated far behind German lines), of being tortured in a potential interrogation. Victor said that it was not at all the way of the Wehrmacht, even on the soviet front, with red commissars captured alive, who were often transferred to SS units. Then they chatted about their childhood and youth, their families and military traditions, and about English literature & history (my grandfather was a high cultured man and knew a lot about Latin, Italian, French, German, and English literature). Next day when they said good bye, they shook hands firmly, and Lt. Schmit saluted both soldiers militarily making a loud sound with his boots as a humble homage to them.
At the end, after praying and looking at the shooting squad with a defiant expression in his face, several seconds before the execution order was given, Patrick Dudgeon began to sing "God save the King" in a loud voice, (the private followed him in doing so) which was touching for all the German officers, even the one who gave the final order.
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