Force 281 Dodecanese 1945

[reeves_colin]

Hi
Can anyone enlighten me?
After serving in the ME from Jan 1943  my grandfather was TOS to Force 281 HQ in Apr 45 until Sept 45.
What exactly was force 281 and what duties would they have done?
His records show him moving around some if the Greek Islands.
I remember him talking about large POW camps, and driving German VW cars and trucks.but not sure when this was. Could this have been what he talked about?

[GrahamSimons]

War Diary is at Kew, not digitised, WO 169/19906

[tonepad]

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30071929#:~:text=Force%20281%20was%20formed%20on,the%20title%20of%20Dodecanese%20District.

"History note
The badge's design derives from that of the Mountain Warfare Training School, which had a mountain goat as an embelm and from which the staff of Force 281 was mainly drawn. Because the area of operations of Force 281 comprised largely sea the water motif was added. Force 281 was formed on 8 September 1944 and occupied Syme on 25 December 1944. From here the Force undertook the occupation of several islands and conducted a number of raids. After the capitulation of the German garrison in May 1945 the Force moved to Rhodes, at which time it took the title of Dodecanese District. As a District, it undertook internal security duties and civilian relief. The badge is also said to exist with a white ground."


Tony

[still_looking]

Oral history from IWM of someone involved on Symi
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80009878

S_L