Major John “Jim” Almonds Mm &
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MAJOR JOHN “JIM” ALMONDS MM & BAR At the time of his death, Major John “Jim” Almonds MM & s it possible for a professional soldier to be Bar was the oldest surviving Ia ruthless killer and also member of the original have great compassion for the enemy? complement of the Special Many military men over Air Service; he had been the years have displayed one trait or the other but commissioned in the fi eld to achieve both is anything after being twice awarded but easy. Some soldiers would see any concern the Military Medal and twice for the enemy as a sign of escaping from a PoW camp. weakness, while many of those overly-worried about In the latest in his series Lord the enemy would have Ashcroft examines a Special diffi culty being necessarily brutal even in the heat of Forces hero who came to battle. be known by the nickname Yet there is one soldier who undoubtedly displayed TOP: A heavily armed patrol of ‘L’ Detachment “Gentleman Jim”. both traits over many years. Step forward SAS pictured in their jeeps having just returned the appropriately named “Gentleman Jim” from a three month patrol. (Imperial War Museum; Almonds, one of the most remarkable men E21337) ever to pull on a British military uniform. ABOVE: A member of “L” Detachment, Special “Jim Almonds always ran to the battle,” Air Service Brigade preparing a meal whilst in the wrote the late Earl [George] Jellicoe, fi eld. (Courtesy of SAS Regimental Publishing; www. then President of the Special Air Service saswardiary.co.uk) Regimental Association. “He was one of the fi rst twelve men who joined David Stirling relished any war-time challenge. Yet, he when he founded the SAS at Kabrit in early was anything but headstrong and reckless. September 1941. Physically tough and with Instead, he was intelligent and disciplined the self-discipline and mental strength never and also determined to survive his endless to give up whatever the circumstances, he “scrapes” if only to embark on more yet showed that personal humility that led to adventures. Ultimately, however, he would his nickname.” The latter was “Gentleman always display an incredible respect for the Jim”. enemy and an old-fashioned sense of “fair Almonds thrived on adversity and play”. Lord Ashcroft’s “Hero of the Month” Jon Enoch/eyevine Lord Ashcroft_Dec2103.indd 87 08/11/2013 13:36 December, Almonds and Jock Lewes carried stolen from a RC out a successful attack against Axis units on priest’s Bible, and the main Tripoli coastal road. After arriving had constructed a at Mersa Brega, they spotted the lights of compass. a large house and fort used as an enemy “The four PoWs staging post. There were just the two of them travelled over but they pulled in and parked their captured the hills by night lorry among the Italian and German trucks. through bad and They placed bombs on the parked enemy rainy weather and vehicles, while under fi re from inside the reached the coast fort, destroying several enemy transport and after twelve days. coming out of the “beat up” uninjured. They could fi nd Almonds’ Military Medal was announced no boat of any in November 1942 when the confi dential kind, were too recommendation from Stirling stated: “This weak to travel NCO has at all times and under the most further and were testing conditions shown great powers of therefore forced leadership. After a raid on Nofelia aerodrome to give themselves [Libya], he took command of his party after up. At the time his offi cer had been killed. He showed great of the Armistice, resource in managing to extricate this party Almonds was in Campo 70 (Monturano) ABOVE: Members of the early SAS preparing with only one casualty, although all but one and was sent out by the SBO [Senior British for an operation in the deserts of North Africa. (Courtesy of SAS Regimental Publishing; of his trucks had been destroyed. On another Offi cer] to watch the coast road. While out www.saswardiary.co.uk) raid in the Agheila area, he led a party which he was told by an Italian that the Germans destroyed fi ve heavy enemy MT [motor had taken over the camp. He therefore made MAIN PICTURE BELOW: SAS volunteers transport] and he participated in shooting up good his escape and set out westwards. He jumping from moving vehicles while undergoing ABOVE LEFT: SAS volunteers jumping from steel an enemy post in this locality.” contacted American forces on 14 October parachute training at Kabrit, Egypt – as described gantries while undergoing parachute training at early raids behind enemy lines. faint-hearted. by Major John “Jim” Almonds MM & Bar. (Courtesy Kabrit, Egypt, 7 November 1941. According to The training itself was remarkable, On 17 October, he noted: “Two of the boys Almonds was captured by the Italians 1942.” of SAS Regimental Publishing; www.saswardiary.co.uk) his obituary in The Telegraph, Almonds had been including practising parachute landings by killed. Chutes never had a chance to open. during a later SAS mission, but was awarded Yet there are at least two anecdotes instructed by Stirling to help construct jumping rolling from the back of a truck which was Brought back across the canal by boat.” a Bar to his MM for his two escape attempts. which bear testimony to Almonds’ sense cooking. Yet, later, as the US forces advanced, towers such as these for parachute training. (Imperial War Museum; E6390) travelling at speeds up to 30 mph. On 6 It was not the easiest preparation for the The decoration was announced in April of compassion. During one mission behind Almonds decided to let Fritz live, choosing October 1941, Almonds wrote: “Afternoon next day, when Almonds had to make his 1944 after the confi dential recommendation enemy lines in French-occupied France – an his moment to allow him to slip away back ABOVE RIGHT: SAS volunteers boarding an spent jumping backwards from a lorry at fi rst parachute jump. By now, Gentleman Jim had stated: “Captured at Benghazi on 14 episode that Almonds dubbed “the French to the German lines so that he would not be RAF Bristol Bombay transport aircraft prior to a September 1942, this NCO was fi rst taken to picnic” – the SAS wreaked havoc blowing up shot by the American forces or accused of practice jump while undergoing parachute training twenty-fi ve miles per hour. Three broken arms already had a fearsome reputation. It was no at Kabrit, Egypt – an image also taken on 7 and a number of other casualties. Broken surprise that when Paddy Blair Mayne – later Campo 51 (Altamura). While here Almonds railway lines, bridges and ammunition lines fraternisation with the enemy by his own side. November 1941. (Imperial War Museum; E6404) bones through training now six.” to be awarded the Distinguished Service and three others, on 4 February 1943, bribed in the summer of 1944. Never one to employ It was Lorna Almonds Windmill, herself an Quite apart from the training dangers Order and three Bars – joined the clandestine an Italian offi cer and sentry with coffee and or permit unnecessary violence, he rescued a ex-Army captain, who published a splendid The son of a smallholder, John Edward and the times when he came under “normal” unit at Kabrit, he chose Almonds as his troop remained working in the Red Cross hut till captured German motorcycle despatch rider book about her father twelve years ago. Almonds was born in Stixwould, Lincolnshire, enemy fi re, he narrowly escaped death no less sergeant. it was dark. The offi cer was decoyed by one from the French Maquis. During the two- Gentleman Jim: The Wartime Story of a on 6 August 1914. He made his fi rst – than nine times. Such occasions – during the Almonds and his comrades were prolifi c PoW and the others then overpowered the month operation, “Fritz”, as the German was Founder of the SAS and Special Forces ends unsuccessful – attempt to join the Army early days of parachuting – were not for the in their missions. For example, on 14 sentry and gagged him. Almonds had a map dubbed, was made to do the housework and with an anecdote from the last year of the war on his fourteenth birthday in 1928 and he eventually joined the Coldstream Guards on his eighteenth birthday in 1932. Almonds unoffi cially changed his name from “John” to “Jim” out of convenience – if anyone called out “John”, half the barrack room looked up. Ever practical, he volunteered to be called “Jim”. The “Gentleman” tag came later because, although 6 feet 4 inches tall and fearsome in battle, he was gentle, calm and thoughtful in the company of his comrades. Early in the Second World War, he became a member of No.8 Guards Commando, led by Lieutenant Colonel Bob Laycock. Almonds and three other Special Forces men comprised the famous “Tobruk Four” who used tactics that would later be carried into the SAS. Operating largely at night around the besieged natural seaport of Tobruk in Libya, the team reconnoitred enemy positions and made sporadic attacks on Axis forces. In his authorised biography of SAS founder David Stirling, Alan Hoe wrote: “Sergeant ‘Gentleman Jim’ Almonds ... was in many ways to the desert born. In this environment he was totally at home. He excelled in the velvet darkness and revelled in the vast emptiness of North Africa.” Stirling brought the Tobruk Four into ‘L’ Detachment of the SAS Brigade, formed in the summer of 1941. Soon Almonds was involved in specialised, and highly dangerous, training for new missions.