The British Partisan: Capture, Imprisonment and Escape in Wartime Italy

In this action-packed account, the author, a Welch Regiment officer, describes his remarkable Second World War experiences. These include his baptism by fire in the Western Desert against Rommel’s armor in 1942, the spontaneous help of nomad Arabs when on the run for ten days behind enemy lines, his capture and life as a POW in Italy.

Ross and a fellow officer made the first escape from Fontanellato POW camp only to be recaptured on the Swiss border. During his second escape, Ross fought against the occupying German forces in north Italy alongside the Italian partisans, who nearly executed him initially. He avoided recapture for over a year before finally reaching Allied lines.

The reader learns of the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of local Italians helping and hiding Allied soldiers. Ross’s story has a poignant conclusion as, while on the run, he fell in love with a prominent anti-fascist’s daughter whom he married after the war.

Originally published as From Liguria With Love, this superbly written and updated memoir is a powerful and inspiring tribute to all those who risked their lives to help him and his comrades.

Michael Ross, an undergraduate at the outbreak of the War, immediately volunteered for military service and was commissioned into the Welch Regiment. This classic memoir, originally published in 1997 as From Liguria With Love and now updated by his son David, describes his experiences in North Africa, where he was captured, and Italy, both as POW and as an escapee, fighting alongside the partisans. Ross was Mentioned in Despatches for gallantry.

After the war, he returned to Italy and married Giovanna, the daughter of the family that had hidden him from the enemy for many months. He later served in Korea, Hong Kong and Berlin before transferring to HM Diplomatic Service. The final years of his career were spent in North America and South Africa as a consular officer. Retiring in 1982, he and Giovanna divided their time between their homes in London and Bordighera, Italy. After 66 happy years of marriage, Michael died in 2012.