ROME – The family of an English soldier who was saved during the Second World War has returned to Ascoli 80 years later. Between the autumn of 1943 and the summer of 1944, three families bravely came together to hide Dennis Hutton Fox who had escaped from a prison camp in Macerata. Serving the Coldstream Guards, Hutton Fox had been taken prisoner by German-Italian troops in Libya. 

   After 80 years, Hutton Fox’s two daughters, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter returned to the San Giorgio Monastery and Mount Rosara, where the soldier had taken refuge. The father of one of the three families, Mattia Antonucci, courageously took the risk to protect the British soldier, hiding him in the woods and caves. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were there to greet Hutton Fox’s family. 

  The event was organised by Becco Giordano and Lorenzo and Luigi Mancini, relatives of Emidio Tassi, one of the men who also contributed to the concealment of the soldier. “A reunion borne almost by chance,” they explained, “It all began with a Facebook message from us to Tomas Ableman, one of Dennis’ grandsons: it also excited him and in the end, eight came from London.” 

“The reasons that prompted us to get back in contact with them were, on the one hand, the 80^th anniversary of the event, and on the other, the possibility of still counting on the presence of the last living witnesses of that period.”

  Two guides led the family of Hutton Fox through the woods of Mount Rosara – brothers Emidio and Lianna Tassi, who are both now in their 90s. “We remember those days well, precisely because we were children. In fact, it was mostly us, out of all three families, who brought him everything he needed.”

  “The reason? We were less conspicuous, the Germans who arrived shortly after September 8th 1943 to patrol San Giacomo, didn’t pay us too much attention. Our parents would take turns to go into the caves where Dennis was hiding, perhaps while we were taking the sheep out to the pastures. We brought him food, like fried eggs and fruit, as well as water and everything necessary to survive.”

  “During the periods with less surveillance, he would also come up to the Monastery and the house.” Lianna recalled, “I was ten years old: He would take me in his arms and sit me on the fireplace. Then, together with the other children, he taught us the numbers in English. I learnt to count to 50!”

  “For us, it is a dream to be here.” Dennis’ two daughters explained. “It is the first time that we have come to Italy together and it’s the first time for Dennis’ grandchildren, his son-in-law John, and his great-granddaughter, Anna, Thomas’ daughter.” 

  “So, there are three generations born from him, and probably without the courage of Antonucci Mattia, Tassi Michele, and Tassi Emidio’s families, none of us would be here today. We want to say a heartfelt thank you to all those who worked for this day and who participated in the event, even bringing us to the caves Dennis used. It has been wonderful and unforgettable.”

lw