World War II, 1939, Private Stanley Smollan trained in South Africa. He sailed up the African East Coast to Suez. He was injured in the Battle of Sollum. On recovery, he rejoined his regiment in Tobruk, and was captured when the garrison surrendered. Stan's own experience was being in the hold of a prison ship crossing the Mediterranean, like refugees of today, except that he was under fire from enemy craft,
He was a POW near Rome. Escape took him to the hills of Italy. After months, with underground assistance, he found his way to Anzio, as the Americans were landing.
He and his companions were arrested, as they had no form of identity. In Naples, due to chance meetings, Stan and his companions were flown back to Pretoria.
He was honourably discharged, & he returned to civilian life. Then Stan's adjustment to being a civilian, and to a life, including a business career, travel, and sport, began.
His travels took him inter alia to Zonderwater, Durban, Tewfik, El Alamein, Mariobolis, Sollum, Cairo, Alexandria, Tobruk, Benghazi, Tarhunah, Tripoli, Naples, Capua, Fara Sabina, Apennines, Montorio Romano, Tivoli, Gerano, Anzio, Taranto, Waterkloof Air Base and Roberts Heights.
