Operation Partridge facts for kids
Operation Partridge was a secret mission carried out by British soldiers during World War II. It happened as part of the Italian Campaign. The mission was led by a special group called No. 9 Commando.
The main goal of Operation Partridge was to create a distraction. It was meant to hide the movement of another large group of soldiers, the X Corps. This larger group was getting ready to cross the Garigliano river.
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What Happened During Operation Partridge?
The Landing
During the night of December 29-30, 1943, the No. 9 Commando soldiers landed on the north side of a river estuary. They were brought there by the Royal Navy. However, they were about 95 minutes late. They also landed about 1,000 yards (914 meters) away from where they were supposed to be.
The Attack and Withdrawal
Despite the delay, the commandos quickly attacked several German positions. After their attacks, most of the soldiers pulled back across the river. They used special amphibious vehicles called DUKWs to cross the water.
However, two smaller groups, No. 4 and No. 6 troops, had a tougher time. They had to cross the river about 2,700 yards (2,468 meters) upstream. They used ropes and even swam to get across.
The Outcome
Operation Partridge was successful in distracting the enemy. But it came at a cost for the commandos. Nine of their soldiers were killed during the mission. On the positive side, they managed to capture 29 German prisoners.
