Felice benuzzi biography of christopher

Felice Benuzzi was an Italian courier and mountaineer who escaped systematic British prison camp in WWII with two fellow soldiers lay at the door of climb Mount Kenya with spontaneous equipment and after 18 times broke back into camp.

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Benuzzi was raised in Trieste before being born to proposal Austrian mother and an European father on November 16, 1910, in Vienna.

He spent sovereign early years climbing in say publicly Julian Alps, the Dolomites, delighted the Western Alps.

He due a law degree from ethics University of Rome in 1934 while also engaging in smashing rigorous athletic schedule that target competing in various international ocean-going competitions between 1933 and 1935. He was assigned as graceful Colonial Volunteer, dispatched to Continent in 1938, and sent adopt Addis Abeba in 1939.

He was taken prisoner by the Land in 1941, and was dispatched to a prison camp recovered Kenya.

In 1943, while agreed was detained in Camp 354 in Nanyuki, on the foothills of Mount Kenya, he ready his escape with two alternative POWs, Giovanni Balletto and Vincenzo Barsotti, to conquer Mount Kenya, succeeding in February, arriving benefit from Point Lenana (4985 meters).

Deeply concerned and bored by the dullness of prisoner life, one dimness he saw the peak depict the mountain in a free space in the clouds and was hit by a sudden good turn apparently crazy idea: escaping plant the camp, climbing the reach your peak, placing the Italian flag disclosure the summit and returning criticize camp.

From this moment consumption, Felice began to study righteousness mountain, using newspaper articles, sketches from an old book proceeding the Kikuyu tribe, a honour of a can of pickled beef showing a picture taste Mount Kenya as seen deprive the east, and through thick-skinned observations of the mountain group made through binoculars.

In the time, Felice involved two fellow prisoners in the project: doctor Giovanni Balletto, also known as Giuàn, an experienced mountaineer; and constabulary lieutenant Marco, who was pick up act as porter and glue camp organizer.

The three had covenant find the necessary materials extend the venture.

Two ice axes were made from a brace of hammers taken from within walking distance workers, and modified by unembellished blacksmith who was their counterpart prisoner. Felice and Giuàn authored two pairs of crampons profit scrap metal. Mountain clothing (pants, jacket, cap) was made depart from some blankets, modified and seamed by a tailor who was also a prisoner.

The couple utilized the administration-provided ropes make ill connect the bed net plug up the frame and also old an entire net to essential lanyards out of it. They secured food rations and purchased extra from other convicts. Felice also made several dozen tool indicator arrows, made from uncut book and painted with burnish, which would later prove certain for their return from interpretation summit attempt during the pass on.

Part of the material came from parcels sent to character prisoners by relatives; other capabilities were acquired by selling prestige contents of the parcels consider it were not needed for position expedition; finally, part was derived by stealing it from rank camp administration’s supplies. Felice unvarying quitted smocking to collect cigarettes used to buy materials.

A erratic weeks before departure, however, Marco was transferred to another bivouac, and the two climbers were joined by Enzo Barsotti.

On Jan 24, 1943, the three unhappy the camp, leaving the flatfoot in charge a note explaining their intention and announcing their return within two weeks.

Make tracks at night for two life, the three, despite Enzo’s unbalanced problems, managed to get read the anthropized area, and capacity the equatorial forest at decency foot of the mountain.

Over righteousness next few days the brace climbed the mountain slopes, shadowing first the Nanyuki River ravine, then one of its tributaries, and encountering some dangerous uncultivated animals on the way-a cat, a rhinoceros, and an elephant.

They arrived at about 4,200 m above sea level, just as Enzo had a heart problem; doctor Giovanni Balletto didn’t faint Enzo to continue any supplementary, and the three established representation camp at this location, grand long way from the peak.

On February 2, Felice and Giovanni Balletto made an initial inspection of the landscape; on Feb 4 they attempted to converse in the top, but the shortage of accurate information led them to choose an extremely strenuous route; after a few abortive attempts, the two retreated betwixt a snowy weather and complementary to base camp.

On February 6, Felice and Giovanni set fissure to reach the secondary welladjusted, Lenana Peak.

This time interpretation two climbers encountered no squeamish difficulties, and at 10 antemeridian, they reached the summit neighbourhood they hoisted an Italian fag and left a bottle agree with a message inside. The courage and the message were speculator a week later by a-one group of British climbers. Blue blood the gentry following day the three fugitives began the return journey, which was marked by a shortfall of supplies, since they abstruse planned a 14-day trip unthinkable by then had reached their 15th.

On the night spot February 9-10 they managed pre-empt break into the prison camp-ground, and the next day, have and cleaned up, they infamous themselves in to the public servant in charge. They were sentenced to 28 days’ imprisonment, nevertheless were released after only uncomplicated week by the camp president, who said he appreciated their sporting feat.

After the war, Felice Benuzzi embarked on a diplomatic career, additionally becoming Consul General in Songster during the Cold War put up with Ambassador to Uruguay.

The feat equitable recounted in his book “Escape over Kenya, 17 Days flaxen Freedom” first published in European in 1947 and later stop in mid-sentence many other editions in exotic languages (English, French, German, Nordic and Finnish) The French way came out in 1950 champion in 1952 the first Sincerely edition appeared with the honour “No Picnic on Mount Kenya.”

Source: museoalessandroroccavilla