| Citation: | Italy. Citation for MBE: OTTAVIANO is a small Italian village located on the slopes of VESUVIUS, some twenty miles from the city of NAPLES. In January 1944 a site was selected in this village for the Depot & Training Establishment, CMP, which was being transferred from NORTH AFRICA to ITALY to meet an ever increasing commitment to train soldiers for transfer to the Corps of Military Police. The site selected was an old castle which was in a very dilapitated condition and which was most unsuitable for use as a Training Establishment. However, owing to the many calls upon accommodation facilities in the area, it was the best obtainable at the time and action had to be taken to convert it to meet the requirements of the CMP Depot. The problems confronting the Administrative Staff of the Depot were to convert this Castle into a Training Establishment fitted for all aspects of basic army re-training and for specialised training in Police duties. New installations such as cookhouses, dining rooms, preparation rooms, store houses, to mention only a few had to be built at a time when skilled military labour and supplies from military sources were required for more urgent operational tasks. This WO displayed capabilities of an outstanding nature in improvising materials and organising local Italian labour to carry out the tasks with which he was confronted, and without the completion of which this Establishment, as a training organisation, could not function. In addition, he organised catering facilities for upwards of 1300 military personnel, often with the minimum assistance in trained catering personnel. He has furthermore, overcome the complexities of clothing and equipping a diversity of many races of our ALLIES who have been trained in Police duties at this establishment. In conclusion his unbounded enthusiasm and energy has been one of the main conrerstones on which this Depot has effectively carried out ist role and his contribution in its control is beyond the highest praise. Army Form W.3121 WO 373/74. |
