Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Captain

Unit:

Inter-Service Liaison Department

Awarded on:

November 16th, 1944

Citation:
"Captain LOSCO was landed with an Italian agent at PORTO CIVITANOVA on the night of 11 Dec. 1943 - his task was to evacuate Allied ex-Prisoners of War known to be in the CHIENTI Valley, by boat on the nights of 14th, 16th or 17th December.
Some 50 Prisoners were collected and brought to the beach at the correct tme but the boat did not arrive and on the 17th when Capt. LOSCO and an escaper were walking to the beach, they ran into an Italian Patrol who arrested and took them to MACERATA prison.
Captain LOSCO convinced the German authorities that he was an escaper from MODENA P/W Camp, but was tried by Court Martial and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for carrying arms.
The prison was guarded by 5 Italian warders and a German N.C.O. and 12 sentries patrolled the outside walls, but towrds the end of March Capt. LOSCO and other allied prisoners, formed a plan of escape and their chance came after the bombing of MACERATA on 3rd April 44.
Captain LOSCO instructed all prisoners to show themselves frightened and make as much noise as possible during air raids; this resulted in their being sent to the air raid shelter in the prison yard.
On the night of 29 April as they were being conducted back to their cells they noticed that the German NCO was missing so they attacked and knocked out the warders, lodked themselves in the cells, cut the telephone wires, liberated five Italian political prisoners and made their way out through the shelter and the town of MACERATA.
On the outskirts of the town the party split up and Captain LOSCO left for the coast with a South African Corporal and 2 Italians. Two days later they were fired on by an Italian patrol and the party was forced to scatter but Captain LOSCO was able to contact Major McKEE of I.S.9 and, after sending money and a guide to the South African Corporal, was safely evacuated by boat on 8th May 1944.
Prior to his work in Italy, Captain LOSCO spent 4 months in CORSICA during the enemy occupation ot that Island, establishing an escape centre, recruiting agents and obtaining boats for possible evacuations of Allied escapers from the North Coast of ITALY.
Throughout these operations and during his final escape from MACERATA Captain Losco has shown fine spirit of courage, leadership and devotion to duty in the face of great danger and I strongly recommend him for the award of the Military Cross."