Arthur Banks

COMBAT REPORTS

th November, 1946.The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the GEORGE CROSS to: — 1607992 Sergeant Arthur BANKS, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 112 Squadron, Desert Air Force. On 29th August, 1944, this airman took part in an armed reconnaissance of the Ravenna and Ferrara areas. During the sortie, his. aircraft was damaged by anti-aircraft- fire and he was compelled to make a forced landing. After the aircraft had been destroyed, Sergeant Banks decided to try to reach the Allied lines. He made contact with a group of Italian partisans, amongst whom, during .the following months, he 'became an outstanding figure, advising and encouraging them in action against the enemy. Early in December, 1944, an attempt at crossing into allied territory by boat was planned. Sergeant Banks and a number of partisans assembled at the allotted place, but the whole party was surrounded and captured. Sergeant Banks was handed over to the German commander of the district, who presided at his interrogation. During the questioning, Sergeant Banks was cruelly tortured. At one stage, he succeeded in getting hold of a light machine gun, with which he might have killed most of his captors, had not. one of the partisans, fearing more severe torture, intervened and pinned his arms to his sides. Sergeant- Banks was badly knocked about before he was taken to another prison. On 8th December, .1944, Sergeant Banks was taken, with a number of partisans, to a prison at Adria. He remained there until igth December, 1944, when he was handed over to the commander of a detachment of the '' Black Brigade ''. He was then transferred to another prison at Ariano Polesine. Here, in the presence of Italian Fascists, he was stripped of his clothing and again tortured. Sergeant Banks was eventually bound and "thrown into the River Po. Despite his wounds, even at this stage, he succeeded in reaching the river bank. The Fascists then took him back to the prison, where he was shot through the head. At the time of his capture, Sergeant Banks was endeavouring to return to' the Allied lines, so that he might arrange for further supplies to the partisans. He endured much suffering with stoicism, withholding information which would have been of vital interest to the enemy.. His courage and endurance were such that they impressed even his captors. Sergeant Banks' conduct was, at .all times, in keeping with the highest traditions of the Service, even in the face of most brutal and inhuman treatment.

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No.112 Sqn RAF

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