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Dear editorial desk, once again I've had a few prob's with Greek spellings, please pay close attention to place names whilst checking this piece and correct if necessary.

This story has been written onto the People's War site by CSV Storygatherer Jane Chanter on behalf of Harold James Dunsmore. The story has been added with his permission and Harold fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.
The war time event I took part in was being in a ten man team from 40RM Commando who landed on the coast of Greece to recce an area for our Commando to make a landing. We landed at a place called Katakalqe and moved up into the hills carrying everything needed on our backs. We joined up with a small group of S.A.S. and L.R.D.G., A Colonel Jelleco I/C , together we moved to the seaport of Patras. The German Garrison stationed there not knowing our strength moved out and we took over the town. It was decided to follow them up and see how far we could go before they made a stand. In an old fishing boat we moved up the old Corinth Canal to an air strip at Megara, it was there we were informed that the Parachute Reg would make an operational jump so we were ready for them. A gail force wind was blowing at their jump and we were kept busy cutting them from their chutes, quite a few hurt and a few drowned in the sea. The Germans in Athens a few miles up the road must have seen the Paras and decided to pull out of the city. Again we followed up and were lucky enough to be the first British troops to enter Athens. The peole were out in the streets waving and throwing flowers to greet us, I got hit in the eye with a bunch that had a fir cone in it and got a black eye. I called it my war wound. We were greeted by the town Mayor and V.I.Ps in the main square and given an empty hotel to live in. The next day the Paras moved in and took over the town. One thing, when we checked the German bunkers, a tin mug was full of drinking choc and still warm. We could see their transport moving over the hills beyond Athens.
We returned to Italy and the islands of Poras and Spetria bringing back Italian soldiers and families to Taranto Harbour. I then rejoined my Commando on the island of Corfu. My billet was the ex Hayas Palace and I had my camp bed in the framework of his four poster bed. I also used his saddle neat writing desk to write home from. A few years ago I was told I could be entitled to a Greek Commemorative medal for being in their country during the war. I applied through the R.M Records Department also the Army and Kew records dept only to find this small raiding party had never been recorded. As I told the C/O 40RM Cdo, a little bit of our Corps history is missing. Almost to the day we set off for Greece the 40 Commando was given the Albanian job at Sarandi. This was recorded as being a major task, ours like many other small raids was forgotten.

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