World War 11 Freedom Trails
This great TV documentary series hosted by Monty Halls , (see link here) over four episodes, retraces extraordinary journeys as he treks the Freedom Trails of WWII, discovering what it took to escape Nazi Europe and meeting the ordinary men and women who became heroes in the process.
Rossano and SAS Operation Galia
Episode 3, was screened on saturday 30th September 2017 and is called 'Rossano' told the story of SAS Operation Galia. One of the people Monty interviews is SAS Operation Galia survivor Trevor Harrold who is now 96. I have now told his full story above as my tribute to all the Galia men including my Father for armistice day 2017. Trevor was one of the Galia squad who managed to survive incredible hardship and suffering having been made a POW during the Galia Operation. I had the pleasure of meeting Trev twice, a wonderful experience.
Monty's series charts the sotry of how tens of thousands of men and women staked their lives following these little-known routes through unknown, enemy territory and out of Nazi occupied Europe. The Freedom Trails led to safety, but many were extremely perilous. To find and complete them required the help of the local resistance, who risked their own lives to save others.
The photo below, showing a Galia stick on active duty behind the lines in Northern Italy comes from my late Father's archive (my Dad was also a Galia squad member). (c) Rob Hann
