| Original caption: “Specially trained for their work, a small band of British and Greek troops have forced the Germans to maintain thousands of troops, many supply vessels and a large number of guns in the Aegean islands. Striking swift and deadly, patrols of this detachment have made twenty raids into the heart of the enemy-held islands. In one action they liquidated the entire garrison guarding one island. In this gun position overlooking Symi harbor, a sergeant sets his charge. A few moments after photo was made nothing remained of the Nazi position.” An Allied soldier examines a captured Breda Cannone-Mitragliera da Venti Sessantacinque (“Cannon-Machinegun Twenty/Sixty-Five”) Model 35 above the harbor of Symi during Operation Tenement. This antiaircraft gun was standard in the Regio Esercito (“Royal Italian Army”) and used throughout World War II. This 20 millimeter (0.78 caliber) anti-aircraft cannon was captured in large numbers by the Allies during 1941. Greek commandoes of the Sacred Squadron and British special forces of the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) and the Levant Schooner Flotilla (LSF) executed Operation Tenement – raiding the Greek island of Symi — on July 13-15, 1944. The combined Allied force killed or captured the Axis garrison. Symi Castle, the high position above the town, was stormed under the cover of Vickers heavy machine guns and grenades. The Italians surrendered after negotiations. The New York Times reported on July 24, 1944: “A Hundred and Fifty of Enemy Killed, A Hundred and Fifty Seized As Shipping and Installations on Symi, Off Turkish Coast, Αre Destroyed in Night Raid By Α. C. Sedgwick [(February 8, 1901 – January 19, 1996)] By Wireless to The New York Times.” “Cairo, Egypt, July 23 – Α British and Greek force that had been specially trained for amphibious operations wiped out the enemy garrison of the Island of Symi, in the southeast Aegean Sea north of Rhodes and off the coast of Turkey, it was disclosed today. The operation, considered completely successful, was one of the most daring raids undertaken in the eastern Mediterranean area.” “Every military installation was destroyed and fifteen members of the German-Italian garrison were killed and a hundred and fifty taken prisoner. The Allied losses were said to haνe been light.” “The operation took p1ace recently under a waning moon. (Press services gave the date as July 13-14.) The first part of the operation, including the landing of troops and supplies on the barren coastline and then the scaling of five hundred feet of rocky terrain, occurred in complete darkness.” “Α monastery at Panormiti, οn the southern portion of the island, was attacked after mortar fire. Here the garrison surrendered almost immediately.” “The main attack was against enemy headquarters, situated in the old Knights Hospitallers castle in the middle of Symi town, where resistance was strong. The garrison surrendered after noon.” “Britons Praise Greeks’ Role” “British circles stressed the part played by the Greek troops. Their mortar and machine gun fire made possible the advance. Within considerably less than an hour the Allied troops reached the harbor.” “Two German motor torpedo craft had been previously engaged by British naval units; one was almost instantly boarded and captured. The Anglo-Greek troops left the island after completing their mission. The following dawn, three hundred Germans arrived by sea and searched for opposition that did not exist. Junkers 88 planes carried out search-bombing continually, but in vain, while an Allied rear guard party watched from secluded positions. Later the rear guard opened fire on enemy reconnaissance naval craft as they entered the harbor, killing or wounding ten of the crew. All in the rear guard escaped. The raiders destroyed the castle fortifications, a wireless station, Nine hundred and seventy tons of shipping under construction and enemy guns and ammunition.” | |
| Image Filename | wwii0699.jpg |
| Image Size | 240.26 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1159 x 1171 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Royal Army Official Photographer |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | July 14, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Symi |
| State or Province | South Aegean |
| Country | Greece |
| Archive | Allison Collection, City of Little Rock |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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